Fixing rust spots on your van

[user 30781]

The previous owner backed a trailer into the right taillight area of my minivan, I don't know how long ago, I bought the van in November.  He put on a new taillight cover but didn't do anything about the injury so now I have rust.

I have never done anything like this.  Can someone please ELI5 (explain like I'm 5) lol

I have grease and wax remover, 36, 40, 60, 320 and 1000 grit sandpaper/blocks, light grey primer/filler and white Rustoleum auto paint.   Am I good to go?

I did Google and I got everything from very simple (surface rust) to very complicated (scale rust or maybe there's a hole in your vehicle now).

Thank you!

edit: I don't know if it makes a difference but our weather is running from the mid-30s to the low-50s for the next week. No rain.

 

[user 30781]

Also, one of the pages says I need 'self-etching epoxy primer' before the primer/filler and then paint. This is one thing I don't have. Do I need to go buy some? Not all the pages I looked at said I needed this thing.

 

[WanderingRose]

If it’s just a little bit of rust, I have had very good luck with Rustoleum.

Stops the air getting to it, therefore stops the rust.

 

[highdesertranger]

Sand, Prime, Paint if you are just trying to protect it and not fix the dent.

Sand the rust off. Any old paint that is still adhering good all you need to do is rough it up, you don't need to remove it.
Prime it You don't need self etching primer just a good quality auto primer that is compatible with the paint. fade the primer into good paint.
Paint it what ever color you want again fading it into the paint. do not skip painting it or it will just rust again. primer alone will not stop rust.

I am assuming this is just surface rust, correct?

Highdesertranger

 

[bullfrog]

Pictures would really help determine what needs to be done!

 

[user 30781]

It's not that big but it goes under the paint and I have no idea how far. When I'm in town next week I'm going to pick up a small grinder and some sandpaper wheels. Harbor Freight has a grinder for like $15. I suspect I'm going to end up with a larger area than I originally thought.

I have Rustoleum Self-Etching Primer, Primer/Filler, paint and top coat.

 

[user 30781]

Pictures would really help determine what needs to be done!

Excellent idea!  Lemme see if I can figure out how to do it.


edit: I can't. Here's a link to an Imgur pic!



As you can see, there's a tiny rust area right under the plastic of the taillight. I know what I should do it take the taillight assembly off and deal with that too.

 

[user 30781]

Sand,  Prime, Paint if you are just trying to protect it and not fix the dent.

Sand the rust off.  Any old paint that is still adhering good all  you need to do is rough it up, you don't need to remove it.
Prime it You don't need self etching primer just a good quality auto primer that is compatible with the paint.  fade the primer into good paint.
Paint it what ever color you want again fading it into the paint.  do not skip painting it or it will just rust again.  primer alone will not stop rust.

I am assuming this is just surface rust,  correct?

Highdesertranger

The Neighbor looked at it, said he would consider it scale rust, said it's just starting to pit the metal.

I'm kind of scared to find out how far under the paint it goes. lol

 

[bullfrog]

I would definitely take out the tail light assembly rather than trying to tape around it plus if you can get behind it it should be pretty easy to work the metal back out. If that is a plastic bumper be low the seam you should be able to flex it and shove a thin piece of cardboard or poster paper to stop the over spray. All of the rust needs to be removed, treated, primed and painted. Have you checked with a body shop or vocational school to see about having it fixed professionally? It really should be a cheap easy fix, maybe an after work side job for someone on Craigslist?

 

[user 30781]

Ah it's a 23 year Old Grand Caravan with 136k miles on it. I'll just do it myself.

Need to figure out how to take out the tail light now.

By treated do you mean that rust gel stuff that turns the rust black?

 

[bullfrog]

you can get a spray can of POR15 or rust preventing paint after you have removed all the rust with a wire wheel or brush. Let it dry completely before primer and paint are applied.

 

[user 30781]

OK. I went to Harbor Freight and got a little inexpensive grinder and a sanding wheel and the guy who helped me was very helpful. He also said I didn't need the self-etching primer, so I'll take that back, along with a few other things I won't need.

I'm glad I went too or I might not have noticed my very low tire. Just got back from Les Schwab. It's naptime. lol

 

[user 30781]

I would definitely take out the tail light assembly rather than trying to tape around it plus if you can get behind it it should be pretty easy to work the metal back out. If that is a plastic bumper be low the seam you should be able to flex it and shove a thin piece of cardboard or poster paper to stop the over spray. All of the rust needs to be removed, treated, primed and painted. Have you checked with a body shop or vocational school to see about having it fixed professionally? It really should be a cheap easy fix, maybe an after work side job for someone on Craigslist?

I'm going to take your advice.  I just remembered that the body shop many people call the best in the valley is less than a mile up the road from me.  It's a pretty ratty looking place, probably not a shop you'd pick just to drive by and look at it.  A friend just had some work done there and she said she wouldn't go anywhere else.  I'll get a quote from them tomorrow.

And if it's too much, well, I know how to get the tail light assembly out now.  Easy peasy.  There really is a Youtube for everything.

 

[bullfrog]

If nothing else it will justify your efforts later! Lol!!!

 

[OkieDreamer]

You might want to take a look at SprayWayCustom's non welding cheap way to fix some pretty nasty rust if your rust is really bad

 

[user 30781]

You might want to take a look at SprayWayCustom's non welding cheap way to fix some pretty nasty rust if your rust is really bad

Thank you, it's not too bad.

So I stopped by the body shop near my place Monday and boy, were they slammed.  One of the guys found the owner and he came out and I pointed out the spots and he asked did I want this whole area restored?  I said no, I just want the rust gone from those few spots.  He tells me I can wait in the office (it was cold).  Comes back in 5 minutes later and says ok, you're done!  WHAT??  He sent the paint guy out with a thing of Chrysler White and touched up the spots is all.  I don't think I made myself clear on what I wanted.  To be fair, like I mentioned, they are so slammed that they have taken over the parking lot of the church across the street with cars waiting to be fixed.  Including a county sheriff's car that's been there going on 2 weeks now. lol

I'll go talk to them again after I get back from my roadtrip to the Olympic Peninsula next month.

 

[OkieDreamer]

In that case I would do the same thing they did only a bit more. Go to the Autoparts store and they have paint color pens in factory colors, primer in spray cans, add sand paper to the list and sand out all of the rust, prime and paint with your stick. It won't be perfect but it should stop or slow down your rust. There are plenty of Youtube vids about that kind of thing.