Because of the salt mines under SE Michigan/Lake Erie, salt is in abundance and is used to control ice during the winter. You'd be lucky to find a car around here that is older than 5 years without rust somewhere. This Honda has over 315,000 miles on it. Rust is it's only nemesis. The rust started at the roof line, at the top of the windshield. When metal rusts, it expands. This put pressure on the windshield, cracking the glass beginning on both sides at opposite points. When it rains steady for a day or overnight, sometimes water gets at the point of breach, runs down the post and shorts out the electrical system at teh fuse box. This kills the battery. I charge up the battery and put a small fan blowing on the electrical. That seems to do the trick. This is a pain to be sure BUT HEY, this car, in Michigan, with >315k, sounds like new when driving down the road, handles great, and is extremely dependable in every other way. Other than the water leaking because of the rust, it's the most reliable car I've ever owned. I wish it had the Rust Resilience of my formerly owned Audi. Too bad about the rust.
Because of the salt mines under SE Michigan/Lake Erie, salt is in abundance and is used to control ice during the winter. You'd be lucky to find a car around here that is older than 5 years without rust somewhere. This Honda has over 315,000 miles on it. Rust is it's only nemesis. The rust started at the roof line, at the top of the windshield. When metal rusts, it expands. This put pressure on the windshield, cracking the glass beginning on both sides at opposite points. When it rains steady for a day or overnight, sometimes water gets at the point of breach, runs down the post and shorts out the electrical system at teh fuse box. This kills the battery. I charge up the battery and put a small fan blowing on the electrical. That seems to do the trick. This is a pain to be sure BUT HEY, this car, in Michigan, with >315k, sounds like new when driving down the road, handles great, and is extremely dependable in every other way. Other than the water leaking because of the rust, it's the most reliable car I've ever owned. I wish it had the Rust Resilience of my formerly owned Audi. Too bad about the rust.
- brew, Livonia, MI, US