Paint Defects and Damage. General Procedures

Materials

Repair

1. 1
   Refer to: Body Repair, Health and Safety, and General Precautions (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).
2. 2

   NOTICE: Never paint over iron particles, as rust spots will reappear. Use only the recommended decontamination procedure described below.

   Rinse dust, dirt and foreign matter from the vehicle body with cold water. Rinse thoroughly.
3. 3
   Prepare the acid neutralizer by mixing 8 parts water with 1 part neutralizer in a bucket.
   Material: Motorcraft® Acid Neutralizer. / ZC-1-A
4. 4

   NOTICE: To avoid paint damage, do not allow the product to dry on the vehicle.

   Work quickly and start at the top of the vehicle, working sideways, and apply the neutralizer mixture to the entire vehicle. Soak the vehicle with the solution and agitate lightly for 5 to 7 minutes. Continue moving around the vehicle 4-5 times. For severe conditions, work the product for up to 8 minutes.
5. 5
   Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with cold water to remove the product.
6. 6
   Dry only the horizontal surfaces of the vehicle; do not dry the glass at this time.
7. 7

   NOTICE: To avoid damage to the painted surface, do not apply the alkaline neutralizer directly to the plastic trim of the vehicle.

   Pour the alkaline neutralizer into a spray bottle and apply the solution to a clean closed-loop wash mitt.
   Material: Motorcraft® Alkaline Neutralizer. / ZC-2-A
8. 8

   NOTICE: To avoid paint damage, do not allow the alkaline neutralizer to dry on the vehicle.

   Apply the product to the vehicle, keeping the surface wet and agitating lightly for 5-7 minutes. In severe conditions, work the product for up to 8 minutes.
9. 9
   Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with cold water to remove the product.
10. 10
    Using a clean closed-loop wash mitt and locally available car wash soap, wash the entire vehicle exterior and rinse with cold water. Dry the vehicle completely.
11. 11
    Visually inspect the painted surface for any residual ferrous metal particles. If necessary, repeat the procedure.
12. 12

    NOTICE: When attempting to correct the repair by polishing, buffing or color sanding, do not remove more than 0.3 mil of paint film or finish.

    Apply the compounding product to the vehicle surface in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.
13. 13
    Apply the machine glaze to the vehicle surface in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.
14. 14
    Use a mixture of alcohol and water (1:1) to clean the sanded and polished areas. Check for removal of scratches and swirl marks before applying the finish polish.
15. 15
    Apply the final polishing compound by hand using a dual action polisher and foam pad, or with an orbital polisher and an appropriate polishing pad over the hood.
16. 16
    Using a local car wash soap, wash and dry the vehicle.

Repair

1. 1
   Refer to: Body Repair, Health and Safety, and General Precautions (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).
2. 2
   Wash the repair area with a neutral pH soap and water.
3. 3
   Remove any trim, emblems and hardware from the area to be repaired.
4. 4
   Sand the damaged surface or treat it with abrasive material, minimizing the repair area.
5. 5
   Treat any bare metal surface to prevent flash rust, and prime and sand as necessary before refinishing.
6. 6
   Mask adjacent panels to protect them from overspray.
7. 7
   If necessary, repair the base coat following the paint manufacturer's instructions.
8. 8
   Following the paint manufacturer's instructions, apply the clear coat to the entire panel.
9. 9
   Reinstall any trim, emblems and hardware previously removed from the repair area.