Just purchased 2020 Explorer, clean carfax but..

[deadhead2020st]

Just purchased a 2020 Explorer ST from a dealer my father worked at for 40 years. It only has 12k miles on it. Had a clear carfax. However after getting it home and looking in detail under the hood. I noticed on the top front trim above where the radiator is. There are markings in white, that look like alignment markings to me. As if the truck was taken apart previously. So then i saw black spray paint over spray on the white paint in the engine bay. Only to find it was from someone spray painting the hood latch hook, lower part, black! Its also a Ford CPO. Looking a the VIN. was one owner, which is the dealer I bought it from. However, looks as though it was a lease.

i am hoping someone here. Would be able to tell me. what do you think was taken apart for the front black trim in the engine bay to have alignment marks. I also looked at the support bar in the middle of the engine bay. Drivers side bolts never touched. Passenger side has marks on the bolts like a socket was on it to take it off. Truck is still under new car warranty. Drives fine. Not a scratch outside or inside. Just really bugging me. what they could have done and not document it.

 

[DoraAExplorer]

the t and s are factory marks, the spray painted part is weird would have to check a couple of other light colored models to be sure but you can tell repainted panels. The buffers leave rough edges were the seams are

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum deadhead2020st.
It could very well have been done by the previous owner and therefore not docmented.

Peter

 

[themishmosh]

What was the build date? If super early, there were some wonky things going on at the Chicago plant. Probably still are, but especially the early ones. I have a 2020 ST too, built 6/2019. Maybe when I have better lighting, I'll take a pic of my engine bay.

 

[DoraAExplorer]

Yeah I just looked at our 21 SAP and it has all those same markings and it has never been wrecked.

Bought new in Dec 20 with 30 miles on it.

 

[buzzard302]

I have a very early 2020 Limited. My hood latch is the same if I recall correctly. I think it's just sloppy paint work in early production,

 

[cwescapexlt4x4]

November 2021 build of my 21 King Ranch has those marks and the hood latch looks like that too!

 

[deadhead2020st]

What was the build date? If super early, there were some wonky things going on at the Chicago plant. Probably still are, but especially the early ones. I have a 2020 ST too, built 6/2019. Maybe when I have better lighting, I'll take a pic of my engine bay.

The build date was 8.07.2020. I am assuming that is a late build? its number 20059 in sequential order. THanks to every one that replied. Makes me feel a lot better. I was all excited and especially after spending 53k to purchase. Traded in a lincoln MKX with the 3.7L in it. I thought that was fast. This ST blows that out of the water times ten! It just wants to go.

I just find it odd that if they do spray the bottom of the hood latch black at the factory. The over spray is really not clear in the pictures as it was at night when i took them. The over spray hit not only the front white upper frame but also hit the driver's side shock column/mount.

The color is Star White. Aside from the over spray. The car is spotless. Came with smoked headlights too!

 

[DoraAExplorer]

I just find it odd that if they do spray the bottom of the hood latch black at the factory. The over spray is really not clear in the pictures as it was at night when i took them. The over spray hit not only the front white upper frame but also hit the driver's side shock column/mount.

Why would that be hard to believe, they spray painted it a dark black rubberized color to make it less noticable when you latch and unlatch it over time. It hides the scuff marks. The over spray is not that bad as the Chicago factory is known to be an issue as it is Chicago. The shock towers are black and framed color.

 

[peterk9]

To me, it looks like the overspray is white, not black.

Peter

 

[DoraAExplorer]

To me, it looks like the overspray is white, not black.

Peter

It is a black latch and over spray is present on all the ones that have verified it in this thread. Maybe they laid paint on the under-section of the hood last as the engine bay is black like the latch, which indicates to me that they are not painting the vehicle till most of the vehicle has been assembled. Maybe at the least they are painting the under-section of the hood last to match the vehicle.

 

[themishmosh]

my latch is the same. the alignment markings may have rubbed off with cleaning.

 

[Pedro504]

Sept 2021 build with the optional painted or over-sprayed hood latch.
I also removed all the marks, whatever they were, looked like inspection marks to me.

