** SEVERE PITTING on FondMetal Alloys **

Shambles · **September 01, 2008, 16:52:46**

I just took some piccies for the club, showing what's happening with my Tech5 alloys, which others like cammj and LarryC have.

They're under warranty and the problem is a known issue within the company. Replacement was not questioned.

I'm having mine replaced when I next go into the dealership, which should be in about 8 weeks time.

This pitting was first noticed after 4 months ownership, and is unrelated to the number of times you wash your alloys, allegedly.

Enjoy, or not as the case may be

Lets all hear it for Fergie's Pits!

eye30 · **Reply #1: September 01, 2008, 18:33:26**

Mine look ok but I'll give them a good looking at just before my service in 4 weeks.

Thanks for the pointer shambles

Shambles · **Reply #2: September 01, 2008, 18:50:45**

Quote from: "eye30"

Mine look ok but I'll give them a good looking at just before my service in 4 weeks.

Your alloys don't have the chrome inserts so you will be fine, but it's always a good idea to check warranty items

eye30 · **Reply #3: September 01, 2008, 22:07:16**

Quote from: "Shambles"

Quote from: "eye30"
Mine look ok but I'll give them a good looking at just before my service in 4 weeks.
Your alloys don't have the chrome inserts so you will be fine, but it's always a good idea to check warranty items

At the last wash I noticed the insides didn't clean up as well as previous so I'll take wheel off and check .

Dazzler · **Reply #4: September 01, 2008, 23:20:46**

Hey Shambles ...

It would be good if you could keep the old ones as maybe you could get them refurbished and sell them on ebay! Or keep the best one as a spare....

Shambles · **Reply #5: September 01, 2008, 23:42:56**

Quote from: "dazzling_darryl"

... Or keep the best one as a spare....

All 4 are quite bad, which is why the dealer had no problems saying they'd be replaced.

I'd like replacements like i30manUK's, but I doubt I'd get those.

buddyforu · **Reply #6: September 02, 2008, 12:04:25**

After 8 months, mine are still fine.I will double check tomorrow though!! I have never used any sort of mag wheel cleaner on them, it should be noted. I only ever wipe them down with a micofibre cloth.

EymaTeapot · **Reply #7: September 02, 2008, 12:21:36**

Shambles,

Seems other SR owners have not had the same issues with pimpling alloys.
Hopefully yours was faulty and just a one off. Not that that helps you any i guess.

Shambles · **Reply #8: September 02, 2008, 12:28:31**

Actually it does help Eyma.. it sort of reassures me that this isn't an endemic problem.

Over on the UK owners club one of their engineers has said an i30 was in recently for the same thing. Maybe a faulty batch. Hopefully just that.

tk421 · **Reply #9: September 02, 2008, 16:54:32**

eeeeewwww.... can't say i've seen anything like that on mine. i'll check it again tomorrow just to make sure.

cheers.

Tim

RegY · **Reply #10: September 05, 2008, 17:54:35**

same thing happened to my rear plastic cover for the door handle on the getz i (still) have

i got used to it now, but it's waaaay out of chrome league now...

Shambles · **Reply #11: November 08, 2008, 12:36:15**

Just had them replaced - took them an hour - look much better now

BEFORE

AFTER

Dazzler · **Reply #12: November 08, 2008, 20:58:23**

Hi Shambles... Did they replace the wheels or just the chrome inserts...?

Shambles · **Reply #13: November 08, 2008, 21:00:55**

Just the inserts. See other thread

Shambles · **Reply #14: February 28, 2009, 20:18:11**

Oh deary me

Gave Fergie a decent wash with the usual Supagard acid-rain shampoo and cleaned her off to a T.

Then I got down mean and nasty with the Supagard alloy wheel cleaning foam.

While waiting the 3 minutes for the alloy cleaner to take hold I read the back of the tin.

