Looking at a first transit -and yes its a rust question....

[skutter]

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Looking at replacing my 17 year old hiace. My mate swears by transits so i had a look at one today, 2012, 250 100hp, drove nice but was concerned about the level of rust around the drivers seats - couldnt get the floor covering up to have proper look as it looked like it would have unseen issues in the same area. Dont mind a few spots of rust that can be kept on top of - as thats all there was on other parts of the van - a small scratch and a few stone chips, and a couple of bubbles on the wheel arches - but this looked like it would cause more trouble than it would be worth. not the best pics - kind of gutted because if it hadnt been for this i would have bought the van, but interested to hear from others what they think.

Cheers
Skutt.

[bigjohnthomas]

They do that
Its only the seat , What's the cills and rear x member like?

[skutter]

the cills looked fine all the way around, nothing flaky. The whole underside looked reasonable from what i could see - it was raining so didn't fancy a full on crawl under, and no chance to get it on a ramp.

My biggest worry with that seat rust is what it's going to be like underneath the floor covering, and also how it got so rusty in the first place, as it is pretty advanced, and fords transits aren't exactly well known for their ability to resist the march of the iron worms.

[skutter]

So people dont think this rust is really a problem as far as can be seen? I really did like the van in all other aspects, going to a local transit specialist next week to see what they can offer - at least if a newer hiace doesnt pop up. (not the proace mind!)

[ned]

If the rest of the van looked clean a good half a day sanding and repainting the cab floor and all should be good, its the under step and under side you need to pay close attention to rust wise. N

[Beaker]

It's a really common issue - you are definately not the first person to ask about this and mine is exactly the same - though not quite as bad.

I'm still not sure if if caused by water off your boots rolling back off the mat onto the seat base or if it's caused by condensation forming on the seat box when it's cold and you have the heater blowing ont it.

As Ned says, check the steps, wheel arches and underneath. If these are all good then no problem. The seat base, though unsightly, is a minor concern.

[skutter]

Well i actually live in Sweden so it could be all the snow and mud that gets tramped into vans over winter. i'll go and take another look at it and crawl under and have a proper nosey to double check everything or get it up on a ramp.

[ned]

That would make sense, melting snow in the foot wells, maybe you could get some krona knocked off the sale price N

[Beaker]

Jag älskar Sverige!

We will be heading there in our van next summer - visit a friend in Skane then heading North.

Where are you based Skutter?

[olympia5776]

Water off your boots......
Thats either coming in through a leaking windscreen or down the A piller via the stupid trim clips that hold the external plastic trim on.Either way it will find it's way right down to the inner step as well as sitting under the floor mat.
You have to lift the plastic floor mat and undo the two 10mm nuts under the step that retain the plastic step covering and have a good look at the condition of the metal. You will also have to get down and dirty and check underneath . If it's been left unwashed underneath and laden with salty mud then it won't outlive your trusty hi ace......
The chassis construction on these MK 6/7's is abysmal and with the drain routes designed to exit through the front of the sills the inner box sections are quietly rusting away unless you flood them with a runny waxoyl mixture.
Check it over forensically.

[Beaker]

Water off your boots......
Thats either coming in through a leaking windscreen or down the A piller via the stupid trim clips that hold the external plastic trim on.Either way it will find it's way right down to the inner step as well as sitting under the floor mat.
You have to lift the plastic floor mat and undo the two 10mm nuts under the step that retain the plastic step covering and have a good look at the condition of the metal. You will also have to get down and dirty and check underneath . If it's been left unwashed underneath and laden with salty mud then it won't outlive your trusty hi ace......
The chassis construction on these MK 6/7's is abysmal and with the drain routes designed to exit through the front of the sills the inner box sections are quietly rusting away unless you flood them with a runny waxoyl mixture.
Check it over forensically.

That's an interesting idea - I never even thought of that. I've definately not got a leaking windscreen so I might remove the A pillar trims and have a look.

Any idea how to remove them?

[skutter]

Jag älskar Sverige!

We will be heading there in our van next summer - visit a friend in Skane then heading North.

Where are you based Skutter?

Right now i live in Malmö - so everything else in Sweden is north! pleanty of good campsites to park up, charge up, clean up around Skåne - If you havent been before go check out Kullaberg - just north of Helsingborg. I've traveled around a fair bit of Sweden so if you want any other tips just ask.


As for the van - winter is coming - not really got the time to deal with rust as van is needed for work so going to chuck a few more quid on the Hiace to get me through and not rush into buying. Although the heated front screen would be a godsend in the winter...

[Beaker]

I've been going to Sweden and Norway on and off for the best part of thirty years and have covered a lot of ground including up north of the Arctic Circle. My favourite place to stay is Mora.

I'm always on the lookout for somewhere new to explore, and I did not know about Kullaberg until now, so tack så mycket Skutter.

I've driven right past it a few times on my way up to Gothenborg.

[olympia5776]

Water off your boots......
Thats either coming in through a leaking windscreen or down the A piller via the stupid trim clips that hold the external plastic trim on.Either way it will find it's way right down to the inner step as well as sitting under the floor mat.
You have to lift the plastic floor mat and undo the two 10mm nuts under the step that retain the plastic step covering and have a good look at the condition of the metal. You will also have to get down and dirty and check underneath . If it's been left unwashed underneath and laden with salty mud then it won't outlive your trusty hi ace......
The chassis construction on these MK 6/7's is abysmal and with the drain routes designed to exit through the front of the sills the inner box sections are quietly rusting away unless you flood them with a runny waxoyl mixture.
Check it over forensically.

That's an interesting idea - I never even thought of that. I've definately not got a leaking windscreen so I might remove the A pillar trims and have a look.

Any idea how to remove them?

They simply prise off . The clips ,or most of them , will break so best get some replacements before you remove them. Like you i was certain the windscreen seal was ok but then I had to have it replaced and the fitter showed me two 1.5 inch sections that were passing water. I ran a solid bead of pu sealer along the top of my screen after discarding the plastic trim fitted and again sealed off those trim clips after finding water ingress under the drivers A piller. Ihad ignored the damp under the floor mat for a couple of years and ended up having to cut out two areas and weld in fresh metal.
Since all above was done there has been no reoccurance of water getting in.
I cannot emphasise how important it is to get under the, or any,transit to check the floor and chassis. Mine has had the box and sill cavities flooded with waxoyl every year inthe 13 years I've owned it but I still had to replace a box section last year due to the open design of the chassis sections where they meet or have factory holes drilled into them.
Over here in Ireland many mk 7's are being scrapped due to chassis rot.
Good luck with your search.

[knobby1]

Geeze I'm glad I live in Aus...I have a 2008 van and not a spot of rust to be seen anywhere other than the little stone chips above the windscreen...

Underneath is still as good as new.

I suspect a lot of vans in the UK are shot of because of rot rather than wearing out of mechanical bits.

Lord Knobrot.