Paint Problem - long post - READ ONLY

14 messages,  Last post on Aug 25, 2003 at 4:00 PM

You are in the Maintenance & Repair - Archived Discussions Forum.

This discussion is ARCHIVED. To reactivate the discussion, post a request in the Lost? Ask the M&R Host for directions! discussion.

What is this discussion about? Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler, Paint, Wagon

#5 of 14 twoof1 re: premium care plan by ms_mayor

Aug 06, 2003 (8:07 am)

I received my service plan document last week regarding the loaner. Based on what it says, the dealer probably will not give you the loaner.
 
The plan says "First Day Rental Allowance provides $30 car rental allowance if the vehicle is to be serviced for any same day mechanical or maintenance service".
 
Accessory installation is probably not considered mechanical or maintenance service. Just yesterday I had mine in to get splash guards and the bumper scuff guard installed; I didn't even bother asking about the loaner. I'm lucky though because my dealer also has a free shuttle service and its right across the street from a major indoor shopping mall, so I just hitched a ride there for 90 min., did some shopping and got a ride back after they called and said the work was done.

#6 of 14 nabbrs re: painted jambs by ms_mayor

Aug 06, 2003 (8:11 am)

My Pacifica is Lt. Almond, and all my jambs are painted and clear coated. I definitely agree with twoof1 that you should get your dealer to walk the lot with you and look at all the Pacificas he has.
 
If that doesn't help, maybe I could get you some photos of mine that show the paint if that will help.
 
Good Luck!

#7 of 14 Paint on door jambs by commofficer

Aug 06, 2003 (9:48 am)

Hello there,
I also own a silver Pacifica and it is painted "properly" BUT I did have to have the paint on the driver’s door edge redone. The edge had orange peel from top to bottom and I didn't feel good about future rust resistance.
I would fire the QA person who watched your car leave the factory and did nothing about the door jambs. The service manager you are working with is an idiot and should be put on a watch list by the dealer he/she works for and Chrysler should watch this dealer too. I would not take my car back to these boobs. I can only hope you have another dealer near you.
Here is the contact info from Chrysler's web site.
 
Contact Us by Telephone
1-800-992-1997
M-F 8:00AM-5:00PM
All Time Zones
 
I have had a really good experience with my dealer, Bob Moore in Oklahoma City, and I was given a free loaner Pacifica for 11 days while they painted the door edge and installed aftermarket leather into mine. We put 500+ miles on the loaner and they could not have cared less. I know it's too long a drive to take your car to them but there are good dealers out there and you will need to go on the prowl and find one. Phone around and talk to other service managers. They will probably take on your problem without hesitation.
Your dealer should beg for your forgiveness at this point and offer you a different vehicle. Call Chrysler and bring the Hammer of Thor down on them. I paid $27,500 for my AWD Pacifica which is more than the average spent on a new car so I expect service to be better than average or I will be on first name basis with the regional Chrysler rep. I have no time or patience for the type of individual you are working with.
 
Phil

#8 of 14 Paint woes by nabbrs

Aug 06, 2003 (12:07 pm)

I had a great purchase experience at Westoaks Chrysler! My salesman Phil was very patient with me, always answered my questions and he never used pressure tactics. I finally bought the Pacifica after many visits to the lot over the course of a month. Also, Phil seemed to be the only person at the dealership that knew about the Premium Care Plan. Unfortunately, he is the one guy who is catching most of the grief for saying "yeah that looks like a factory defect. We can fix that for you". So, great sales experience, rotten service.
 
I called another dealership in the next county and when I described my problem (I didn't say any colors), the guy said "It's dark blue, right? I've already fixed this problem on a couple of them". He also couldn't believe that Westoaks was trying to back out of the repair that they said they would do. Obviously there was a bad painter on the dark blue production line.

#9 of 14 nabbrs by maxmom

Aug 06, 2003 (12:39 pm)

Just wanted to chime in. I just finished cleaning up my Pacifica and checked the door jambs in the process. Mine (butane blue) are color matched and clearcoated. It sounds from some of the other posts as if this is a problem specific to the dark blue. It may have started as one of those "well, maybe no one will notice kind of situations", but will turn into much more if ignored by DC. Best of luck in getting it handled. I'm sure it will be corrected when you "run to earth" the right person.

#10 of 14 Dark Blue paint by nabbrs

Aug 06, 2003 (4:43 pm)

If anyone out there has a Midnight Blue Pacifica could you please check your door jambs and hinge areas for primer? If they are properly painted could you post photos of this area so that I can see what it is supposed to look like?
 
As always any assistance and advice is greatly appreciated.
 
Nabbrs

#11 of 14 nabbrs by sequoiasoon

Aug 06, 2003 (10:15 pm)

I would seriously have the car examined by independent body shop also. Call DC and start complaint file #. If these very obvious areas were not painted what else was missed and is not protected? How long is the corrosion / rust through warranty on the Pacifica? Will that warranty be extended since they screwed it up at the factory? The last time I saw auto manufacturing the vehicles are painted by computer controlled spray guns as part of the assembly line. This was frame / unibody first and all the rest of the parts on a separate part of the line but with same technology. If the roof got painted the door jambs should have also! I think? Definitely walk the lot with sales manager and service manager (and regional rep if possible) If EVERY Pacifica has unpainted jambs so be it, if one or more of any color have painted jambs, get rid of yours and get one that is painted from factory not "touch up". Do they plan to take off all the fenders and doors to get the "other side" of the hinge area that you can't see easily? I think you got a raw deal and a POOR service dealer.

#12 of 14 Midnight Blue by grndefx

Aug 12, 2003 (9:49 pm)

I have Midnioght Blue AWD and door jams are painted and clearcoated midnight blue.

#13 of 14 Midnight Blue by pacificaoregon

Aug 20, 2003 (10:32 am)

I have a Midnight Blue AWD fully loaded model delivered in May and door jams are painted and clearcoated midnight blue. The only place where it looks like the paint might be less desirable is deep in the wheel wells near the springs, looks like it is just midnight blue w/o clearcoat. I could find no primer coat in all the places I looked without removing anything that could be in place to cover things up.

#14 of 14 Paint Problem - Update by nabbrs

Aug 25, 2003 (4:00 pm)

After going up the ladder to the owner of the dealership, they finally corrected the paint problem at their cost. They kept my car for three weeks, stripped it down and repainted almost the entire vehicle. It looks great! The only problem is the inside driver door has dark blue speckles of paint. I guess someone didn't cover it properly when it was in the shop. The parts that can be cleaned will be, and I expect that the part that is speckled as well as scratched will be replaced. While the dealership had my car I was driving a loaner Pacifica, and despite the paint problem I am still glad that I got the Pacifica. Thanks to everyone who posted and let me know that my incomplete paint job was not "the way they all come". I appreciate your assistance and advice.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement