tuching up paint on new truck

[ScubaDive]

I was waxing the truck the other day and found a little paint chip in the upper part of the door frame, I didn't think much of it I made sure I put alot of wax on that spot. Now I'm just wondering if I should do to the dealer(or)store and buy some tuch up paint and do it my self or go to the dealer and see if they will do it. I don't want to screw up the warrenty its a new 2008 Ranger with about 1500km.

I will make my way to the dealer sometime Friday or Saturday and see what they say. I hope they don't make me pay of this.

 

[Forcus]

Ok, well, they won't do it for free. Especially if you did not see it before you accepted delivery (ok, they COULD do it for free, doesn't hurt to ask, but I doubt it).

So you have two avenues - pay to have it done, or do it yourself. Personally, on a brand new truck, I'd have it professionally done. Couldn't be more than a couple hundred bucks, they should not have to fix more than a 2" x 2" area paint wise.

If you don't want to spend the money, and you are industrious, you can do it yourself. I am preparing a write up on touch ups and full on paint low / no buck style. So if you want to do it yourself... let me know.

 

[rickcdewitt]

the dealer touch up won't match very well.best bet is to find a good bodyshop that will make a small amount of touchup for you to match the truck.you'll need it for all the inevitable chips in the future.talk to a few shops the price could vary widely. also use rubbing alcohol to remove all the wax and crap before applying the touch up.there are also abrasive pens to clean out the chip before touching up.

 

[Forcus]

Not to argue but I bet it might touch up fairly well since it's new. The problems come when the paint fades or if the color is replaced by a similar color but with the same code down the line. Some dealerships just farm it out anyways, so you'd probably be better off going to a body shop.

But having a paint shop mix up a small batch of exact color paint is a pretty good idea too.

 

[RobbieD]

Do you have the dealer service the truck, like the oil changes or the other scheduled periodic maintenance? If you do, on one of those visits it might be a good time to ask them about touching up the paint chip. They'd already be making something on the service, and perhaps be more inclined to do a freebie on a little chip touchup.

 

[rickcdewitt]

Not to argue but I bet it might touch up fairly well since it's new. The problems come when the paint fades or if the color is replaced by a similar color but with the same code down the line. Some dealerships just farm it out anyways, so you'd probably be better off going to a body shop.

But having a paint shop mix up a small batch of exact color paint is a pretty good idea too.

sorry but after working at a bodyshop i can tell you that even though oem's use paint codes,the actual paint that gets mixed up and sprayed in huge volumes like they do almost never matches right.i don't know what color his truck is but its horrible to have a dark colored truck with lighter spots on the hood when the light hits it right,or a light truck with darker spots on it.to do good touch up at my shop i always tint it to match the car.from what i've found the factory touch up match is never good(new or old) and when people volunteer their factory touch up we prefer to make our own if its a nice car that we want it to match on.
i felt the way you did at first but after seeing cars side by side with the same code and different looking paint,and having to tint practically everything i just use the paint code as a general reference.
BTW clear coat paint tends to peel before it fades and the single stage(no clear) paints are the ones that typically fade

 

[Pistons23]

you might want to check with your insurance. mine fixes rock chips for free