1988 Acura Legend L from North America - Comments

Transmission. Being an above average shadetree mechanic, I replaced the tranny with a salvage unit for $550 myself in 6 hours, following a Haynes manual, $13. Works great!!!!

I bought it at a repo auction for $450. Needed a bath, muffler and a tranny. I have less than $1000 in this beauty. Runs like a champ, all the toys work, no rattles, and it's pretty quick for 12 year old 4 door sedan. It cleaned up very well, it has a small amount of rust on rear wheel wells and gas cap area. For having 176k miles, it looks and runs like a car one fourth the age and miles. Very pleased.

Hi, my name is Radu. I just bought an Acura Legend 1988, but I have that problem with the rust on the right rear of the car, near the back door ahead my back right wheel.

If you know something, please let me know. Somebody told me that this problem can't be solved, or won't keep for a long time. If you know what I can do with the rust please inform me.

Sincerly, Radu

My email address: sradug@yahoo.com

Thank you

Radu,

The rust problem you, and everyone else in this post, describe sounds like the same problem experienced by 1991-1994 Ford Explorers. The manufacturer failed to protect the sheet metal in the front of the rear fender wells with a plastic or rubber splash guard and the grit coming off the rear wheels wears a hole in the sheet metal. Once the hole exists you shoot water and road dirt into the void behind the rocker panels every time it rains. The the wet muddy mixture sits in the rocker panel and causes it to rust from the inside out. The cure, If it's the same problem, is to cutout and replace the rusty portion of the rocker panel. While you have a hole in the rocker panel clean out the dirt by flushing or other means and allow the area to dry thoroughly before repairing the hole. A rust treatment (such as Eastwood Rust Encapsulator) should be sprayed into the area after the hole in the rocker panel is repaired. You also need to repair the hole in the sheet metal in front of the rear tires and add a splash guard to prevent this same problem from recurring. Sounds like a pain huh?

Mark.