Amen to that..!!!!

 

Biggest problem we have in south Ga/north Fl. are Love Bugs. They usually mate twice a year and swarm to the point they'll about block out the sun like a swarm of locusts!

There body fluids are extremely acidic and will eat thru the clear and start on the paint in as little as 24 hours.

I keep a good couple of coats of wax on the front of my vehicles and will wash and scrub them off with a soft, teflon safe scouring pad as soon as I get home. Seen some people spray the hell out of the front of their vehicles with Pam or similar product to make getting them off easier too...

 

Thanks for the pic BigBlue- I can definitely see the difference of what orange peel on paint really looks like! I learn something new everyday and I'm sorry if I may have confused people. I was only going by what the dealership told me when they took the pics to submit to Chrysler (no word yet though).

I have to say that this is the first time I've ever dealt with such paint issues on any of my vehicles- including one truck (1995 chevy 1500 z71- bought used in 1997) that I rarely washed/waxed, always letting the rain wash off the bird poop and dirt. However, when I did give that truck a good wash during the 5 years that I owned it, the paint always looked great (minus a few cowboy pinstripes here and there).

This dodge is my first truck that I bought brand spanking new and I have spent a fair share of my time keeping it clean, and trying to protect the dings as I truly love my truck. I know my truck will see some cowboy pinstripes as part of my outdoor activities (hunting/fishing) but I don't want it to turn into a rust-bucket before the new car smell is gone (which really amazes my friends by the way because it still smells 'new'!).

Again, many thanks for those who have posted VERY helpful tips for detailing and preventative care. I thought I was doing enough, but it looks like I'll have to step my game up even further if I want to keep my baby looking good.

 

A lot of it depends on the color too I'm guessing. I've got a friend with a '98 Chevy Z71, metallic pewter and his is still in pretty good shape and he rarely washes/waxes it. His chrome grill guard uprights were pitting and rusting to sh*t, so we removed them and I sandblasted them for him and painted it color match (you don't wanna know what a shop quoted him to re-chrome the thing! Suffice it to say he could have replaced it with a new Warn stainless grill guard cheaper!)

Obviously the paint on the truck is sun faded a good bit from the new paint job I did, but the difference isn't terrible, actually the full glare of the sun is hitting the truck and the grill guard is in indirect sunlight and shadow, it's really pretty close (three coats of metallic pewter, two coats of clear):





Now his neighbor has an '05 Chevy 2500, dark blue. Takes at least as good a care of it as this guy does his and his hood and roof are bleached white, clear peeling in spots! SIX YEARS NEWER & RIGHT NEXT DOOR! Why, I dunno???

 

Some bugs can definitely wreck the clearcoat too. I had one monster (like a dragonfly or something) splat on the leading edge of my hood and when I removed it (probably a couple days after it happened because I didn't notice it in time) it had etched into the ScotchCal on my hood. Similar type of thing to the bird crap on the paint. And I have seen bugs do that direct on clearcoat on other vehicles.

I think manufacturers are using either less expensive paint or more 'environmentally friendly' paint that just isn't as rugged as it used to be in years past.

Rob

 

Update- the dealership called me today to inform me that Chrysler agreed my paint issues are a defect and will cover the touch-up paint job! I know touch-up jobs are hit or miss but anything is better than the eyesore I have right now.

 

I've got similar marks on my hood...which warranty are they covering on? The corrosion warranty or 3/36k?

 

That's good news! Although it certainly isn't orange peel, the clearcoat should be holding up better than that on such a new vehicle, bird poop, bugs, acid rain or anything else, it's obvious that it's not holding up as it should...

 

Thanks Hammer- I couldn't agree more.

It was covered under the 3/36k warranty.