Corroded Alloys + Rusting boot at 2 year old

[phil3012]

I have considered getting them refurbed but all hold out for seat replacing them, iv told them i want my lights checked out also when my car goes in next week.

So far,
New airbag being fitted next week
Fighting for new alloys
Fighting to get my boot replaced
Away to start fighting to get new lights

At this rate ill need a new car lol

Still no reply from Seat UK!!!

Hope it gets sorted mate.

I ended up giving up the fight and sold mine, was a constant stream of things wrong with it and forever back the garage. Would get one fault diagnosed and by time that one was sorted another one would occur.

One of my main gripes with SEAT is they refuse to honour the warranty unless they have to. I'm not saying that other manufacturers would fix every fault but fixed 95% of issues no complaints. Never had as many issues with Ford, Vauxhall and Toyota. Even in the current climate Ford have been very understanding regarding the issue my Mum has on the battery on her 14 month old Fiesta.

 

[SSimpson3]

I just finally got a reply from the service manager saying he can see scratches on the tyre where the alloy has been kerbed???
Anybody else spot this as i cant?

 

[Carr20vt]

At the end of the day the issue is corrosion! They will do and say anything to get out of sorting the real issue. The amount of peps who had issues with their LCR alloys was massive and SEAT refused to do anything. I feel for you. As Phil says its reminding me of the constant battle and issues with the car. Still waiting 12wks for a very simple fix on mine. So quick to take your money and offer you the best service but when it comes down to it Arghhh I'm getting cross now.............

 

[phil3012]

Just had another look at the pics and going to be a tough one this...

On one hand it is difficult to prove whether or not the wheels have been kerbed.

But the fact remains that even if they have been kerbed should they corrode like that anyway?

I did my Cupra the day I bought it ans 14 months later, not a sign of corrosion on them. Seem to remember my Mam did her previous Fiesta and when she sold it 6 years later still no sign of corrosion on the wheels.

I take it that its the nearside wheels that have corroded?

 

[SSimpson3]

Yep its both passenger side alloys that have gone, but also on all 4 alloys around the centre badge it is corroding so this obviously cant be damage cause by me so iv stated that to them and see what they say, im not willing to give up on this and will hassle them everyday till i get what i want as i know its not my fault, find out next week what will happen regards my boot and also headlamps

 

[SSimpson3]

thats my car back from the garage and guess what still no luck in getting them replaced!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
they resealed my headlamps saying thats the problem but if it happens again i will demand new lights and they have taken photos of my boot and are going to send a report to Seat to see if it will be repaired under warrenty, what is there to go see about as its obvious my boot is rusting so how can that be my problem???

anyway they managed to fit my new side airbag so i guess they did something right.

Im absolutly fuming now as an alloy company even said it has not been kerbed and i think they know more about alloys than them!!!!

 

[Tam]

i'm guessing its some form of wheel cleaner thats caused the corrosion of the alloys.... the initial cause of it though is one of the following
a) kerb'd them.
b) pot hole / heavy speed bump impact
c) tyre fitters

 

[phil3012]

The alloys on my Celica used to corrode on an annual basis and usually got them changed after winter.

There was nothing like kerbing or tyre fitters them that caused the issue as it was at different places on the wheel.

Toyota blamed it on the salt on U.K roads, which would make sense as those alloys were standard on that model Celica from 1999 to 2006 in all markets. Must have been cheaper to replace them than change the design or material for the worldwide market.

Mazda's have a similar issues as do other model Toyotas.

I did wonder if wheel cleaner made it worse though.

 

[davemotor]

it would be interesting to hear an opinion from some of the suppliers of wheel protection products eg Poorboys or similar

 

[davemotor]

they resealed my headlamps saying thats the problem but if it happens again i will demand new lights

maybe a daft question but how do you reseal a headlight

 

[SSimpson3]

maybe a daft question but how do you reseal a headlight

dont know but that was the answer i got

the wheel cleaner i use is the same as my brother uses on his X3 and all the cars he has had before that with no problems
i did get my tyres changed about 2 month back and did consider that to be the problem but obviously didnt mention this to Seat but i had 3 tyres changed at the same time and not all of them has the problem so i ruled that out
theres no sign of dents from hitting a pothole (but there is loads of potholes in this area)

 

[CupraSport]

I hope you get better luck with the alloys than my mate, he has a BMW 335d coupe on 19". The wheels had cracked on the inside rim, BMW said not a wheel problem (warrenty doesn't cover it) and he had to by 4 new rims cost him over a grand :-(

I hope you are closer to getting it sorted

 

[Paulki]

I've got the same BBS wheels as you and I have kerbed two of mine, but so far they are not showing any signs of the corrosion that you have despite it being several months since it happened.

I have never used alloy wheel cleaner on mine, and all I have done since is make sure the damaged area has a good coat of wax.

If you do use alloy wheel cleaner regularly and there was a problem with the lacquer coating, it could start corrosion under the lacquer; I think most cleaners say not to use on bare/exposed metal because of this? Unlike painted alloys, lacquered ones don't have the additional protection of primer under the top coats.

Either way, with no evidence of kerb damage to the surface, it has to be a manufacturing defect.

Good luck with getting them replaced, and I'd advise against using alloy wheel cleaner on polished lacquered wheels.

 

[SSimpson3]

i have now bought Bilberry safe wheel cleaner which is non acidid so safe to use on my alloys

 

[stuartsjg]

Have booked the car in for its 1st year service on the 1st of march and asked them to take a look at the flaking alloy paint.

They say that if there are any scratches or stone marks on the wheel then the warranty will be invalid, even if the damage isnt on the area that affected by the peeling paint.

Could be an annoyance as one wheel (drivers) doesnt have a single mark whilst ive got a few kerb marks on the rims of the other wheel (passengers). The peeling areas on the kerbd wheel is in a diffirent area to the damage.

They may come back and say one is covered under warranty whilst the other isnt! Will be arging that you shouldnt beable to scratch the paint off with your finger nail!!

Whilst ive got it in im having them look at a wet windows problem and also stiff change to 1st gear.

Will keep you posted,
Stuart

 

[SSimpson3]

Thats my headlamps misting up again so the 'resealing' did not work so ill have to phone them and get it booked in again and also find out if they will repair my boot

 

[Deleted member 35811]

Thats my headlamps misting up again so the 'resealing' did not work so ill have to phone them and get it booked in again and also find out if they will repair my boot

if you don't vacumn the air out a headlight before sealing a headlight - your bound to get condensation because of the temp difference inside and out the unit.

I doubt if your local Seat Dealer has that sort of equipment to do the job right.