Quote

DO NOT USE on chrome fittings or chrome-plated features

Dammit. It was me that caused the pitting in the first place by the looks of it. Oops

I'll keep that quiet I think

eye30 · **Reply #15: February 28, 2009, 20:22:16**

Quote from: Shambles on February 28, 2009, 20:18:11

I'll keep that quiet I think

Too late I've forwarded this to Hy UK

bumpkin · **Reply #16: February 28, 2009, 21:07:15**

I would doubt that a 3 min dose of alloy cleaner would cause that severity of problem Steve, you stated above that Fondmetal were "aware of a problem", so it may be that your cleaner made it happen a bit quicker, but I would guess it was going to happen anyway.

On a related note the Autoglym alloy cleaner says something about not using on split manufactured alloys, where the hell do I find out about that

Shambles · **Reply #17: February 28, 2009, 21:51:12**

Hey Brian. Thanks for your reply. I've been using this SupaGard cleaner for 12 months, on and off.

When I reported the problem it was indeed a known issue within the HY dealership... I just wonder whether the fact that the standard Dutton Forshaw (My dealer, R.I.P.) protection pack included SupaGard Alloy Cleaner, but that it possibly shouldn't have been applied to semi-chrome alloys. The stuff I've been using was part of a 24-month supply of after-market SupaGard kit which was in Fergie's boot when I collected her.

I won't be using it again, I can tell you.

clicheuk · **Reply #18: March 22, 2009, 11:29:29**

just had mine replaced for the 2nd time in the past 12 months, ive read throughthe repies and i might have missed it, but did anyone know the inserts are plastic? the dealer said it was a known issue, so no guilty trips for using the wrong cleaner and if it was a faulty batch i would have thought my first replacement would have sorted out the problem. fingers crossed, hopefully the new replacements will last this time.

Dazzler · **Reply #19: March 22, 2009, 11:41:15**

Hi clicheuk...

Welcome to the club.. It is interesting that you are also in the UK.. must be your lousy weather..

bumpkin · **Reply #20: March 22, 2009, 11:46:48**

Quote from: clicheuk on March 22, 2009, 11:29:29

just had mine replaced for the 2nd time in the past 12 months, ive read throughthe repies and i might have missed it, but did anyone know the inserts are plastic? the dealer said it was a known issue, so no guilty trips for using the wrong cleaner and if it was a faulty batch i would have thought my first replacement would have sorted out the problem. fingers crossed, hopefully the new replacements will last this time.

Hi clicheuk, welcome to our ever expanding club

Now the fact that the inserts are plastic does open a new question. Any solvent based cleaner will melt plastic, so all those with the inserts type wheels should check all their cleaning products for solvents, if they are present I would avoid using them. Alcohol will be OK though.

Cheers
Brian

eye30 · **Reply #21: March 22, 2009, 12:09:13**

Welcome clicheuk

Where do you hail from?

clicheuk · **Reply #22: March 23, 2009, 13:19:41**

Quote from: eye30 on March 22, 2009, 12:09:13

Welcome clicheuk

Where do you hail from?

sunny Essex mate, so i doubt its the weather causing the problem, lol.
what i would say about cleaning with solvents etc is that i use nothing but soapy water to clean them and the pitting was on the first set of inserts when i received delivery of my i30 with 4 miles on the clock, so it is more likely to be a manufacturing fault.
the dealer did say that Hyundai were aware of the problem but it begs the question, if they were chrome (instead of plastic) i doubt if we would have any problems at all.

thanks for the welcome guys, i dont feel like a muppet now

Shambles · **Reply #23: March 23, 2009, 14:06:25**

Mine definitely have a metallic ping when I tap them

clicheuk · **Reply #24: March 23, 2009, 14:16:35**

Quote from: ʇǝuɹǝʇuı ʇɐ poob ʇou ɯɐ ı on March 23, 2009, 14:06:25

Mine definitely have a metallic ping when I tap them

is it worth asking your dealer if they changed from plastic and put real chrome ones back on, the pictures you put at the top are exactley how both set of mine went and ive just checked the replacements and there plastic again (no ping).