Rust Begins Showing Up After Only 75,000 Miles
Question: I have a 1982 Datsun 280ZX and have never had any problems. I have put 75,000 miles on the car, and now it is exhibiting rust, not in spots, but all over. The deck lid, hood and fenders all have large rust spots and holes corroded through the metal. The car has never been outside Southern California or by the ocean. Does Datsun have a secret warranty on this?--J.B.
Answer: Unfortunately, Nissan does not have an established warranty extension that covers your problem. The extent of the corrosion you describe seems unusual in the California climate, but many owners of Japanese cars have found that they do not hold up well against rust.
The age of your car will make it difficult to get an adjustment, but you should press ahead just the same. You could try to haggle with a dealer, but you are going to end up having to get approval from Nissan’s American headquarters in Costa Mesa.
Nissan in Japan sets down stringent guidelines on payments to customers in your situation. But it does not seem as though a high-priced sports car should have catastrophic metal corrosion after six years, especially in a climate where salt is not used on the roads.
Q: I have a 1984 Ford Escort with 42,000 miles on it. My problem is that the brake light stays on for one or two minutes after I start out. My regular mechanic has inspected the brakes and found nothing wrong. This is very annoying. What do you suggest?--R.H.
A: The brake light is supposed to indicate when you have a hydraulic leak in the brake system. The brake system has two circuits so that if one circuit fails, the second circuit acts as a back-up.
The light should go on only when the hydraulic pressure in one circuit is lower than the other circuit, which occurs when you have a leak. The light is controlled by a sensor in something called the proportioning valve, which controls the pressure between the front and rear brakes.
In early model cars, the proportioning valve had to be manually reset after brake work, such as bleeding the hydraulic lines of air. If this wasn’t done, the brake light would often be on all the time. But by 1984, the proportioning valves (see illustration) were able to reset themselves.
If the mechanic was correct in his diagnosis that you do not have any problems in the system, then you should have him look for a potential intermittent short circuit.
Electrical shorts are difficult problems to fix however. You may first want a brake expert to examine the system and make sure there is not a leak. Sometimes, a leak can occur from one circuit into another circuit with no evidence of fluid leakage. The mechanic obviously will want to make sure there is no loss of brake fluid from the master cylinder.
Q: You recently mentioned a lubricant and rust inhibitor called Boeshield T-9. Where can this product be purchased?--C.K.
A: Boeshield was developed by Boeing, the aircraft producer, for use as a moisture barrier on aircraft structures. It contains a wax that remains on metal as a protective film. Boeing licensed the product for the consumer market to PMS Products Inc., 607 St. Lucie Crescent, Stuart, Fla. 34994. The telephone number is (305) 286-7134.
Boeshield isn’t cheap. It’s $5.99 for a 12-ounce aerosol can. But as an industrial-grade product, you may find it exceeds the capabilities of many retail lubricants.
