I have another thread up that I just posted today about spending $2300 on a bunch of work being done on my '98 3.2 TL. That $2300 is not even addressing the head gasket seepage, the roaring sound the engine makes sometimes at certain speeds when it drives uphill, or the rust on the body. The head gasket seepage seems to be manageable and it hasn't been getting worse. The occasional roaring I suspect might be an exhaust leak, but I don't know. The rust is definitely going to get worse and eventually the car won't pass inspection. Silly me for not waxing it cough ever cough, but I did wash and wax it for the first time last week.

Anyway, it has small spots of rust on the side near the rear of the body and also on the bottom edge of the front passenger door. I was thinking of trying to sand the rust off and paint over it, but the rust on the door looks more serious. I saw a stain on the outside, but it actually started on the inside edge, and I'm afraid that if I sand it, it might take a chunk out of the bottom of the door.

Any advice on how to fix rust like this? After spending all this money, I can't have the car rust out on me before inspection next year.

 

Rust is a tough one to combat. The cab corners on my '07 F150 are going out again...

Maybe just get it oil sprayed to slow things down.

Have you thought about picking up another one from say Arizona or Florida?

 

I'm way up in New England, so I haven't thought of that. Maybe I could change out the panels with rust on them? But that seems harder to do.

 

I was more thinking of getting a lower miles car in good condition and use yours for parts...the opposite of course would work as well...

 

One of the things that I really like about my car is that it smells good (in the cab). With used cars, they come with all different smells, some worse than others. Some of them make me feel sick if I'm in them for too long. My car has always smelled good and I have never even used air fresheners in it. So I really would like to stick with this car for as long as I can, but I would be cool with getting a parts car to supply for it. ...Unless all TLs smell as good as mine, lol.