Sealing and Touching Up the Factory (OEM) Undercoat on the Undercarriage
What is your question?
On the ND2 MX5, Mazda installs from the factory a rubberized coating that starts after the frame rail and pinch weld and stops just before the front and rear crossmember and transmission tunnel. I noticed that 2 very small sections of the (OEM) factory-installed rubberized coating has peeled. I am also aware that Zeibart rubberized coatings and rattle-can rubberized coatings will trap moisture and cause accelerated rusting. However, I do not want to leave these 2 small areas of the metal exposed. The 2 tears in the undercoating are about the size of a nickel. There are no dents. Would applying a little bit of automotive primer followed by applying Rust-Oleum Flat Black Paint be effective? Or, should I apply the primer, add a little bit of Bondo to match the depth of the OEM coating and then apply Rust-Oleum automotive flat black paint? I am also open to other strategies. Please advise.
RepairPal Certified shops can diagnose and repair your 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata. They provide transparent pricing with a minimum 12-month or 12,000-mile warranty on repairs and services.
Hi, my name is Devin. I am an auto repair expert with the Car Genius team here at RepairPal.
To touch up the factory undercoat on your MX-5, your approach of using an automotive primer is a good start. To effectively seal and protect the exposed metal, I recommend lightly sanding the area around the peeled sections, applying a high-quality automotive primer, and using a rubberized undercoating specifically made for touch-ups. Rust-Oleum's flat black paint can be used as an extra layer of protection, but it's important that the touch-up material mimics the original rubberized coating to ensure flexibility and long-term protection. There's no need for Bondo unless there's physical damage or dents.
If you need more advice, have any other questions about your vehicle, or would like to get connected to a RepairPal Certified shop near you, we have you covered. Give us a call at 877-913-1554, and we will happily help you out!
