Winter SUCKS!!! The cancer is spreading :(

[AngelDust09]

So when I bought my '02 Protg last summer it had some cancer above both the rear wheels and some small spots inside the doors and elsewhere. Because of the bad winter we've been having, the salt is wreaking havoc on the larger rust spots over the wheels and they're getting worse rapidly. I've been trying to wash the car as often as possible but money is tight and I always spring for the $12-$15 wash because it includes the underbody flush. Anyways, I was hoping for any alternatives there might be other than constant washing to stop the cancer from spreading. I'm already saving to have body work done over the summer but at this rate it's going to be way more than I originally bargained for unless I can find other way to stop the salt from eating my car!

Oh that reminds me, I had to call AAA to send someone to jump start my car the other day because the extreme cold drained my battery. The technician who came out told me the battery that's in my car is undersized and leaking. I know he's right about it leaking because phosphorus powder keeps building up around the battery ports but how can it be undersized and the car is still running right? I don't understand how that works. I'm going to get a new battery but I can't afford it until I get paid next Friday. Will the old battery hold out that long or do I need to start worrying about my car exploding?!

I need to start learning more about cars...this is ridiculous (boom08)

 

[concept]

Yes, necessity is the mother of learning (taken from "mother of invention"). Regarding your battery: The technician was probably not talking about physical size. Rather, he was talking about the battery's Cold Cranking Amps, which varies from the various battery models and applications. My advice would be for you to get a Walmart "MAX" battery (I think they are yellow) for your exact car. These batteries are typically rated highly by Consumer Reports and are less than $100. If money is really tight, Walmart's other (black) batteries are pretty good (I've had some last 5 years, but here in San Diego) at about $20 less than the MAX battery. Make sure you pick the freshest one, as indicated by the date sticker.
If your battery is, in fact, leaking, that leak could dissolve metal over time, so you might not want to wait too long before you replace it.

There's not much you can do with the rust before body work is done, unfortunately. Maybe someone else has a suggestion.

 

[03protolx]

To the OP: I dont know if you knew this, but WD40 is a great rust preventative. after every car wash I spray the only rust spot on the car (below the gas door). It hasn't grown in over a year and plan on "fixing" it soon.

One way you can "fix" the rust (well you're not really fixing it just painting it) is you can go to any NAPA or auto parts store and buy a can of aerosol rubberized coating. after owning a few proteges i've noticed at the bottom of the front doors that water likes to get trapped in the weatherstripping and rot out the doors.

I've been coating the bottom of the doors with rubberized aerosol for the past three years and then painting over the coating. in all my proteges there is not one single spec of rust forming anymore. the rubber "repels" it and it's completely paintable.

now my '97 has been completely rotted out for the past four years in the wheel wells but on my '99 and my 01 I was able to solve the rust issue.

 

[Bonks]

Oil proof on a dry day. Great diy option is Flud Film in an aerosol can

 

[stivine6]

I usually just get a tube of mystik grease and pack the fenders inside before winter hits and spray a layer of corrosion free just about everywhere. It's been working great here in toronto salty weather. I also park in an underground garage with the mp3 and my old pro, held up very good and rust didn't progress