I have a 2010 Explorer that I bought new. The color is Black Pearl Slate.

I was wondering if anyone else has seen the same issue with theirs as follows:

The driver's side rear quarter panel shows blemishes in the paint when looking at it straight down the side. It is the appearance of dips in the surface, and continues straight back. The first is at the edge of the dor jam, and the seconds is directly over the wheel well center, which appears to be a dip in the paint like a dent, but there is absolutely no dip in the surface. Then as you go back, slighly above the level of the first mark, the same thing appears about 3 times more, with an equal space between them. There is absolutely no dent or dip when the exact spot is examined. Looking dierctly at it, you cannot see anything wrong; only a look down the side, and it looks worse when it is clean and shiny.

It looks like body work, but there appears to be no filler in those spots. There is not even the slightest evidence of overspray or difference in color or paint texture. Also, I have seen cars with marks like this that have had body work done, and when you look at the spot closer, it is usually even more obvious.

This particular color is the deepest metalic I have ever seen - almost 3D looking. I am wondering if this has to do with the blemishes. No where else on the truck looks like this though. I wonder if the slightest imperfection in the sheet metal would be ampllified by a paint like this.

I asked the dealer to see if body work is on the record, but nothing shows. I set out once to have the dealer look at it, but the manager was not in and I never made it back.

Lastly, would anyone know if this could be remedied without a respray? Would it be possible for it to be sanded and clearcoated professionally? I don't know very much about painting and bodywork.

Can anyone comment on this. Thank you.

 

Welcome to the site..

Can you post a pic or two. Would they would show up with a camera?

 

I never tried to photograph the issue. I'll try later when my wife gets home from work with it. Thanks.

 

I can't capture the blemish in a photo. The reflection of everything around obscures the ability to see the blemishes. I guess the human eye is much more disriminating that the camera.

I was just hoping someone may have seen this before on a brand new vehicle, and know definitively how it is remedied. My one guess is that the sprayer in the factory wigged out and caused a slightly uneven finish that normally would not be noticed, but this color and depth makes the side of the truck into a 3D mirror.

It reminds me of when you spray something with a can of spray paint and you hold the can sligthly longer on one spot than another. It looks very uneven when it is wet, but much better when it dries, but it still is not a perfect surface. This is what my truck looks like, but can only be seen under certain conditions and angles. It bothers me, but my wife could care less. I guess I'm just a fusspot, but I've been around cars too long to not be bothered.

Obviously, I don't want the whole panel repainted because the risk is greater of other issues arrising from a repaint. However I was wondering if a good professional compound job may do the trick. Or, re-clearcoat; if there is such a thing.

 

Have you considered checking with a couple of body/paint shops for no other reason than they might be able to tell what it is or possibly what caused it. They should be able to see what the camera can't. What do you think?

 

I just saw on a different forum where a guy had similar issues with a Lexus. Sounds like there are rare occasions where the base color coat gets messed up a little and can be fixed up at the factory before the clear coat. When the clear coat is applied, the depth it gives the paint brings out minute imperfections in the color base coat. The problem is that I would think that the fix is worse than the original problem. It doesn't sound like it can just be rubbed out, so it's kind of a catch 22. I'm going to bring it to a local body shop just for giggles. Sometimes I feel like I should just get a life and stop fretting over a stupid truck. A careless person in a parking lot putting a zing in it will give me a whole new thing to complain about and I will soon forget this issue. Thanks.

 

Gee, it's nice to hear from someone that has a pleasant outlook on things !! I guess it's all in what they call getting our priorities straight. Please let us know what the body shop had to say , thanks.