Paint problems HELP!!

[Prairie Dog]

I think you have every reason to be mad at the dealer. He reprisents Dodge, he's their lacky, mouthpiece and front line shine-ola pusher. I'm shure he was happy to take your $, now he should be responsible for anything that comes up. The warranty issue is the dealers, not yours. Who pays should be between the dealer and dodge is of no concern to me.

Dealers beware, we will not fall for this "dodge won't cover it" routine and then just walk away. If your going to sell crap, you'd better be ready to pay the consequences.

 

[jlevesque]

At the dealer i work, all major paint problems have to be looked

at by the district rep, before any repairs. if he doesnt agree to

the repair call customer service and raise hell, and threaten to

take chrysler to arbitration. this usually gets action.

I have seen some reps that dont know bad paint if it slapped

them up the side of there heads.





James

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

When my 2001 was new, at around 20k miles I had some paint about 1 sq inch worth flake off the inner edge of the fender well. I took it to Lithia Dodge in Kennewick and they immediately got me fixed up, did it very willingly. Didn't even buy my truck from them.



I am wondering if because of all the incentives D/C is having to give out to move inventory and general economic conditions is causing them to get extremely difficult to get warranty work done? Bob Wagner just had a heck of a time getting an obviously-failing lift pump replaced on his 2000.



Vaughn

 

[Task125]

just went to www.donlen.com whats new then production updates,they have a stop on silver and patriot blue.

 

[Pit Bull]

The Pickup Box Delete (XBC) is on restriction until 03/10/03 for Ram 2500 and 3500 single rear wheel models

The Spare Tire is deleted with this option but can be re-added to the order by requesting option code (TBE)

The following options/paints are on indefinite restriction:

AM/FM Radio with 6 Disc CD (RBQ)

Patriot Blue Paint (PB7)

Silver Paint (QS2)

Work Special Group (AS9)

Heavy Duty Snow Plow Package (AHD)

Light Group (ADA)

Engine Heater (HCA) for 5. 7 Liter V8 Engine (EZA)

Over Rail Bedliner (XMD)

The Chassis Cab will not be produced for model year 2003, production will resume for the 2004 model year but timing is TBD



This is weird. Paint, and heavyduty snow plow package??? and CD player?

 

[rbattelle]

Having just waxed my truck for the first time, I had a chance to examine the entire paint job closely. Although all the visible portions of the truck are well painted (enough to cover the primer, anyways), there are some areas behind the doors that could have been painted better. In particular, the seams of the doors are poorly covered (which is bad, since that's a great place for moisture to collect). Also, on my passenger side I have a small stripe, 3 inches long by 1/4 inch high that has almost no blue paint on it.



I also noticed on the rear 1/4 panel (just behind the rear wheels) there are dried drips of clear coat... . that's right actual drips! It makes me wonder whether DC cheaped out on the paint and applied extra clear coat to compensate.

 

[Pit Bull]

Waxed my truck yesterday, found one small paint chip about the size of the head of a pin behind one of the front wheels did not go past the primer. I've never had a vehicle with this tough of a paint job. Mine was one of the last trucks ever built in Lago's Mexico. Guess they needed to use up all of the paint before they shut the plant down. Wish I could say I knew what I was doing and I checked the paint before I bought it, but I didn't. Some times it's better to be luck than smart. If I would of known that my truck was built in a plant that they were going to close in a couple of months and lay off all of the workers I would of not bought it. Got lucky truck is perfect, they most of taken more time versus just throwing it together.

 

[Boonieman]

Well, this all sounds like a nightmare..... but when I think about it, I had a 73 GMC Jimmy that basically rusted itself to death around the wheelwells within 5 years. I switched to Ford and I used to buy a new vehicle every two years, same salesman, same dealership. In 86 I bought a new Ford Ranger (silver) and it started losing the paint in sheets after a year and a half and neither Ford or the dealership would do anything about it, even though they were doing some repainting of the full sized trucks. I promptly got out of the Ford-buying business and bought a 96 Nissan 4X4 and had it until 2001 and never laid a wrench to it. I then bought my first Cummins CTD 2001. 5 and the only thing I ever had to do to it was change one of the license plate lightbulbs. This is my second Dodge, and the paint as well as everything else seems just fine to me and I'm more than happy with the truck so far. But I've been on the "lemon side" before too, and no matter the brand it can sure put you right over the edge!

 

[tsi_2baad4u]

Well this worries me. I took delivery of my truck on Feb 20th and it's Patriot blue. The door sticker says it was built Feb 03 but not a specific date. I gave it a good hand wax job recently and noticed the paint has an orange peel look. Some places are worse like the doors but it's all that way to a degree. I haven't noticed any primer, only the orange peel look.



I can live with an orange peel paint job as long as it stays on and doesn't turn into the flaking off paint or primer showing. Should I take it in for possibly warranty repair for the orange peel?

 

[sag2]

If it were mine, I wouldn't have any paint work done unless the paint was falling off. If you have access to a buffer, wet sand a small area with 1500 or 2000 grit paper. Purchase it at a body shop supply and get a foam pad to use with it. Sand it lightly in one direction only, keep it wet while sanding, and then buff with Meguires swirl mark remover, then swirl free wax. It will cost you less than $5. 00 for the paper and pad, and less than $10. 00 for the product.

If you sand for less than a minute in one small area, you should know if it will clean up. Then decide if it is worth the hassle to do the complete truck, or just wax and leave it alone. If it is the dark blue, you (or they) can make it look worse if the swirl marks show. Actually you can accomplish the same with just a light compound, but you have to be careful to not cut too much clear off.

 

[dcscott]

My dad is on his 5th Dodge PU, my son on his third. For years I've lusted after their rigs. Three weeks ago I took delivery of my first (2500, QC, HO, 6spd, Garnet). The paint doesn't visually appear to be thin but brush it against the smallest bush and viola grey primer. The garnet/clearcoat must be the thinest layer they could have possibly put on this rig. I've had two Jeeps that I've put over 200K apiece on and my 3 week old Ram has more primer showing then either of the Jeeps did after years of use.



So, what should I do now: Live with it, Complain to the dealer, or go straight to my DC zone rep?

 

[Dean Upson]

I've waxed mine a couple of times now and the paint job is suberb, by far the best I've had on any of my (3) CTD's.



Dean

 

[mconstable]

2baad 4 u... my paint looks awesome, but whole truck has the orange-peel bit... I wouldn't sweat it, because as far as paint toughness... I had a piece of 2x12 about 12 inches long fly out of my bed and scrape down my fender,(don't ask, my stupidity) but barely scuffed the clear coat

 

[LM6000]

I have black and can't find any big imperfections. The truck was from Saltillo, Mex. I wonder about QC place to place. ?