Scratches on new truck after coming back from first service... Grrrr!

My wife has a Saturn Sky. You need special pucks on a lift to raise it up so as not to damage the the rocker panel areas on the driver and passenger sides. I dropped it off where we bought it a few years ago for some warranty work. Picked it up and brought it home, not thinking to make sure the panels weren't cracked. The wife came out and immediately noticed the damage the next day. I drove it back and they repaired it, no questions asked.

 

I'll add my $.02. Had a similar experience when my 4Runner was brand spanking new. Dealer put a nasty scratch dead centered on the driver's door. It was too deep to buff out, and on a black vehicle it really stood out like a sore thumb.

I had them repaint the door. They did what I consider to be a good job, but I can't say it's flawless. The paint match is perfect, but I can see a few little "waves" in the clearcoat if the 4Runner is clean an I look straight down the side of it. I do have to admit I'm incredibly OCD about my vehicles...I've pointed these "waves" out to a few other people and they can't even see what i'm talking about. Only person that noticed what I was talking about was a buddy of mine that works at a body shop.

So...if I was in your shoes... I'd let them repaint it. I don't regret doing it...it looks much, much better than a big nasty scratch.

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/3M-39071-Scratch-Removal-System-Scratch-Removal-System/17056840

 

You can buff that out in 15 min. Check out my recent post here on similar looking clear coat scratch I buffed out of my tail gate. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/joining-the-scratched-paint-club.536284/#post-17253939

 

when I drop off my Rav 4 or tacoma I always ask service adviser for my own inspection paper (the one they use to note scratches & dings)
I perform a walk through and note everything that's noticeable after that I match it with there's and if they agree or if something was missed we both note it then I ask them to sign my own inspection. Upon picking up I walk around my car a few times just to make sure, as for their stupid car wash NO THANK YOU!

hope the dealership takes care of you.

 

Several years ago I bought a new Camry and the dealership scratched the hood up dragging the hose over it that they washed it with. I made them fix it and noted it in my new car ownership survey from Toyota. I was informed by that dealership that I could take my Camry somewhere else. I took them up on that offer and also bought 4 new Toyota's somewhere else. Be careful in how you resolve this with them. Im lucky to have other dealerships nearby.

 

Dealer service advisor called me up first thing this morning and said bring it by and he'll take a look and see what they can do. Brought it by and he took a look and without admitting fault directly, said he didn't remember that there when I dropped it off either. Kinda ran his finger over it and asked if he could take it over to their detail shop and talk to his guys and see if it could be a quick fix. 15 minutes later he brought it back with the scratch gone. Well, as gone as I need it to be... You could faintly see the beginning edge of it if you knew it was there and stared for a second and were within a foot of the surface. I asked him about the long term prognosis on it staying "gone"... said it should be fine, and if not, bring it back.

Never once got questioned about if I maybe did it or it happened away from the service visit. Not sure if he talked to his techs and got a confirmation of someone causing the scratch, but was surprised with the lack of push back, considering I had left the dealership, and the responses above made that sound like a possible death knell for getting it corrected. From the initial response and stance he took, I am guessing he would have gone much further to remedy the issue if needed. Glad he didn't have to. I know my truck is going to get scratches. Having it corrected, but not absolutely off the lot perfect is probably the best thing for my OCDness. I won't stare at the scratch now every day when I open my door and be pissed, but it's also imperfect, and when I inevitably scratch it somewhere else myself, it'll probably be a little easier to swallow!

Appreciate all the responses and information... I felt like I was at least armed with a bunch of ammunition for a possible fight, but glad it didn't go that way. The humor helped lighten my mood as well. Really got a chuckle out of the reply suggesting I might as well start parting the truck out!

 

Your before and after pics are impressive... since they were able to buff mine out, maybe it's a sign that Inferno is a great color to remedy scratches on! Mind sharing the products and protocol you used? Would be comforting to know when I inevitably do inflict pain on my own paint job!

 

Good job op, glad it worked out for you.

 

I used a porter cable XP dual action buffer. It's probably the best at the price point, but I hear harbor freight ones work just as well.
For this application I used Meguiar's microfiber polishing pad, which has the strongest cutting power out of pads, but I knew these ones were a little deeper so I started with those. Yellow or even orange pads might work depending on your swirl marks/scratches.

For the cutting compound I used Menzerna Heavy Cut 400. What I like about it the most is that it breaks down as you use it and polishes it for you. Most cutting compounds you'll need a separate polish to finish it off with, but this does both. If you're super anal like I was with my previous car, I used a gemming polish afterwards; how I got a mirror like paint on my previous black car.

I then topped it off with Menzerna Powerlock sealant. Works great out here in the northwest and buffs off easily.

I have a write up in this link here.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-remove-trail-pinstriping.504693/

 

Thanks! I just got some pinstripes that I need to work on one of these days. I like the Harbor Freight recommendation (being a cheap ass).

 

Glad it worked out well for you, OP.

Here's the reason I stopped going to my local dealer:

Lot attendant drove my truck without knowing how to drive a manual. I watched the lot attendant pull my truck into the parking lot and he couldn't figure out how to get into reverse to back into the spot. I said, "that's ok, just leave it there." He said "ok." He then dumped the clutch causing the truck to violently stall. He hopped out and actually threw me my keys and said "here ya go!" He didn't even bother to turn the truck off, just purposely let it stall. I don't think he knew to turn the key off.

I was speechless. Never made a complaint. Never went back. Told everyone, including TW now.

Edit: does that make anyone cringe?

 

nah they just blend half way into the other door. you wouldn't even notice that it was repainted

 

I'd lose my shit if someone did that. The stalling just deserves ridicule along the lines of calling him a chick with a sore vagina. Tossing me my keys like some asshole would involve me talking some shit.

 

Impressive. That before pic looks hopeless.

 

"If" I ever take my truck to the Dealer I back it into the space or park it with the shifter in Reverse, that would have pissed me off too with that kid not knowing what he was doing in your truck.