Cracking paint on hood and quarter panels.

[IAMCDN]

Cracking paint on hood and fenders

I have a 94 XLT 4x4, 165000 kms. Bought it about 5 months ago. Since then, I have noticed the hood and front quarter panels are cracking quite badly, the most on the hood, the most there on the very front(vertical part). The cracks are worse at the front, but go all the way to the wipers. The front of the quarter panels are bad too.
Anyone else have this problem?

I bargained with the dealer I bought the truck from and they are willing to strip and repaint the hood, which is the worst, for half price, or $150. I was also wondering if it is possible to just paint the very front facing parts of the quarter panels only, not the whole quarter panels, then just blend it in (so I don't have to pay for the whole quarter panels to be painted, since they are nice except for the front). Repainting the whole truck is not an option...$$$.

Any auto body pros out there? While they are painting the hood, can they just do those little front facing parts on the quarter panel too, or do they have to do the whole panels?

I am taking it in tomorrow...any response is appreciated.

 

[Stephen]

What color is your truck?

They will deal with it depending on that. Most likely they'll have to blend the hood into the front fenders anyway to make the color match, should be included in the estimate they gave you.

Make sure they'e going to do that or on a 94 it'll look like crap (wont match).

 

[IAMCDN]

It is a dark green color. Yes, I am worried about painting only the hood and having it match the rest of the vehicle. I have made it clear that if they don't match it exactly, they will be painting the entire truck...on them. They seem confidant enough that they can match the paint exactly. That would be good if they did blend the quarter panels in with the hood.

I don't think it should be too difficult to match the paint...I removed the factory pin stripes a couple of months ago, the paint underneath was not noticably different in color, so the paint is not too faded. And the paint on the rest of the truck is in fairly good condition, so I HOPE it doesn't look bad. It is better than the alternative, to have the paint all crack and peel off.

I am really curious to know if anyone else has had their paint crack like this on a 94.

 

[CADDYBILL]

My 94 Eddie Bauer has bad paint on the hood and the roof. The rest of the paint is perfect. I tried to have the dealer fix it when it was 2 years old, but they did not, so I threw one of there computers through the wall. Long story.
I think the only thing holding the paint together is the fact that I wax it often.

 

[IAMCDN]

When I dropped it off this morning, they said they should be able to match it pretty easily because it is a dark color, and darker colors are easier to match than a white or beige. They said if it doesn't match perfectly, they will blend it in to the quarter panels. Which I hope they will do, because the only bad part on the quarters is the top and front, so it will take care of the cracking problem there as well. The roof...I really don't care too much about that, it isn't that bad and you can't see it unless you look hard.

P.S. They gave me a 2001 F150 4X4 4 door V8 for a courtesy vehicle...way too much fun when you get a loner with a V8!!! Really nice truck.

 

[phat98sport]

caddybill i would like too hear more about this computer and wall thing maybe a brief summary would be nice

 

[CADDYBILL]

I was pretty pissed at the time. While I made an appt. to drop my X off I told the guy that by the time I brought it in my mileage may be over the warrantee limit. He said no problem because at the time of me setting the app my mileage was under the limit. WELL when I got there they refused to work on it because of the mileage.
Dead Link Removed
I new this might happen so I went to the service manager and told him what happened. He accused me of trying to get something for nothing because I had brought the truck in after going over the Mileage limit. I told him to check the record of my mileage from when I came in to set my appt, and he turned around and said that they don't keep any of that info and asked me to leave. Dead Link Removed When he said this I just lost it, flipped over the desk I was sitting at and the computer that was there just happened to lodge it self firmly in the wall.Dead Link Removed
Then I left.
The really funny part of this is that my buddy that came to drop me off was left sitting there. He told me latter that he was afraid to let any one know he was with me. So he sat there for about 10min then calmly left.

 

[rickcar]

Just a note. Now I don't want to sound like a smart aleck, know it all, but I believe when you are referring to the "quarter panels" you are really referring to the fenders. An easy way to remember this is that quarter panels are welded on and fenders are bolted on. The Explorer uses 2 fenders and 2 quarter panels (as almost every car does nowadays) Many old cars had fenders AND quarter panels. Like an old VW bug. Off the top of my head I can't really think of any late model car (or SUV) that has front quarter panels.
Errrr.... like I said I'm NOT trying to sound like a wise guy, just thought I'd learn ya somethin'
BTW: They shouldn't have any problems matching the paint. Just about any good shop can tint and blend to pretty much a perfect match. However, if they do have to blend into the tops of the fenders they will most likely clear coat the entire fender. They first spray a base coat (color coat) and then clear over it all.
I work at a body shop so I kinda know the ins and outs of it.
I hope it the job turns out nice for you!
Rick

 

[IAMCDN]

No offence, man. Thanks for correcting me.

