rust underneath front seats 1999 i30

[VQboy]

I've noticed rust under the front seats of my 1999 I30. There seems to be a lot more rust under the driver's side compared to the passenger side. As I live in Canada, we do have snow on the ground for several months of the year during winter, but I don't suspect many drivers would routinely get the underside of the seat wet (it is a pre-owned car).My I30 has power and heated seats. Would the rust pose potential problems with the seat functions in the future? Does anyone have any idea as to what I should do to fix/limit the rust before it gets worse and cause damage? Thanks in advance!

VQboy

[Q451990]

You're talking about the seat coils rusting into the foam? Maybe the heated seats are creating condensation or something... hard to say. There's a product that works great for stopping rust called Loctite Extend. That's what I'd use.

Heath

[VQboy]

Actually, almost every metal component under the seat has surface rust...from metal support bars, to the rails/track on which the seat moves fore/aft.

[maxnix]

I assume there is salt on the roads?

[AZhitman]

Run a CarFax - Perhaps flood damage.

Is there rust on the undercarriage? If not, maybe the seats are out of another car?

Weird - car is too new for corrosion, esp in the INTERIOR.

[VQboy]

CARFax Search was clean.Undercarriage appears normal for its age.Seats from another car....maybe. But BOTH driver's side and passenger's side have rust underneath; just more rust on driver's side.Yes, we do salt the roads during winter, but I don't think the salt would cause that much rust underneath the seat...never seen it before in my other autos.

[AZhitman]

Interesting that corrosion is not on exterior but inside....

Perhaps a spill of something caustic inside car?

Have you pulled up the rear seat cushion to see if it's rusted as well? What is the condition of the floorboards (under the seats&carpet?)

Is car still under warranty? I'd be taking a drive to the dealer to see what their take on the matter is...

[Q451990]

The seat coils aren't rust proofed in any way. I once steam cleaned the interior of my old Mercury Cougar in January. It took about four days for it to dry out because it was cold out - lots of light rust in that car!! It's probably something like that...

Heath

[AZhitman]

Ah - Good point. Could've been owned by a guy with kids (who make frequent carpet cleanings mandatory).