Raptor paint issue?

[Kazoo]

The team that review these concerns at the corporate level are usually correct in their determination of the root cause of the issue. The times when they get it wrong are usually the result of the dealer providing bad information or submitting poor quality photos.

The decision are based off of the time that the issue was first noticed and the type of concern. They also track issues, so if they see the same “Non-warrantable” concern occuring across multiple vehicles in the same location, they will investigate with engineering and change the status of the concern to warrantable. A great example would be the 02-05 Explorer tailgate appliqué cracking; it clearly looks like impact damage, but it was actually a faulty part that affected many vehicles.

In the case of your concern, can you feel the crack with a finger nail? If so, their determination is most likely correct; however, how did the panel become overflexed without any impact damage? Are there signs of panel misalignment that may have contributed to the panel
flexing and cracking the paint? Are the fasteners that hold the panel on all present and properly torqued? This is where the dealer can go to bat for you and reply to the prior approval team with any relevant additional information that may change the decision in regards to the warrantability of the issue. As you mentioned, perhaps your selling dealer might be more supportive.

I still question the ceramic coating. Without knowing the company or type of product they applied, how can we be 100% sure it’s not a contributing factor? Maybe you can get that information from the dealer.

I still awaiting a response from the dealer that I bought the truck from. I offered to send pictures of the surrounding parts, ie. bumper etc. to show that theres absolutely no other damage that would indicate an impact. I also offered to bring the truck up so they could personally inspect it and discuss. Will wait another day or two before contacting again, any prior dealings ive had with this particular person have been very efficient, so we will see what happens.
Yes i can feel the crack with my nail.

 

[Donmatteo]

A great example would be the 02-05 Explorer tailgate appliqué cracking; it clearly looks like impact damage, but it was actually a faulty part that affected many vehicles.

Wife is still salty about her 04 aviator when that happened.

I still question the ceramic coating. Without knowing the company or type of product they applied, how can we be 100% sure it’s not a contributing factor? Maybe you can get that information from the dealer.

I don't think it would be the coating itself. That's usually a wipe on kinda thing. I would be thinking it would be the prep work where buffers are used. Buffers with hand pressure and heat caused by the rotation on a composite panel can do damage.

I had a Alfa 4C and it clearly said to not use a rotary buffer on the SMC body which was fiber glass like the front fenders of the raptor.

 

[FordTechOne]

Wife is still salty about her 04 aviator when that happened.

I don't think it would be the coating itself. That's usually a wipe on kinda thing. I would be thinking it would be the prep work where buffers are used. Buffers with hand pressure and heat caused by the rotation on a composite panel can do damage.

I had a Alfa 4C and it clearly said to not use a rotary buffer on the SMC body which was fiber glass like the front fenders of the raptor.

Great point, thanks for chiming in. I didn't realize that they buff the panel before application. As you mention, the heat generated by a buffer (especially rotary) is immense, to the point of literally burning the finish or damaging the fiberglass/composite material. I bought a buffer years ago, and I went with a Random Orbital for this reason. Too easy to damage a vehicle with a rotary.

 

[Donmatteo]

Great point, thanks for chiming in. I didn't realize that they buff the panel before application. As you mention, the heat generated by a buffer (especially rotary) is immense, to the point of literally burning the finish or damaging the fiberglass/composite material. I bought a buffer years ago, and I went with a Random Orbital for this reason. Too easy to damage a vehicle with a rotary.

Funny you would say random orbital because that was also a no no with the SMC bodies. It generates heat as well.

Before ceramic coating is applied, the paint is washed and all the contaminates removed. The paint is buffed and polished and then the ceramic coating is applied.

When people have their paint corrected, they sand down the clear coat to get rid of the highs and lows and then buff and polish. A unskilled, untrained or rush job can damage the paint. Add in a composite hood and fenders and the damage could be sever. A good shop will check the paint thickness before they do the job so they don’t burn the paint. I wonder how many places actually do that step. A dude in the 4C club took his car to a shop for paint correction and ceramic coating and had several cracks afterward.

Many detail shops will only paint correct metal or cf cars.

Glass cars usually need a specialist or someone who knows how to work the buffers to prevent damage.

 

[FordTechOne]

Funny you would say random orbital because that was also a no no with the SMC bodies. It generates heat as well.

Before ceramic coating is applied, the paint is washed and all the contaminates removed. The paint is buffed and polished and then the ceramic coating is applied.

When people have their paint corrected, they sand down the clear coat to get rid of the highs and lows and then buff and polish. A unskilled, untrained or rush job can damage the paint. Add in a composite hood and fenders and the damage could be sever.

Many detail shops will only paint correct metal or cf cars.

Glass cars usually need a specialist or someone who knows how to work the buffers to prevent damage.

Great info, thanks. I didn't realize that even the RA can generate enough heat to cause an issue.

 

[Kazoo]

Interesting. I was trying to figure out how a simple ceramic coating could possibly cause a crack, but the whole buffing/polishing process and heat generation sounds logical.
Im probably screwed.

 

[Kazoo]

View attachment 144038

Gossman95, have you spoken to your dealer yet regarding this?

 

[Donmatteo]

Interesting. I was trying to figure out how a simple ceramic coating could possibly cause a crack, but the whole buffing/polishing process and heat generation sounds logical.
Im probably screwed.

You might not. I’d speak with the dealer that did the work and have them address it.

If you approach it rational and lay out cause and effect. You might be ok. I doubt they know the fenders and hood are composite. Mistakes happen. How they are fixed is the difference.

 

[Kazoo]

True. Ill let you all know how I make out.