Galvanic Corrosion

[BS15RED]

Hi Guys, first of all I’d like to say how pleased I am to of found this forum, it’s the best I’ve seen for UK Mustang owners. I’m the proud owner of a 65 plate Ecoboost.

I bought the car last May, in November I noticed the paint bubbling around the driver side wheel arch, the other day I noticed the same on the passenger side arch. There’s also a few bobbles on the bonnet I’ve googled this, and to my horror found out that it’s down to galvanic rust, apparently a very common occurrence in early S550’s.

I love the car, so I’m prepared to spend to replace both wings and the bonnet, as there’s no way to remove it from the affected areas. I’ve googled and all I can find is pattern parts, or in the case of the bonnet, an apparent genuine bonnet, but would need to be imported from Lithuania, which would mean paying over £200 in import tax, aside from the risk of it being a dud!

My other option is to buy one from a breakers, and my question here is twofold, would a bonnet from a later model S550, say a GT fit onto my car? Also, did Ford cure this problem? I don’t want to be going through this again in a couple of years time.

Any opinions on pattern parts or if anyone else has had a similar experience, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks for reading, Jon.

Sponsored

 

[V8_MOTOR]

Replaced my hood with a fibreglass one and now will be replacing the hood with carbon along with the fenders. Can't rust if it isn't metal.

The issue is to do with contamination in the paint or something but literally everyone has it. Mine was repaired under warranty but came back after a few months.

 

[MarkM]

I’d be going down the breakers route, there’s a few on eBay for a start, strip and treat before painting.
You’ll need a pre facelift car, so 16 to mid 18 in the Uk, facelift cars have different wings, bonnet, bumper and all the ancillaries that go with them. Not seen it on my 18 thankfully……yet

 

[BS15RED]

I’ve read that in America, Ford have been replacing bonnets rather than fixing them under warranty. Did they just do a spot repair on yours? Also, can I ask what age your car is please?

 

[BS15RED]

Thanks Mark, that’s very helpful, now I can rule out later models.

 

[RR550]

Hi Guys, first of all I’d like to say how pleased I am to of found this forum, it’s the best I’ve seen for UK Mustang owners. I’m the proud owner of a 65 plate Ecoboost.

I bought the car last May, in November I noticed the paint bubbling around the driver side wheel arch, the other day I noticed the same on the passenger side arch. There’s also a few bobbles on the bonnet I’ve googled this, and to my horror found out that it’s down to galvanic rust, apparently a very common occurrence in early S550’s.

I love the car, so I’m prepared to spend to replace both wings and the bonnet, as there’s no way to remove it from the affected areas. I’ve googled and all I can find is pattern parts, or in the case of the bonnet, an apparent genuine bonnet, but would need to be imported from Lithuania, which would mean paying over £200 in import tax, aside from the risk of it being a dud!

My other option is to buy one from a breakers, and my question here is twofold, would a bonnet from a later model S550, say a GT fit onto my car? Also, did Ford cure this problem? I don’t want to be going through this again in a couple of years time.

Any opinions on pattern parts or if anyone else has had a similar experience, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks for reading, Jon.

 

[RR550]

I have the same problem, have a look at Ebay 1557 7389 6091 and 3749 3296 4795, could be a warranty job, but would need an impecable service record!

 

[FMJ]

This has been happening since the 2005 models which had exactly the same problem with Aluminium bonnets.

Some seem to get away with it but it’s pot luck. My bonnet edge just starting bubbling at 6years with no stone chips in the area (so it’s definitely contaminated paint or
iron particles on the Ali).

The only real fix is a Carbon/GRP one but these can also crack or be bad fits….

 

[dpAtlanta]

Galvanic corrosion occurs when dissimilar metals are in contact.

What dissimilar metal is in the area of the corrosion?

 

[FMJ]

The general consensus was that iron/steel particles end up on the bare aluminium before primer is applied. Maybe from the steel moulds/presses. Ford have never really admitted it but have replaced bonnets/hoods under warranty.

Some of the S197’s actually corroded all the way through. Annoyingly the S550 has aluminium front wings too…. I would rather have just had steel and the extra bit of weight.

 

[dpAtlanta]

Thanks… that’s a plausible theory and makes sense.

Sponsored