Underbody sealing materials
The surface of the bottom and the outer surfaces of the thresholds are treated with a bottom sealant Plastisol PVC. This material is not suitable for reapplication. During repair work, remove the factory coating of the bottom in the damaged area to bare metal. Make sure that the area to be treated is metallically clean and that the edges of the existing sealing coat adhere securely to the panel.
Apply a new sealant to the primed surface prior to painting operations. Apply weld sealant before applying bottom sealant. Ensure that all plugs and rubber stoppers in the floor panel (except for plugs covering holes for sealing treatment) were placed in place prior to applying the sealing compound. Replace any plugs that were damaged during the repair by heat, or replace them with rubber plugs.
WARNING: Cover all suspension components, wheels, tires, powertrain, drive and propeller shafts, exhaust system and brakes (including all attachment points) before applying the new sealing material to the underbody of the vehicle.
What to look for when repairing
Be careful when carrying out repair work in the workshop. The sealing coating of the bottom, seam seals, body parts can be damaged if the car is carelessly lifted on a lift.
Anti-corrosion treatment carried out by the owner
Do-it-yourself anti-corrosion treatment by the owner in addition to the factory treatment is not recommended, as it will void the warranty on the vehicle's anti-corrosion protection. This does not apply to approved protective wax formulations that are compatible with and can be applied over existing coatings.
Installation of permitted equipment
When installing additional equipment, make sure that the protective anti-corrosion layer is not damaged in the form of cracks or moisture ingress to body parts.
Do not drive self-tapping screws directly into body panels. Install appropriate plastic inserts for this. When drilling holes in body parts, always prime the edges of the holes with a suitable zinc or phosphoric acid primer, and then apply a protective compound around the hole with a brush.
Do not install equipment with a painted metal surface directly on the body panel without prior protective treatment. When connecting metal surfaces to each other with bolts, always treat the joint planes with zinc primer, place zinc tape between the surfaces or apply a layer of inert material.
Steam bottom cleaning
During steam cleaning, due to the high temperature, there is a risk of damage or softening of the corrosion protection materials.
Adjust the steam cleaning equipment so that the temperature at the outlet of the nozzle does not exceed 90°.
Do not direct the steam jet at one place for a long time and place the nozzle of the equipment no closer than 300 mm from the surface of the body.
DO NOT REMOVE protective or paintwork from underbody or engine compartment surfaces during repairs. If it becomes necessary to clean these areas with steam, apply a new protective coating as soon as possible.
Inspection during maintenance
It is a requirement of the factory body corrosion warranty that the condition of the factory protective coating be checked by an authorized Land Rover dealer at least once a year.
The list of maintenance works includes the following operations for checking the anti-corrosion protection of the body:
- Raise the vehicle on a lift and visually inspect the underbody anti-corrosion coating.
- Lower the car and inspect it from the outside, checking for damage to the paintwork and signs of rust.
The vehicle must be washed and de-sticked prior to inspection. The owner of the car must promptly remove accumulations of dirt that contribute to the development of corrosion. If the owner has submitted a dirty vehicle for maintenance, the wash must be carried out at the dealer's station before the body inspection is carried out. Hard-to-reach places should be especially carefully examined.
The above checks are visual only. When checking the condition of the body, do not remove decorative panels, rubber moldings or separate sound-absorbing materials.
With the vehicle raised on a lift, use a flashlight to visually inspect the following:
- Are there signs of corrosion and damage to the coating, what is the condition of the sealing coating on the lower panels of the front and rear parts of the body, sills and wheel arches.
- Damage to the protective layer of the body. Corrosion in areas adjacent to suspension mounts and fuel tank mounts.
Slight blisters in the underbody coating are acceptable, provided no metal is visible in them.
Pay special attention to the absence of signs of damage to the body panels and protective coating caused by improper installation of the car on a lift.
ATTENTION: It is very important to follow the rules for installing and lifting the car on a lift and jack.
After lowering the vehicle, inspect all visible areas of the body for damage to panels or signs of corrosion, paying attention to the following points:
- Front edge of the hood.
- Visible flanges in the engine compartment.
- Panels of the lower part of the body and doors.
Repair body damage and panel corrosion found during the inspection as soon as possible to reduce the area of damage and ensure the effectiveness of the factory protective coating. The cost of work to eliminate traces and causes of corrosion is paid by the owner, but the dealer must advise the owner and draw up the appropriate documents.
If signs of corrosion are obvious and are close to a removable body part (molding, glass, seat, etc.), then remove this part to effectively eliminate corrosion.
Underbody protective coating repair
Every time a body repair is carried out, make sure that the sealing and anti-corrosion coating is completely restored. This applies both to damaged areas of the bodywork and to areas where the protective coating has been affected as a result of an impact or during repair work.
Before repairing a warped panel, remove the anti-corrosion mastic from the damaged area.
This is especially true for panels coated with protective wax, PVC-based sealant, sound-absorbing cores, etc.
Caution: DO NOT use an oxy-acetylene torch to remove anti-corrosion coating. In this case, the coating materials are heated and a large amount of gases and smoke are released.
Equipment for the removal of durable anti-corrosion coatings has different characteristics of efficiency and speed. Compressed air scraper (NOT pneumatic chisel), allows you to get a relatively quiet method of mechanical sealant removal due to very fast reciprocating movements of the working body. To remove material, move the tool along the repaired panel.
The most common way to remove sealant is to use a warm air supply integrated with a scraper.
As a result of the high temperatures generated by this equipment, smoke may occur. Therefore, care must be taken.
Another tool, one of the most effective, is the fast-acting "hot knife". This fast and versatile tool is equipped with a wide blade and can be used successfully in hard-to-reach places on profiled surfaces.
Use the following procedure when restoring underbody coverage.
- 1. Remove the existing underbody cover.
- 2. After the repair is completed, wipe the repaired area with a cloth soaked in solvent and treat the surface with a phosphoric acid-based material.
- 3. Apply primer to the area to be treated.
CAUTION: NEVER apply sealant directly to a bare metal surface.
- Replace any inserts that have been damaged by heat. If new inserts are not available, use appropriately sized rubber plugs, making sure they are sunk into the sealant cover.
- Before applying the mastic, close all installation points from which pipelines, hoses and other mechanical components have been removed. The undercoat must be applied before these components are installed.
- Apply a protective coating with a brush to all exposed welds.
- Apply to the surface to be treated with an air gun recommended for the repair of the composition for the protection of the bottom.
- Remove screens covering mounting points and add protective compound where needed. Allow the coating to dry before applying a protective wax coat to the bottom.
After installing all mechanical components, including lines and hoses, cover the brakes and apply the recommended underbody wax.
NOTE: If repairs involve touch-up of areas to be treated with protective wax, the touch-up should be done prior to application of protective wax.
Comments on this article