Paint issue...

[drj02]

Just curious as I can't seem to find good info. on this topic. So what is the deal with the 2003 paint issue? Certain build dates in '03? Only 300A's or both 300A and 300B's? Tried to search for threads but no luck.

[Bigdogjim]

Aug.'02 build date first 2 weeks for the most part. Paint is not the great on the hole line IMHO.

[Speed]

If I'm not mistaken, I believe in a nut shell it was the 300a (I have one). It had to do with water in either in the clear coat and/or base coat. The experts should chime in after awhile with the finer details.

[Bigdogjim]

If I'm not mistaken, I believe in a nut shell it was the 300a (I have one). It had to do with water in either in the clear coat and/or base coat. The experts should chime in after awhile with the finer details.
Like I posted first 2 weeks in Aug.of '02 so that would be 300A black marauders only. If I remember correctly it was solvent left in the lines:mad:

I did have one and was very luck to get a Factory re-paint thanks to the efforts of Mr.Babcock:up: who saw my marauder at MV-I in Texas:banana2:

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

^factory repaint? They stripped your car to a shell and sent it down the crown vic production line again?

[SC Cheesehead]

^factory repaint? They stripped your car to a shell and sent it down the crown vic production line again?

IIRC, Ford covered the cost for repainting these, don't think they were sent back down the production line.

[Vortech347]

My 03' was a late 03' and the paint was coming off it like a stale glazed donught.

Luckly it started below 36k and I had the dealer repaint the hood/trunk/roof as they were showing cracking and flaking. I had 2" bare metal spot on the roof. They would not repaint the rest of the car as I told them that would come off too. I had to fight HARD to get them to paint what they did. I showed the dealership numorious posts from here and I had a good friend that worked at that dealer to for additional "pull"

Guess what, 65k the doors started cracking and rust appeared. I sold the car as fast as I could with 72k while it could still be cosmeticly cleaned up and picked up my 04.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

IIRC, Ford covered the cost for repainting these, don't think they were sent back down the production line.

I was being facetious, I just laughed at the term "factory repaint"

[Bluerauder]

If I'm not mistaken, I believe in a nut shell it was the 300a (I have one).
There are also problems showing up in the 2003 300Bs. The roof of my Blue MM is starting to blister. I first noticed this problem about 6-9 months ago. :(

[SC Cheesehead]

There are also problems showing up in the 2003 300Bs. The roof of my Blue MM is starting to blister. I first noticed this problem about 6-9 months ago. :(

You're not alone Charlie. I've got blistering started on mine, too.

[LOWBUCKMM]

my 04 has blister spots on the roof, trunk and the hood. so i dont think its the 03's only.

[4play]

try wetsnding with 2000 gritt sand paper and polish to a shine, it's ok if you sand through the clearcoat, a good polish will shine it up nice, just keep a good coat of wax on her till your ready for a repaint.

[Bigdogjim]

I was being facetious, I just laughed at the term "factory repaint"

It is called a "factory repaint" because the Ford (the factory) paid for it.

[Bigdogjim]

my 04 has blister spots on the roof, trunk and the hood. so i dont think its the 03's only.

I also stated that the paint on all marauders was not the best.
["rest of the line"]

[MMANIAC]

My Blue 03 had similar problems.... Got the roof, hood and rear deck
stripped and re painted in October. (Never got anywhere with the dealer
even when the paint started peeling off the roof and rusting)
Looks like my 04 DTR isn't far behind.
The interesting thing is in both cases there seems to be multiple
layers of paint on all the horizontal surfaces. Which is also where all the problems are.

[jonroe]

My '04 DTR had paint flaws (a few specific spider cracks) in the hood from the beginning though the rest of the paint seems to be holding up. I never mustered up the effort to go after Ford since I bought my car out of state and brought it home. I'm thinking this summer to get the front clip painted to fix the hood and all the rock chips in front.

[BurpyTurtle]

My '04 DTR had paint flaws (a few specific spider cracks) in the hood from the beginning though the rest of the paint seems to be holding up. I never mustered up the effort to go after Ford since I bought my car out of state and brought it home. I'm thinking this summer to get the front clip painted to fix the hood and all the rock chips in front.

My DTR's hood is also getting little spider cracks and there are 3 tiny spots that are starting to blister.

I guess I should have had the whole car painted when they replaced the passenger side doors last April.

[Red91LX]

I'm wondering if those cars with paint issues are kept outside all the time, and if any with paint problems are regularly garaged...

[MMANIAC]

The car I just had fixed was garaged about half the time, but I'm
certain that garaging is not the issue. There were what appeared to be multiple layers of dissimilar paint on the horizontal surfaces....
Possibly a fix at the plant to repair a contamination problem from above
in the plant. The failure appears to originate from below the paint surface.
The painters I used to fix this problem have a lot of experience restoring
60's iron and they felt that something was definitley up with the factory
paint.

[mrjones]

Mine is a June 02 build and has very crappy paint. My hood and side moldings have been repainted, and the moldings are peeling again.