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Add me to the 'orange peel' club...

Old Sep 15, 2011 | 08:19 PM
  #21  
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Here are a few pics (sorry about the quality).

Here are 4 of the spots (3 on roof and one above driver's door).



This was the first spot I noticed when I first bought my truck. It was barely noticeable but has obviously gotten worse:


A few more:



 
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Old Sep 15, 2011 | 08:39 PM
  #22  
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That's not orange peel, you're losing your clearcoat... As this gets worse, you'll find rust on the underside of the vehicle underneath these spots which will eventually have little pin holes in them, then this will go to complete rust through. Seen it with MANY a vehicle in the south, where the sun heats that trapped moisture under the clear up and causes bubbling.

In all probability moisture is getting thru the fine pores in the clear and is laying between the clear and the paint. This can be avoided by following washing by using a clay bar, following with a paint cleaner and then waxing. I've seen people (not just Dodge either) complain about the same thing and the dealer telling them it's a lack of care. I'm not making any accusations here, just preparing you for what you may be told...
 

Last edited by HammerZ71; Sep 15, 2011 at 08:49 PM.
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Old Sep 15, 2011 | 09:50 PM
  #23  
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I'd put money that that's from bird **** that sat on your paint too long. Unfortunately there is nothing you can really do for that. The clear coat is damaged.

Rob
 
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Old Sep 15, 2011 | 11:37 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by HammerZ71
That's not orange peel, you're losing your clearcoat... As this gets worse, you'll find rust on the underside of the vehicle underneath these spots which will eventually have little pin holes in them, then this will go to complete rust through. Seen it with MANY a vehicle in the south, where the sun heats that trapped moisture under the clear up and causes bubbling.

In all probability moisture is getting thru the fine pores in the clear and is laying between the clear and the paint. This can be avoided by following washing by using a clay bar, following with a paint cleaner and then waxing. I've seen people (not just Dodge either) complain about the same thing and the dealer telling them it's a lack of care. I'm not making any accusations here, just preparing you for what you may be told...
Thumbs up and many thanks for the advice. I definitely try my best to take care of my truck and will get this repaired one way or another (and try a little harder in the future to keep the paint in good shape).
 
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Old Sep 16, 2011 | 12:42 AM
  #25  
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No problem and just to clarify, when I say a "paint cleaner" I don't mean like a paint thinner similar product (which will finish destroying that clear coat). I'm talking a specific product made to clean contaminants below the clear coat surface at the paint level itself. Products like SwirlX or Deep Crystal made by Meguaires or Griots Paint Prep.

The clay bar will remove all the old waxes and contaminants on the surface and paint cleaner which has molecules small enough to get down thru those pores in the clear will remove contaminants at that sub-surface level.

Of course this is to prevent what has happened from happening again or spreading. This method may make the bad spots a bit less noticeable, but it won't repair them.

Who knows, maybe Dodge will pony up? But if they don't and you want those spots perfect again, it's time to go to a good paint shop, often they can wet sand with polishing compound and feather in new clear just on the damaged spots.

My truck ('04 bought new) and my Jeep ('02 bought in '06) have been in the sun every day in either Florida or south Georgia since I've had them. I do the complete wash/clay/paint clean/polish/wax process about twice a year, followed by a good wash and a spray-on, wipe off detailer about monthly and people who do know about what year they are from the body styles always comment on how the finish still looks so new, people who are clueless about body design often think they relatively new vehicles.

They'll stay new looking for a long time, you just have to know how to take care of these modern finishes and put the time/effort into it...
 

Last edited by HammerZ71; Sep 16, 2011 at 12:48 AM.
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Old Sep 16, 2011 | 11:53 PM
  #26  
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Roy444,
follow HammerZ71`s advice, i do the same method he described and my truck is flawless looking.
As for your blotchy clearcoat, it looks like bird poop or tree sap ate thru the clearcoat to me.
Good luck getting chrysler to fix it, i`m betting a loss on that deal.
 
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Old Sep 17, 2011 | 08:01 PM
  #27  
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You ain't seen tree sap till you've seen the GOBS of sap a tall a$$ Georgia Pine will lay on a vehicle! While we're on it, I got a sure fire tree sap removal method too. You take a Pinstripe Remover (aka Eraser Wheel) attach it to a re-chargeable drill (electric and air have too high an RPM and may damage the clear if you're not careful). Just erase the sap right off same as you would a decal or the leftover goo during a dabadging.
Litterally takes seconds and unless you really lean on one spot way too long, is perfectly clear coat safe. Turns sap into a fine powder you can wipe off with a damp cloth.

I've got a DIY in the 3rd Gen FAQ section about Debadging which shows an eraser wheel and places you can get them cheap...
 
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Old Sep 18, 2011 | 01:00 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by BigBlueEdge
I'd put money that that's from bird **** that sat on your paint too long. Unfortunately there is nothing you can really do for that. The clear coat is damaged.

Rob
I am in total agreement with this comment. Sure looks like a truck that doesn't get waxed properly or enough and the bird crap eats the clear, Heat sure helps this process along.
 
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Old Sep 18, 2011 | 01:02 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by HammerZ71
You ain't seen tree sap till you've seen the GOBS of sap a tall a$$ Georgia Pine will lay on a vehicle! While we're on it, I got a sure fire tree sap removal method too. You take a Pinstripe Remover (aka Eraser Wheel) attach it to a re-chargeable drill (electric and air have too high an RPM and may damage the clear if you're not careful). Just erase the sap right off same as you would a decal or the leftover goo during a dabadging.
Litterally takes seconds and unless you really lean on one spot way too long, is perfectly clear coat safe. Turns sap into a fine powder you can wipe off with a damp cloth.

I've got a DIY in the 3rd Gen FAQ section about Debadging which shows an eraser wheel and places you can get them cheap...
I love and use my eraser wheel often, it takes off all kinds of problem spots.
 
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Old Sep 18, 2011 | 12:54 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by 72combo
I am in total agreement with this comment. Sure looks like a truck that doesn't get waxed properly or enough and the bird crap eats the clear, Heat sure helps this process along.
If I see bird crap on any painted part of my truck I stop what I am doing and get it off. I am not sure what circumstances go on to make certain crap eat the CC, but I have seen it first hand, and seen others not do it. I do not think it has anything to to with the CC, but what kind of bird and what they have eaten combined with weather conditions baking the crap on your truck.

I have also seen dead bugs do this as well.

The pic that BigBlue posted is orange peel, not what is occuring here.
 

Last edited by CarGuyOhio; Sep 18, 2011 at 12:57 PM.
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