Paint work issues

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Mike Townsend

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2018
Posts
245
Reaction score
275
Location
75160
Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7
Mike,
Did you do the Opti-coat yourself?
I did not. I did watch it the first time since he came to my house to do it. It actually looked pretty simple. A big thing is to keep going the same way and not get build up. At least that is what he told me. Yeah, I liked to watch. LOL
 

Riccochet

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2013
Posts
1,796
Reaction score
1,618
Location
Somewhere around Charlotte
Ram Year
2020 2500 Laramie Longhorn
Engine
6.4
Thank you. You have gone to a fair bit of trouble for me. I did look this stuff up, it looks the business. So, i will need ALL the above, correct? Alkaline wash for contaminants, same for iron remover. Clay bars I have used before. IPA prep(whatever that is) coating and topper coat seem to be available at the Apex site. I watched a couple videos, this fella knows his stuff, I think.
Again, thanks

CLIVE

Basically, you want the paint as clean and free of defects and contaminants as possible. The coating will lock in anytime you did not remove or correct.

IPA is isopropyl alcohol. Used to remove any oils or chemicals left from compound or polish.
 
OP
OP
British Bulldog

British Bulldog

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Sep 14, 2016
Posts
2,033
Reaction score
720
Location
Jacksonville NC
Ram Year
2021
Engine
Hemi 5.7 etorque
Thanks everyone for advice and support/sympathies! I suppose I was just looking to share the grief! Ram Care on here have just messaged me to tell me a case worker is on this. Don’t know what that means yet but at least the initial denial isn’t the end of the matter. Nice to know that the messages do get through to Ram Care on here. Also, those of you who don’t know, the phone line for FCA is quite user friendly and is STAFFED, by a human! I wasn’t promised anything, but they did at least listen and follow up as promised.
I will keep you all updated, maybe this can help the next person……..
 

KKBB

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2021
Posts
599
Reaction score
766
Location
Oakland Ia
Ram Year
2019
Engine
6.4
Hopefully it gets resolved to your satisfaction. They should do something about it. It is not up to par for how a new paint job should be. They shouldn't want to have a product like that out there.
 

TruckNut

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2015
Posts
1,066
Reaction score
517
Location
Tennessee
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Hope you get this resolves. It's easy to miss a flaw in the buying excitement. Happened to me once before I learned that new cars can be partially repainted at the dealership w/o disclosing the damage.
 
OP
OP
British Bulldog

British Bulldog

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Sep 14, 2016
Posts
2,033
Reaction score
720
Location
Jacksonville NC
Ram Year
2021
Engine
Hemi 5.7 etorque
Thanks all……I will keep you informed. I was able, thanks in part to this forum to speak knowledgeably to the appropriate people about these paint issues and what was needed to correct.
I think I will finally finish it all up with a ceramic coating as you guys recommend. Bearing in mind I will be losing what clear coat there is it is probably sound advice! I am correcting this whether they help me or not……..
 
OP
OP
British Bulldog

British Bulldog

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Sep 14, 2016
Posts
2,033
Reaction score
720
Location
Jacksonville NC
Ram Year
2021
Engine
Hemi 5.7 etorque
So, update number two! Ram are now agreeing that paintwork does needs attention. As my local dealer has a small body shop and frankly not able or confident to do the job (they would if I insisted but I don’t get a warm and fuzzy feeling when I am told this), Ram have quite fairly agreed a cash price for me to settle and take it to a paint shop/body shop of my choosing.
I have found a very well respected body shop to flat and polish as needed. There is extra money from Ram in case ( which is likely) they need to add clear coat. The body shop used a gauge on my paint to see how thick it was before he committed to do the job…….not very, especially on bumpers. They will need clear coat replaced.
Then, a marine grade ceramic coating, still not confirmed yet but again, enough in the settlement to pay most if not all costs.
So, well done my local dealership whose owner went to bat for me with his District Rep. Ram Cares helped too.
Moral here if one is as I have seen others say in posts, keep in with your dealership, make friends, don’t be a complete pain.
Take pictures, loads! Insist they get sent to Ram, or send them yourself.
I won’t tell ya how much, that would be crass, lol, but I am satisfied, or will be once (a) I get the money and (b) my truck is ***** and span!
I will post pictures when done.
Thanks for advice/help and hope this gives someone with an issue some solace that Ram do, I think anyway, Care( well, sometimes!)
 

