DIY fix/rust prevention for cracking paint area

mysoulishome

Please excuse my ignorance, total novice with this stuff. Just bought an 05 Caravan and want to protect the places it has chips/scrapes from rust. This area is kind of like where mud dries. The paint and primer are peeled away from the body completely although there does not seem to be a dent or anything there to cause it. Any fairly simple DIY suggestions to stop this from being an eyesore and rust magnet?

I guess there is sanding and sandblasting and touching up but is it possible to do that as a novice without it looking like crap? Maybe a stupid question but is there kind of sealant you can just put over it and other (normal) scrapes so that water doesn't make it rust?

93tracker5spd

Hello! Welcome to Edmunds. I have seen this condition before, it is almost always the result of body filler being applied over damage or rust without proper preparation. This is done to make a vehicle visually appealing for the sale, and unfortunately it continues to rust underneath until the filler lets go, and the tension of the paint on the surface makes these cracks appear. The only real way to fix it is to take out the old filler and see what is actually under it, and hope it is not rust through. This is not the end of the world, it just requires some work to correct. There are many very good videos on how to correct body panel rust and damage on YouTube.com. Whether you do it yourself or hire it done, it is always a good idea to educate yourself on the whole procedure. If you don't feel confident painting and clear coating, then you can always do the body work and priming then hire a professional to apply the finish. This is what I do because I don't have a proper paint both or the equipment to apply today's finishes correctly. Just remember; a paint job is only as good as the prep work. If you decide to do the body work yourself, find a professional painter who will set down and talk with you and explain what works and what doesn't. Then watch some of these videos and get some ideas as to how you want to proceed. Remember, there is no magic, and short cuts lead to what you already have. It's really not that difficult, but it does require patience and determination. If you go professional all the way, talk to people you know and who's opinion you trust, find a shop that is privately owned and has been around for a long time, they will be concerned about their reputation and want to do quality work. Which ever way you go, I wouldn't let this condition continue to long; the damage will only get worse. Good luck to you.

Mr_Shiftright

In addition to that approach, you might get an estimate from the more budget-minded body shops, like Miracle, if there's one in your area. The work might not be show quality but if the rest of the van has little dings and scratches, then "good enough" might be good enough. I agree, you have "bondo" under those cracks, and probably too thick an application. Sooner or later (sooner than later), it's going to come off in chunks. Thick filler is often used when the person doesn't have the patience to "work" the panel as straight and smooth as possible prior to a skim coat of filler.

mysoulishome

Thank you both for your detailed answers, I appreciate being informed about this.