2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Truck Developing Acne?!

[Mike Ellis]

Driving along the highway in the hot Texas sun this week, I noticed that the paint on the hood looked funny - kinda textured almost. Close inspection reveals that the paint (regular Dodge red, non-metallic) has developed thousands of tiny little raised spots - about the size of ratshot. Looks almost like a case of acne, but the whole darned hood is covered. I know for a fact this is a new development because I keep the old truck well washed and detailed, and just spent 3 days straight last week driving it around full-time. Paint was fine then. What the ?



I was in West Texas last week, hot but nothing special. Sure didn't think I saw anything that would have damaged my paint. No railroad brake dust, no parking outside powerplants, no acid rain, no nothing except lots of hazy air from Mexican powerplant pollution. Anybody had their paint go bumpy like this? If the bumps get any bigger its gonna look like the hood is covered with Linex...

 

[illflem]

Welcome to the club. Mine started out like yours, now the paint comes off in square foot sheets. Dealer won't warranty it even though they know full well the problem exists. You can take them to small claims court for a new paint job and will win. Here's a great site that explains cause of the problem and how to remedy it http://peelingpaint.homestead.com/

 

[46mech]

I know exactly what you're talking about, Mike.



The red on my hood and roof did the same thing; seemed to spread like a fungus. Then the paint began to develop spiderweb cracks. I actually thought that someone had taken a razor blade to my paint. Eventually, the paint chipped off. D/C did pay for most of the repair. I only paid about $270. 00; I had quotes of around $700 if I was going to fix it myself.

 

[Dkevdog]

Sounds like another case of the infamous DC paint jobs. You'll learn to live with it .



Kev

 

[dseabaugh]

both doors on my pickup are doing exactly the same thing. Now the bumps are popping off down to the primer. The bumps are shot size to pencil eraser size. the spots that the paint has popped off are eraser size. The odd thing I noticed is that in wet weather I have more bumps and as it gets drier they used to dissapear. Now they stay all the time and several have popped off. I first noticed them 2 years ago . I left Missouri and had bumps all over. Got to Central Florida and after about 4 days Couldn't find any. Now I just hope for bumps that don't come off and worry whether there me rust forming under them. I Keep 2 bottles of touch up paint in the door pocket.

 

[rrausch]

The silver paint on the top of my cab started doing something similiar. One day at the car wash, a piece about 1 foot square just lifted off and blew away, leaving primer! I tried to get more to blow away, and it wouldn't. That told me the problem was an adhesion failure of the top coat to the primer in that particular area.



When I had some other bodywork done the guy looked at the top of the cab and said no clear coat had ever been applied. They sanded it down and re-painted it and all is great. My hood has never given me any problems.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The EPA dictated switch from solvent based to water based paints has created problems like this for ALL domestic makers in recent years - just check out cars at stoplites and in parking lots - you'll see MANY eroding clearcoats and exposed primers on virtually all brands...



But I *am* curious as to how many of these defective paint jobs are on Mexican-made trucks, and how many on US made trucks - there's been some speculation that reduced controls in Mexican plants has allowed better paint quality due to fewer EPA controls...



Any comments?

 

[Pit Bull]

Is this happening mostly with the metallic paints?

 

[Dave Fleming]

I have a Heche en Mexico 3500 built 9/94 it is mostly... .

White on top with Montego Blue on the lowers.

White blossomed with rust dots within 3 months and fenders over duals lost ***clear coat*** within a year. Erzast trim on lowers with rubber type bumper has been peeling for ages.

Dodge district hoople, offered to paint the blisters over the duals with a $250 deductable. Now after reading about Small Claims Court and being retired with time on my hands, I think I am a'goin to hit 'em whar it hurts, if ya folla?



1995 3500 4x4 Auto 3. 54 , Heche en Mexico, replaced steering shaft with Borgenson, Lukes Link, rebuilt steering box, Bilstien Shocks, 180 Hi Flow Injectors bye bye 160s, Cat ran away, Piers 35 turbo, 3 piece manifold ceramic coated, DiPricol EGT and Auto transmission Temp on pillar with 3 dash pod on dash, empty until I decide if its is right and what guages to put in it.

Michelin XPS Lt 215/85 R 16s. More to come as aluminum can collection allows.

 

[illflem]

Dave, I started the process also but am a little reluctant since so far it has only been my Mexican Driftwood hood that's peeling. Don't want to go though the process again if the rest starts doing it.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

RATS!



So much for the notion that the Mexican trucks were less prone to paint problems...

 

[Dave Fleming]

Fellow Fleming, If I got for it I am after a FULL paint job not just a a touch up here and there.

 

[dseabaugh]

My '97 is solid white and made south of the border.

 

[Pit Bull]

I think I know what the problem is. Rail dust, from when your truck was shipped to its final destination. My Truck was built in St. Louis and sold in Missouri. I don't have this problem. I bet the longer it was on a train the bigger the chance it will develop this paint problem.

 

[dvieira]

made in Mexico, no problem whatsoever, last truck also made

south of the border, no paint problem, but i do wax once a month,

it's parked outside... ...



dave

 

[illflem]

Pitbull, the specking from rail dust is a different problem and the markings can be rubbed out. This is the problem I'm experiencing: Cause of Delamination



"... further details the root cause of peeling as stated above, both PPG and BASF (paint manufacturers) agree that the root cause of peeling is the transmission of UV light in the range of 350-400 nm to the electrocoat surface followed by photodegradation of the electrocoat and adhesion loss of enamel ... "



Ford and GM had the same problem and eliminated it right away, Chrysler chose to continue the flawed practice for over ten years...

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Mike sez:



"Guess we should have put sunblock on our trucks. "



HEY, don't laugh! UV protection IS a high priority of most major wax/polish formulas!

 

[Dave Fleming]

dvieira

Ayup, parked outside in San Diego sunshine since new, sigh.

I seem to recall that the Mexico factory began production of the 3500's about October of 1994 and my build is November of 1994.

Perhaps it would be gracious of me to say... .

I was close to the start of the learning curve for that plant.



Still don't like yet another negative DC attitude regarding standing behind their products. Too many of them to suit me.



Now if someone came up with the Cummins and an Allison Auto transmission in a similar sized truck and stood behind it then be hard not to peek a bit, no?



PAX

dave

 

[BCFAST]

illflem's right on! Red and blue are very 'transparent' colors (example: washing white laundry with either of these colors) so they let the UV light thru the base-coat into the primer where it can and usually does damage the adhisian. Silver is predominantly red... and therefore transparent. The change to water-based paint isnt just an American problem. The Germans have pollution regulations worse than California, and went to water-based paints in 1994 (for the 95 models). They originally had horrific adhesian problems. Porsche's new water paint had a reaction to the windshield glue and the roof paint came off in one full sheet! Fortunately, they figured it out after only a few cars were built.