Correct paint for fender flares

I had to have some damage repaired on my 2017 limited. I got the truck back about 2 weeks ago and it looked great. However, two days ago after washing it, I noticed about 14 chips on the left rear fender flare. (the forward edge or if looking at it from the side 915 to 1100 oclock area.) I drove out the shop that did the work. He blamed it on rock chips and I had in fact been on a gravel road. My thought if this truck gets this peppered every time I'm on a gravel road, I won't have any painted surface left in a couple of years. The most he would offer was a little left over paint he would give me. (If I would bring out a small bottle). The next day I noticed a spot of loose paint appeared about 1/2 inch in diameter. It was still attached by thin piece of paint. I was on hard surface roads only. Went back out to the body shop and the owner did agree to repaint it. He said he uses a water based paint and had enough left. He also mentioned that the shelf life of this paint was about 30 days. But it should be ok.

Has anyone experienced paint issues with the flares?
Is he using the correct paint?


I,m kinda of pissed because this appears to be something that will come back and bite me in a year or so and the shop will say so long sucker. I need it done right. Hopefully someone can give me some good guidance. Pics if anyone needs them can be sent. Thanks for listening. Tom

 

I'm not a body shop guy but my take is he needs to spray thicker coats of clear.

That will minimize chipping.

 

Paint doesn’t like sticking to plastic, to paint plastic flairs you need to prep the plastic very well otherwise it will chip very easily and flake off. Seems to me like they didn’t prep the plastic flair properly before painting, or they didn’t use the correct primer. Water based vs oil based is a misternomer, it’s actually the same paint the water vs oil is simply what’s used to vaporize the paint in the gun. Now there are a lot of other additives in the paint to allow this to happen, but once set / dry it should be the exact same chemical compound.
To the point above, No amount of clear is going to help if the base layer didn’t adhear well.

 

i say leave it black is nice

 

He did not prep correctly. Had this happen on a prior truck, paint was chipping off the front bumper cover by the inch. Most reputable body’s shops will guarantee repairs aside from stone chips for the life of vehicle. If he won’t fix it correctly going back to your insurance company will also work, ive also had to go that route before.

 

Yes. If you went through your insurance company, they should make sure it’s done right. If not you should be able to go to another shop. At least that’s what I’ve been told before. Maybe call your insurance company before going back to the body shop? Good luck.

 

Most likely the shop used the same paint that was used on the rest of the job. Painting the plastic parts requires additional prep and paint additives to make sure it adheres to the plastic. Nothing is as good as the factory paint. Don't care how good the shop is, they generally shortcut to save money. In your case I suspect that's what happened. Improper prep and the paint additives weren't used. Also there should have been a flex additive added as plastic trim gives and takes. When you see the paint peeling off bumpers that's generally what's happened. As some have stated, if insurance paid, get them involved. The shop was paid to do the job right. Most people don't watch or care, repair in, repair out run it until the wheels fall off.

 

I've taken my Tacoma to the body shop now 5 times for stupid shit I keep finding. The passenger door has to solvent pops that I am going to try and touchup myself. I don't want to take it back. I'm getting tired of that shit. I am very OCD when it comes to my truck looking perfect. I don't mind if I fuck it up off roading but when outside things happen. Like in my case a dumpster flying into the side of my truck, it makes me sick to my stomach. Then you give your truck to a body shop to repair and you keep finding shit over and over, its gets old. Sorry for my rant.

 

Pretty much all automotive paint is water based for environmental reasons these days. Yes oil base is 100 times better but it's allso bad for the environment. The water based paint pops right off when hit by a stone.

 

I wonder if they're not using flex agent in the paint

 

X2

 

Thanks to all who replied. There was some really good information for me to give to my insurance agent, if it comes to that. Can't get it in the shop until May 7. I'll see how much more falls off. I imagine just washing it will knock off even more paint.