Apologies if this is not the right forum for this...

 

 

 

Can anyone guide me to the best way to deal with this rust around the the right hand rear number plater light.

I seem to rememer reading it was a known issue but cant seem to find any advice on the correct way to deal with it.

 

The car is a 2011 Fabia VRS estate

 

You need to remove all trace of rust, get rust inhibitor on the metal inside and out and then prep / etch and fill and sand, build prime, sand and paint.

It needs doing properly and then likely it will come again because the moisture is inside.

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/448654-paint-corrosion

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/481574-2011-fabia-boot-rust-is-it-covered-like-vws-are

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/461194-fabia-tailgate-rust

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/437555-tailgate-rust

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/450331-fabia-rear-door-corrosion

 

Happening now with some Mk3 Fabia.   I wonder will Skoda have sorted this out now when the Mk4 is produced?

 

 

Ah..yes...thanks very much @e-Roottoot

 

How's the moisture getting in the inside ---- (goes off to read the links above)

 

Maybe I will take it to a body shop.

I read somewhere that Skoda used the wrong gasket material between the light unit and the tailgate. It apparently acted like a sponge and retained water. I have this same job to do on mine before the summer is out....

...Unfortunately there is most likely no comeback to soda, due to the age of the car. I think rust/corrosion had a ten year warranty, if inspected and fixed in due course.I also think they just stuck on new tailgates as it was quicker.

On 17/06/2021 at 22:24, Phil866 said:

I read somewhere that Skoda used the wrong gasket material between the light unit and the tailgate. It apparently acted like a sponge and retained water. I have this same job to do on mine before the summer is out....

 

I'd be interested to hear how you get on with this...

25 minutes ago, mrgf said:

...Unfortunately there is most likely no comeback to soda, due to the age of the car. I think rust/corrosion had a ten year warranty, if inspected and fixed in due course.I also think they just stuck on new tailgates as it was quicker.

Yeah...I'm still just with the 10 year time frame (til September, I think) but it's been a few years since it was serviced/inspected by a franchised dealer. However, it can't hurt to ask. 

 

Can you still buy new tailgates you think?

I would guess so but I'd probably search eBay etc for a good used one first as you might find the correct colour. Any new one will require painting, on top of the price.

On 21/06/2021 at 18:15, mrgf said:

I would guess so but I'd probably search eBay etc for a good used one first as you might find the correct colour. Any new one will require painting, on top of the price.

But won't the used one likely have the very same issue ?? Its down to build quality and a poor design by Skoda.... they will all be the same, i would say it is best to totally make the one you have good and then repaint, but using a better gasket which does not hold the moisture.... worrying that the Mk3 has the same issue, do manufacturers never learn.

I approached my local dealership who batted away my suggestion they my like to consider my rust as a warranty issue. Not too suprised really. I'll probably take it to my local bodyshop. As @Hudson1says, maybe they have changed the gasket now on that part.

 

 

36 minutes ago, JohnnyJohnBoy said:

I approached my local dealership who batted away my suggestion they my like to consider my rust as a warranty issue. Not too suprised really. I'll probably take it to my local bodyshop. As @Hudson1says, maybe they have changed the gasket now on that part.

 

 

I had that issue, I had the badge removed and filled in. Looked fairly good.

No rust on my 2009 jobbie. so it's not gonna be every car. That said, if you are buying used (And saving cash) You don't part with the hard-earned unless you are happy with the product!

22 minutes ago, LGM said:

I had that issue, I had the badge removed and filled in. Looked fairly good.

 

 

Is the badge where the water gets in orginally, or is it just soaked up in the foam gasket?

No it’s just a bad design, if I remember correctly they said the seals that are used for the number plate lights aren’t that good and do allow water in over time, once the water is in that’s where it starts so then it works it’s way around. 

From what I have observed.

 

The holes for the lights are stamped out, rectangular, with sharp corners.

The inside of the tailgate is not painted or has minimal or patchy coverage, definitely no top coat.

 

Gasket is foam, like a sponge.

 

Those sharp edges are never going to be properly protected and paint will easily crack over time.

 

Even worse on facelift where lights are clip in and rub on the edges of the hole.

 

You may be shocked if you took off the tailgate trim and look inside. I remember my 94 golf had similar issues and when I looked at the inside, almost the entire inside was a wall of deeply pitted rust.

 

 

Edited 5 July, 20214 yr by xman

5 hours ago, xman said:

You may be shocked if you took off the tailgate trim and look inside. I remember my 94 golf had similar issues and when I looked at the inside, almost the entire inside was a wall of deeply pitted rust

Oh, not sure i dare look