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10-23-2020, 10:21 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 518518
Join Date: Sep 2020
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Vehicle:2005 Impreza WRX STI Silver |
Rust and my broken heart
Bought a stock 2005 STi a couple of weeks ago and I'm falling in love with it. We dropped it off this week for a complete mid-life maintenance update. Even though we had a thorough inspection by a mechanic prior to purchasing, we both missed this rust under the battery. The engine and transmission are in great shape so we're going to stick with it and get this fixed. Does anyone have an idea of what this might cost to get repaired? The mechanic is doing his thing right now so I won't be able to take it to an auto body shop for some time. I think the part I need is the fender apron in the exploded view #51610A. Also, I'm in the Detroit area in case anyone knows a good shop.
I did a bunch of searches and I can't find any threads on rust in this location. Thinking maybe a battery leaked on the previous owner. The body has zero rust and the mechanic checked the strut towers and he said everything looks good. Hoping this won't break the bank or maybe it's something I can fix myself. Thanks in advance for any insight.
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Last edited by plast1cman; 10-23-2020 at 10:37 PM. Reason: photos didn't load |
10-24-2020, 07:43 PM | #2 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 518518
Join Date: Sep 2020
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Vehicle:2005 Impreza WRX STI Silver |
This is an interesting post Plast1cman. I wish I had some insight to share with you. Good luck.
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10-24-2020, 08:17 PM | #3 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 459287
Join Date: Dec 2016
Chapter/Region:
VIC
Location: Vancouver BC Canada
Vehicle:1998 JDM Impreza STi V4 GF8 White |
He's probably healed by now
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10-26-2020, 11:17 AM | #4 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 518518
Join Date: Sep 2020
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Vehicle:2005 Impreza WRX STI Silver |
I'm not sure about the battery tray. The picture was sent to me by a mechanic who is doing some work. Got a quote for $2,500 which seems really high to replace just the fender apron panel.
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10-26-2020, 11:57 AM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 519596
Join Date: Oct 2020
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Vehicle:97 Impreza OBS Red to be white |
It's in front of the strut tower so that's good. But that looks like more than just a leaking battery, it probably blew a battery (overheating or freezing). $2500 seems reasonable assuming they are doing the patch and repaint properly.
Last edited by Absoluteyeti; 10-26-2020 at 03:32 PM. |
10-26-2020, 02:25 PM | #6 |
NASIOC Supporter
Member#: 130990
Join Date: Nov 2006
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Menzel Lake, WA
Vehicle:06 Red Ltd.Wagon Dom 1.5xtr JJ tuned |
Definitely looks like battery damage. That area has to support significant weight, not easy to fix right. If you want it to look and perform just as it originally was, $2500 seems reasonable to me also.
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10-26-2020, 07:22 PM | #7 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 459287
Join Date: Dec 2016
Chapter/Region:
VIC
Location: Vancouver BC Canada
Vehicle:1998 JDM Impreza STi V4 GF8 White |
Good time to relocate battery?
Quote:
My other car is an '88 Fiero Formula, and it's relatively common for Fiero fanatics (yes, I'm one ) to relocate the battery to the front of these mid-engine cars for the same reason... better weight distribution. |
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10-27-2020, 08:39 AM | #8 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 518518
Join Date: Sep 2020
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Vehicle:2005 Impreza WRX STI Silver |
Quote:
Can you give me a little better understanding of how this panel is supporting so much weight? It mounts directly to the frame rail so I assumed the frame was supporting all the weight. I was thinking about cutting out the rusted area and making a patch out of a new fender apron to weld in. My thinking was that it's not a visual piece and I could make it look good enough. If there's a structural component I should rethink this. Also, thanks everyone for the advice! |
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10-27-2020, 09:22 AM | #9 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 519596
Join Date: Oct 2020
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Vehicle:97 Impreza OBS Red to be white |
Quote:
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10-27-2020, 10:46 AM | #10 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 428511
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: philadelphia
Vehicle:2016 STI |
Quote:
(sorry, couldn't resist) |
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10-27-2020, 03:20 PM | #11 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 45076
Join Date: Oct 2003
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rockland County, NY
Vehicle:2004 Stg 2 wagon AT 16 BRZ. Both silver |
OP, get a second opinion. I just had my two rear towers done, one was just the seat bracket area and one was both the seat bracket and strut tower. They fixed everything for 800 bucks. I did all the labor to take out and put back the rear interior of my wagon.
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10-27-2020, 03:27 PM | #12 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 459287
Join Date: Dec 2016
Chapter/Region:
VIC
Location: Vancouver BC Canada
Vehicle:1998 JDM Impreza STi V4 GF8 White |
Don't those things catch on fire?
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10-27-2020, 03:50 PM | #13 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 428511
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: philadelphia
Vehicle:2016 STI |
Quote:
a friend of mine's dad had one of those when we were kids in the late 80's red His dad was probably 6'-4" and at least 250 if not more, so it was an interesting vehicle for a guy that size Honestly, until you said it in this thread I had no idea they were mid engine. |
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10-28-2020, 11:49 AM | #14 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 144044
Join Date: Mar 2007
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Alabama
Vehicle:2006 STI OBP |
They are great cars if you can keep them from lighting themselves on fire.
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10-28-2020, 02:48 PM | #15 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 491095
Join Date: Sep 2018
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: New Mexico
Vehicle:2009 STi Blue Blue |
to OP, cut it out and weld new piece in place
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10-28-2020, 03:57 PM | #16 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 459287
Join Date: Dec 2016
Chapter/Region:
VIC
Location: Vancouver BC Canada
Vehicle:1998 JDM Impreza STi V4 GF8 White |
Apologies to the OP
Quote:
During the initial year of production in '84, there was a bad batch of connecting rods used in the 4-cyl "Duke" engine. The rods had an unfortunate tendency to snap and come out the side of the block, allowing crankcase oil to splash onto the hot catalytic converter (located right beside the transverse mounted engine) and catch fire. With plastic body panels, and a magnesium grill over the mid-engine, a burning Fiero was no easy task to extinguish. There was a recall to replace the affected run of engines, and the problem was eliminated. However, its reputation of being a fire hazard continued to haunt the Fiero well past its final year of production in '88. Kind of a shame... but hey, it's helped to keep the price down on these great little cars for those of us who enjoy owning/restoring/modifying/driving them. |
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