MK3 transit rust bits NOT DIAL UP FRIENDLY

[jay]

This may help some people when going to look at a transit MK3.

this is the near side wheel arch they rust from the inside out as its double skinned here.they rust as well where the wing meets the hinge panel it will make the door drop if severe.

this is the offside wheel arch near the indicator they rust here as well as its double skinned they will rust on either side.sometimes the rust will extend to the front crossmember look under the indicator and headlamp to see rust here.

the doors rust along the bottom edge some will be missing the underneath of the door or will have lots of filler.


the steps rust here sometimes the step rust wont be visable until you remove the plastic..look from underneath and you will see how bad it is.the plastic holds the wet from your feet when you get in and out.some builders vans may have concreate on the steps hidding the rust..


the cab on chassis cabs will rot along the rear edge and sometimes will rust on the chassis section its usually worst on the passenger side as people leave there coats under the passenger seat and it soaks up the wets and rots the chassis.remember if the cab is rotten along the rear it will fail MOT as the seatbelts are here.

the rail under the plastic under the wipers sometimes rots and the rain falls onto the air filter housing or drips onto the inner wing and battery.the acid from the battery then rots the wing (loverly)

if you are looking at a chassis cab check the rear light panel hasnt rotted out and about to fall off.the side to rot first is usually the offside.the condesation from the exhaust attacks the panel..


and if the van you are looking at has 2 controls on the heater its a petrol model..if it has 3 then it is probably a genuine diesal.(but it can be changed but most people dont bother.)
I will add more when i get time to photo a rusty E reg chassis cab i got down the farm...(almost broke its back)

[madmark]

jay its good for you too take the time to photo rusty parts , it might help some people out mate well done! unfortunatly nearly every transit is rustting very badly , i saw a W reg today and both back doors were rusty at the bottom! i can understand why they give a 6 year waranty on the body but its very unlikely ford would ever foot the bill for rotton doors etc!

[jay]

yeah thought i would do a buyers guide thing..I have bought/scrapped many transits usually MK2/MK3.strangly though mk2/3/4 rust in about the same places!..hope it helps someone ..

[Valsheda]

MARK , IS THIS RUST PROBLEM DUE TO FORDS IMPORTING CHEAP STEEL ???

[MrMPuk]

sh*t paint don't help!

[madmark]

i love my transits very much ,but its very bad when you see late vans with rust ,yes i know they are work tools as the saleman keeps telling me but some people like to hang onto them for longer than 5 yrs! ,i think alot of it has to do with the roads ,its the salt ,i think if you find a van with low miles on the clock and one that hasnt been used in the winter then it wont have to much rust ,aslo its in the winter and people let them get all brown and leave them to long before washing in the arches etc and then thats it ,it starts to rust!

[Luke]

the problem is with manufacture - if you take the door the rust in the bottom could have been prevented by waxoiling the inside - from the factory the inside of the door doesnt get a top coat - only overspray! - fords arnt bothered - why should they if transits lasted longer less people would buy new ones!!
If i was keeping a van for more than 3 years i'd invest an afternoon and £20 in waxoiling and undersealing!!

and anyone with a mk1 or 2 who doesnt do this will only learn when its too late and wish they had, mk1s and 2s had almost no underbody protection at least the mk3s are a bit better!!

also make sure the dran holes in the sills and door bottoms are clear water will allways get in you cant stop it - just make sure it gets out again!!

[john leeman]

one transit I repair, (swb 100 low roof "V" custom van ex ford motor demonstrator 38,000 only all the toys) just had replacement back doors (BOTH), under warranty including revised rear door seals, wones that don't hold water in. front wheel arches are another bad idea, when built the spot welder crimps the two panels together and seems to slightly bend the banels together, because they are not accurate enough, with no seam sealer to fill the slight gap they too hold water and eventually rot.

[jay]

got a few more places where trannys rust some are a bit bad!!!!


rear chassis section.And this had a towbar on here!!!and MOT


front crossmember first pic is under the radiator the second is below the headlamp

rear chassis at the shock absorber


1 st pic is the step underneath the van the 2nd pic is the step on top.this is why it pays to take off the plastic step..


the doors rusting from the inside and out.
And this chassis cab which was a J reg,lwb with a box body on it had 8 months mot on it

[Neil]

luke is right about the wax my mk 2 had the same owner since 1985 and back then he waxed inside every box section and channel doors cills and thats why its lasted so well never had a lower panel replaced and still no sign of rust

[MRspivvy]

Just a thought as to why trannys rust so badly. it could be that carrying a lot of weight around might cause the bodyshell to flex, widening gaps in the seams and letting the damp in.

[Andrew-v4]

No mate they just rust, mines got 40k & had light use & it still has rust

[jay]

Afew more places on a mk3..the front doors can crack where the quarter light upright is.


they can also crack on the inside as well
also the rear hinges on up and over rear doors can also rot near the hinge

and aslo check out the rear strut they can go weak

[transitgeoff]

mk6 doors are going in the same place, splitting by the quater glass, ive seen a few already.

[jay]

mk6 are splitting!! doors already hell i would have thought ford would have done something about it by now..