Well I got it back...not impressed. The color is darker than my paint on the FENDERS, and they did not blend in to the FENDERS at all. Plus, it makes the rest of my paint look that much worse! Wish I could have afforded to do the whole truck, it would look really nice, but, you know, the kids like to eat, so...

Also, I noticed a few places on the hood where there appears to be some dirt/bugs, or something on/in the paint. They are noticable bumps, one real big one, and they look like they painted right over something. So, I called them and told them it was not good enough, they said to bring it back and they would take care of it...but I was working, so my wife took it in and I think because it was a woman, they fed her a line of $hit...they told her that the dirt is just in the clear coat and they just have to sand it out and polish it up, but have to wait a week til the paint is cured. But the bumps are right in the paint, not just on the surface! If they sand it down, they will have to repaint it.

Oh, well, I am not worried, if it doesn't work, they will keep getting it back til it is done right.

Sorry for ranting, but I don't know how they can let something like that out of the shop...some quality control.

 

[rickcar]

Man, sorry to hear things didn't go well.
They were telling the truth about being able to sand out the dirt chunks (IF the dirt is just in the clearcoat). They will wetsand the hood and then buff it out. But if the dirt is in the actual basecoat (color coat) it will more than likely leave a discoloration spot but it will be smooth. Well, thinking about it now, I'd bet they didn't use a basecoat/clearcoat paint. Probably went cheap and did a single stage paint. That would explain why they didn't blend into the fenders. It would also explain why they want to wait a week before sanding and buffing. With a basecoat/clearcoat they could wetsand and buff it the next day, actually hours later if they baked it.
I don't know if there are any Maaco's in your area, but they could paint your entire truck for around $300 to $350.
Let me know how things turn out. I hate to see anyone get screwed.
Rick

 

[IAMCDN]

Thanks for the info and the concern.

Do not worry, they will get it right. I will make them wish they had done it right the first time if they don't. I will not let the truck leave this time if not 100%.

Yes there is a MAACO here, but it is maybe $300 in the states, but that equals about $600 here, plus I don't think that would include any body work like small door dings, etc. Love to repaint the whole thing, but just not an option...wife, 2 kids, one income.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[rickcar]

Yea I didn't think about the exchange rate. And you are right, that price does not include any bodywork. BTW I work at a Maaco here in MN so I had to give a plug for them
Later,
Rick

 

[rickcar]

Say I just read in another post that you said the best mod you did was drilling the airbox, and I also noticed you have a K&N. This may sound stupid but, how many holes and where did you drill out the box? And what size are the holes? How much of a difference did you notice? I already have a Hypertech chip which adds some HP but I wouldn't mind some more.
Rick

 

[IAMCDN]

The holes in the airbox made a way bigger difference than the $75 K&N(that damn exchange again). Main difference is the sound, you get a really nice 4 barrel carb style growl when you hop on it. You notice better throttle response, more of a kick in the rear when you floor it.

I drilled a bunch of holes...liked it...made them bigger, liked it more...tried to make them bigger and my airbox started to fall apart, so I just took a hole saw and cut out the entire sides and bottom. Looks like hell, but you can't see it unless you have the top of the intake off.

K&N: I did not notice any difference at all, there may be a slight difference when pulling the boat, but it could just be my brain wanting to justify the money.

If you do a search, you will get all the info you could possibly want on this, there is a picture as well. Most guys just go at it with a drill, there is no necessary hole size, just make em as big as you can without cracking the box...start small.

 

[rickcar]

Thanks for the info. I took your advice and did a search. I think I will just use my holesaw and make 2 or 3 holes. Now I know not to waste $$$ on a K&N. I'll just stick with a stock filter. This will all have to wait 'til next week sometime though. I'm currently having my lift done and new tires. I'm as giddy as a schoolgirl waiting to see it lifted!
Rick

 

[IAMCDN]

We'll need to see some pictures when you get the truck back!!