Paint Chips from dirty water puddles!!

[jeffg]

I have a silver 03. I have a rust bubble that formed right where the rear

fender turns in sharply to recess the rear tail lamp housing. it started as a

a crack in the paint and now there is a 1 inch long, . 25 inch wide spot with

no paint and a rusty surface, and the crack in the paint is rapidly growing

around the taillamp housing. about 1. 5" long. has anyone experienced anything like this? how do I approach the dealer to get them to fix it?

I dont recall ever getting the extended paint warranty letter. it is a january

03 build. Thanks

 

[rbattelle]

how do I approach the dealer to get them to fix it?

I dont recall ever getting the extended paint warranty letter. it is a january

03 build. Thanks

Basically you have to convince the dealer that the crack in the paint was NOT caused by any debris striking the surface. This is virtually impossible to prove, which is exactly why paint warranties specifically don't cover rock chips or external damage of any kind. Your case might be helped if you have mudflaps, but basically the dealer's just going to look at it and say "oh, that's not covered... looks like a rock chip to me. "



Given the small size of the crack, you might consider taking it to a body shop and asking them to fix it. It might not be very expensive. Having lived in NY most of my life, I spent many a spring/summer fixing rust on my vehicles. I'd grind off the old rust, re-prime, re-paint, then have to do it all over again at the end of the next winter (in the same spots). Apparently, I stink at fixing rust, so I can't give you any good advice on how to fix it yourself.



I asked a body-man once how to fix rust, and he said to grind it down then hammer the rusted area in order to create a slight indentation in the metal there. Then use a good-quality waterproof fiberglass reinforced body filler topped with a quality finishing putty to bring the area back level with the surrounding metal. Then prime and paint. I've never tried that method because I was always afraid that rust would simply re-form under the body filler, causing it to break off in a big ugly chunk some time down the road.



I hate rust.



-Ryan

 

[JThiessen]

jeffg said:

I have a silver 03. I have a rust bubble that formed right where the rear

fender turns in sharply to recess the rear tail lamp housing. it started as a

a crack in the paint and now there

I have two spots that appear to be the same thing. Mine are just forward of the rear wheel well, about even with the top of the wheel well opening. One on each side of the truck. My guess is this is where they originally tested my paint adhesion (they wouldnt sell it to me until they performed the test). The appearance looks as though a small rock hit the backside of the fender, and cracked the paint outwards - about an 1/8" in dia.