Expert: Dan Gardener - 9/15/2010

Question
QUESTION: 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport. Bright Silver Metallic. Storm Damage to hood (dented) and right bed side panel (dented behind rear tire). Reputable shop repair. Hood replaced, panel repaired. Paint was to be blended into front fenders, damage to rear panel kept color coat to a foot/square area.
Upon receiving  vehicle noticed that the hood, two front fenders and bed side panel were noticeably darker when viewed at an angle or especially in lower light situations, such as parking lots, etc.  I was told it was due to fading of original paint and nothing could be done. My truck looks like crap now, instead of the tricked out showstopper I used take to cruiz-ins and sound install shows. I'm thinking it could be done better.  Your opinion?

ANSWER: Hello Robert
Thank you for the question.
Was an insurance company involved? That would be a first option.Go back to them.
The vehicle was not done correctly!
An 01 vehicle has a UV protective clear coat which has been scientifically designed to protect paint pigment form fading, unless you live on the sun, your fading issue is an bold excuse for a sub-standard job .
I have been in this business, painting and moving through a number of technologies and their is no support for this fading theory.
Let me know what you do and how things work out.
Dan

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks.

Yes, my insurance company paid for the repair in full (State Farm) and the shop involved has a great rep plus it's a "State Farm Select" shop.

Just to be clear about the paint.  Only the hood was painted in it's entirety.  The rear bed panel color coat was limited to an area behind the rear tire, about 1 square foot, while the color coat on the two front fenders was "blended".  All panels involved (bedside, two front fenders and hood) got complete new clear.  The clear coat seems to have darkened the entire panels about 1 shade so that the truck now has a checkerboard appearance where panel meets panel.

It's going back into the shop anyway because of what I feel is a poor hood fit, insurance spec'd a used OEM hood which is fine by me as long as it's in near perfect condition, but the way it's off makes me think the hood on the salvaged truck had already been replaced with Taiwan, the gaps are terrible and seams don't run flush with adjoining panels.

State Farm has agreed to pay for a new genuine OEM hood. :D

I've been doing some research on the internet and saw a few comments about this clear darkening problem having happened to some shop owners, they blame DuPont paint, my shop uses PPG.

Any other information you can supply would be great, the truck isn't going back in until the middle of October.

Thanks again.  

Answer
Hello Robert
If your paint is darker from some  angels, IT IS NOT THE CLEAR , IT IS THE FLIP OF THE PEARL. Clear will darken when 'mill' build up is to high. The darkening in this case would be at the back end of the blend and not affecting the fresh blend
Stay in touch
Dan