KeithP

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2019
Posts
461
Reaction score
594
Location
Texas
Ram Year
2019
Engine
Hemi 5.7 VVT
Great to hear positive results. So many complaints on here it sometimes is depressing just to log in.
 
OP
OP
British Bulldog

British Bulldog

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Sep 14, 2016
Posts
2,033
Reaction score
720
Location
Jacksonville NC
Ram Year
2021
Engine
Hemi 5.7 etorque
Yeah. I know what you mean. This really was a positive for me…….. so many times it seems claims rejected/dismissed. Makes you wonder if some of them could be sorted if only the claimant could get to the right people.
 
OP
OP
British Bulldog

British Bulldog

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Sep 14, 2016
Posts
2,033
Reaction score
720
Location
Jacksonville NC
Ram Year
2021
Engine
Hemi 5.7 etorque
This issue of my paint is still ongoing. FCA has agreed a price as I mentioned but has yet to put it in writing or fess up the dosh! It will take time apparently to get it settled. In the mean time (and this is the purpose of post) I spoke to the local dealership owner who is dealing with this for me with his Ram District Manager, as I want to get my truck booked in for the work soon. He has told me to go ahead and get the work done at my leisure. He then said, without any prompt from me that if needed his company( for that read he) will front me the money themselves!
How is that for customer service! They have got my business for life!
That is truly generous and remarkable especially as you may all recall I didn’t buy from them. Big call out for Ashland Ford Chrysler dealership in Ashland WI. Great people great service.
 

mikeru

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Nov 3, 2016
Posts
2,813
Reaction score
3,627
Location
Eastern WA
Ram Year
2020 Limited
Engine
Hemi 5.7L
Excellent customer service you got from that dealership. For the life of me I can't understand why more dealerships haven't figured that formula out. Lower prices may get customers in the door, but poor customer service will make them one-time buyers. However, great customer service will keep customers coming back and buying for as long as they feel they are getting that great customer service.

The company I work for has a 10 year warranty on it's products. Some of those products have been in service for more than 30 years. Yet we have never charged a customer for a repair no matter how long they've owned it. In 37 years this company has grown from 3 employees to over 6000. With offices worldwide. Great customer service is one of the reasons for that success.
 

Dodge 1500 4X4

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2019
Posts
2,560
Reaction score
2,221
Location
Rochester, NY
Ram Year
2019
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Glad to hear the dealer is working with you, Hopefully your independent body shop can repair the clearcoat and fix a screw up a robot made, factory QC should of cought this, Some good news is great for this forum!
 
OP
OP
British Bulldog

British Bulldog

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Sep 14, 2016
Posts
2,033
Reaction score
720
Location
Jacksonville NC
Ram Year
2021
Engine
Hemi 5.7 etorque
Yes, I agree! Apparently my truck just "shows more because its black, they are all like that" I sincerely hope not. I really like my truck, but at $00,000 or any amount, it should at least have a good finish!

Here's hoping!
 
OP
OP
British Bulldog

British Bulldog

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Sep 14, 2016
Posts
2,033
Reaction score
720
Location
Jacksonville NC
Ram Year
2021
Engine
Hemi 5.7 etorque
So I am finally picking up my truck tomorrow, been in the paint shop since 8th November.
Up side is I have been out and about in the loaner and kept miles off mine!
I REALLY hope this is all now finished with.
Hood, tailgate, front wings, all four doors and bed flatted, primed, base coat and three coats of lacquer, then wet sanded and polished.

I am really bricking it……..if it’s not right I have no further recourse now.
All under warranty.

Will post pics tomorrow. Watch this space!
 
Top