 

[deadhead2020st]

View attachment 426465View attachment 426466

my latch is the same. the alignment markings may have rubbed off with cleaning.

thanks... see where your bar is showing on the drivers side. Right there.... My shock tower is white. same as the car. But it has over spray black on the white paint. From what I know now to be the factory. I was initially worried. as a friend came over to look at it since i just got it. He couldn't believe that the factory would be that sloppy. that is what got me more concerned!

I added a new post down below on this thread. With the downloadable link for the 2020 - 2022 repair shop manual. thanks to all who replied!

 

[deadhead2020st]

View attachment 426465View attachment 426466

my latch is the same. the alignment markings may have rubbed off with cleaning.

Thanks! I have mine for 10 days now. I opted to put the RedLine hood lift kit on it. I can't stand that they made a nice looking vehicle and opted for the metal bar to hold the hood up. Traded in a lincoln MKX and it had the lift under the hood. so i was already spoiled.

 

[deadhead2020st]

Here is the 2020 to 2022 repair shop manual for anyone interested. its hosted on my google drive. just purchased it. so its mine to share.

 

[Dale5403]

Here is the 2020 to 2022 repair shop manual for anyone interested. its hosted on my google drive. just purchased it. so its mine to share.

I would like to thank you for sharing this. It says the file file is to large to preview but by clicking the download button it looks like i will get a PDF for it. Thanks again. Wow, that is a huge manual. Over 15,000 pages. I doubt I will ever read all of it.

 

[user3665]

Why would that be hard to believe, they spray painted it a dark black rubberized color to make it less noticable when you latch and unlatch it over time. It hides the scuff marks. The over spray is not that bad as the Chicago factory is known to be an issue as it is Chicago. The shock towers are black and framed color.

It’s interesting hearing about the Chicago plant. A quick off-topic comment: I’m a lifelong Amtrak fan. Chicago is Amtrak’s huge hub for all sorts of trains (long distance, regional, and commuter). They also perform heavy maintenance on the fleet of GE P42 locomotives, among other things. But they are the starting point of most of their long distance trains that cover the country from the entire west coast all the way to Chicago. I’ve ridden all of them. Many times. A train called the Southwest Chief runs from Chicago to Los Angeles and reverse daily. If you get on the train in LA, it’s clean and serviced and stocked. If you get on in Chicago, oops they forgot to drain the sewage tanks. Oops they forgot to fill the Dining Car’s water tanks. Oops they forgot to load the cafe car with all items. Whoops they forgot to vacuum, clean the toilets and showers, clean the windows, etc, etc. It’s a known problem for over 30 years. But they’re untouchable due to union rules.

Also, that train is staffed 100% out of Los Angeles. The result is that you usually have great crews on that train, as well as the Coast Starlight and a few more. But trains like the California Zephyr, Lake Shore Limited, etc, are mostly Chicago crews. And with Chicago crews, wow are they snippy! If anyone needs Amtrak advice, please message me and I’ll help where I can. Don’t ever take a long distance train for the first time without talking to people “in the know” first. There are several must-have pieces of information that you’ll need to know.

To the OP: Congrats on your Explorer purchase! I love my 2020 Limited. The white color is beautiful with the sun hitting it. I also just installed more LEDs on exterior lights and I think that completes the job now. I replaced the rear amber turn signals with bright LEDs, I replaced the two white reverse lights with bright white LEDs (making backing up at night very easy because they’re so bright), and just yesterday I replaced the two white license plate lights which took 4 minutes total and NO TOOLS. The backup light thingies just snap out. Once out, untwist the bulb holder from its case, remove the old bulb, and put the new bulb in. Then snap it back in. It completes “the look” now. I’m not sure why Ford put in so many LEDs but skipped the rear except for the nice brake lights which are bright LEDs from the factory, but they did.

I don’t know if I’m allowed to mention the name of the company I bought them from, but if you want high quality LEDs that last more than 2-3 years, then don’t go to a chain auto parts store. None of them carry the really nice, high quality LEDs as the place I go online. Just message me if you want to upgrade your factory incandescent bulbs. It’s worth it!

I was going to show pictures I took, but now I don’t recall how to post pictures. I’ll play around and if I find it, I’ll post.

 

[user3665]

Found it. I wasn’t logged in, that’s why. Here are some pics from the new license plate lights.