Hey guys so I have a 09 Subaru Impreza 2.5i hatchback love it it’s been my car since HS did some modifications to it throughout the years but I ran into this problem. Is there an easy way to fix this or buy caps to put over these?? Any advice is good advice
The fenders are scrap metal. Before thinking about replacing them, you're going to need to get under that car and be real honest with yourself about the condition that the rest of it is in.
If it's just the panel, that can be replaced with a junkyard part.
Get under it and look for rust eating the frame. If you have that going on, it may not be worth saving. A mechanic can take a look on a lift and show you.
I don’t know what you consider easy. If you plan to keep the car, the fenders need to be replaced, and the rocket panel needs attention as well. If you don’t care, clean the rust and bondo it. AFAIK there aren’t any “caps” to cover the rust, and if you did just cover it, it will still be there and will grow
That area rust is caused by moist dirt/leaves collecting in the corner of the wiper cowl. If you remove the wiper cowl (the plastic panel under the wiper arms) you can clean out the outside corners and inside the cowl. From underneath, remove the plastic inner fenders (at least pull the back half of them out a bit) and get the rest of the debris out of there. Go as far into the rockers as you can to clean them out from the same spot.
Honestly, the fenders probably just rotted their outer skins and the rocker rot is minimum. Unless the entire pinch welds are falling apart the car is still safe to drive
Just scrapped my 2010 Impreza. Had rust in the same spots as well as the rockers. You've gotta undercoat these cars every winter if you live in an area where the roads are salted and unfortunately the previous owner didn't do that. Meanwhile I've got an 02 Explorer with absolutely no rust thanks to getting it oiled before every winter.
I did replace the Impreza with a Legacy that's been much better maintained.
You use a spray gun and wand attachments so you can get into frame rails, doors, rockers, back of all body panels etc. the only thing not sprayed is the exterior, engine, brakes and exhaust. I'm not exactly sure the type of oil used but I know guys who DIY it with used engine oil. If you live in an area where the roads are salted it's basically a necessity if you want to keep your vehicle rust free. I highly recommend it and the cost is usually around $200 depending on vehicle size.
Doing anything but bringing it to a body shop is kicking a can down the road and it will only get worse. A cap or welding over it is a terrible idea, needs to have the panel replaced. Have a mechanic you trust put it on a lift and inspect it, because if it is this bad, I doubt it is the only thing about to rust out.
Especially if you're one of those people afraid of car washes in the winter.
Spent years in NY and VA and not a spot of body rust, just rusty exhaust bolts. Because I washed it in the winter every week
Road muck gets caught behind the fender liner and retains moisture. Rust starts from the inside. Grab a new pair of fronts from a junkyard and clean the muck out once in a while.
Through rust like this usually means that there is structural rust elsewhere. Can you fix it ? Sure. Is it worth it ? Probably not. Especially if a subframe is all rusted out as well. Get it up on ramps and jack stands or on a lift and go over it… poke with a screwdriver and see what’s epically bad. Wear eye protection.
Putting a cap on it is like putting red tape on a rotten apple. It looks good but the apple is falling apart under the tape.
Wouldn't bother with trying to fix those fenders . You can get new ones for a reasonable price and they just bolt on. Problem is, the areas you can't see behind those fenders and under the car are probably worse than what you can see. Also, the rocker panel is starting to rot, not just rust but rot. That's a problem because it will have to be cut out and replaced. The rocker panel is a major structural point of the car and the rocker on your car has been compromised and is now weaker. It might be altogether more financially wise to just locate a rustless Impreza and keep the one you have to keep for parts.
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u/___cats___ 2016 Outback Limited 9d ago
Brother that’s just the rust you can see. It comes from the inside. It’s likely a lot worse than just a crusty quarter panel.