Keeping Encore rust free. Check for SALT after each winter!

[GoMich]

Winter is coming, but doing some regular winterizing maintenance I found an unpleasant surprise, that needed attention and that I am sharing with you all. If you live in winter salt state, I recommend to check this. I removed plastic trim at drivers side floor edge and raised the carpet. There was significant layer of salt deposits from passed winter. It was surprising to see because the carpet surface was looking clean of salt. I suspect it was due to salty water from shoes wicked on carpet underside and turned into salt deposits. If you see the picture, salt was covering all Grounding connections (see copper lugs) and edge of carpet and sound isolation padding.
I had to use water rug and vacuum at first to get rid of salt! The picture was taken after I removed the salt, so it looks clean now.
Afterwards I used rust inhibitors Like LPS3 or 3M wax to cover lugs and metal where salt was found. I did not have same problem on passenger side since I dont usually have a regular passenger, but if someone does, it might be same story for both driver and passenger side. Anyway if you plan to keep vehicle long time, check those areas and clean salt off, otherwise it is bound to become a problem in few years. Plastic trim is easily unsnaps with big flat screw driver. Dont pay attention to a blue cable (you wont have one, its a power cable for an amp). Also try to use good deep rubber floor mat to capture as much run off from your salty shoes!

 

[crakkus]

Might be a good idea to invest in some weather techs.

I have a salty climate and this is a good tips. thanks mate.

 

[TheAirman]

Wow! What state do you live in? And good tip, BTW.

I had that happen years ago when cars weren't so "rustproof". Now everytime I get into my car in the winter, and I have snow on my shoes, I do the "click my heals together" thing and try to get as much snow of my shoes as possible. The heater melts the rest into the winter rubber mats.

Then if I notice ANY water in the drivers mat later, I either soak it up with a rag, or replace the drivers mat with the passenger mat until that one had dried. After seeing rusted floorboards, I try to keep as much moisture out of the interior as I can