Brand new 2013 with very visible orange peel

[Airnote]

Guys,

I have a brand new (2013) Premium Edition AWD in Iris Blue and love the vehicle, but after washing and waxing on the weekend was really disappointed by the amount of orange peel in the paint - particular as its so visible in the darker paint.

I decided to take it back to the dealership. Paint defects are covered in the comprehensive warranty (3 years/60km) and all my reading points to orange peel as a defect.

Anyway, the guys at the dealership agreed it was very noticeable and referred me to their body shop. The body shop would like to do a test on a panel to see how well it can be corrected with wet sanding and buffing, and after this, they will provide an estimate to the dealership for the whole vehicle who will take the claim to Hyundai Canada for approval. My body shop appointment for the test panel is Tuesday.

I have a few concerns and would love it if you anyone could weigh in:

1. In general, has anyone had orange peel corrected before under warranty?
2. I realize the factory paint is thin - how risky is wet sanding and buffing?
3. What happens when the test panel looks fantastic and the rest of the car is still orange peel and Hyundai Canada declines the claim? Is this a likely/real possibility?

Thanks,

D.

[Buerkletucson]

Originally Posted by Airnote

Guys,

I have a brand new (2013) Premium Edition AWD in Iris Blue and love the vehicle, but after washing and waxing on the weekend was really disappointed by the amount of orange peel in the paint - particular as its so visible in the darker paint.

I decided to take it back to the dealership. Paint defects are covered in the comprehensive warranty (3 years/60km) and all my reading points to orange peel as a defect.

Anyway, the guys at the dealership agreed it was very noticeable and referred me to their body shop. The body shop would like to do a test on a panel to see how well it can be corrected with wet sanding and buffing, and after this, they will provide an estimate to the dealership for the whole vehicle who will take the claim to Hyundai Canada for approval. My body shop appointment for the test panel is Tuesday.

I have a few concerns and would love it if you anyone could weigh in:

1. In general, has anyone had orange peel corrected before under warranty?
2. I realize the factory paint is thin - how risky is wet sanding and buffing?
3. What happens when the test panel looks fantastic and the rest of the car is still orange peel and Hyundai Canada declines the claim? Is this a likely/real possibility?

Thanks,

D.

Your Tucson is brand new and you just took delivery recently?

• I personally would not like a brand new vehicle undergoing what you describe.
• I would not trust any dealer body shop to do this repair
• If it is truly "orange peel" as you describe it is a defect, period.
• I would demand a new vehicle.
• Orange peel is caused from improper application technique
• Is it in the clear-coat or the base-coat?
• Sanding will mask the issue but will not fix/repair it permanently

Orange peel (effect)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Orange peel is a certain kind of finish that may develop on painted and cast surfaces, even screen protectors.[1] The texture resembles the surface of the skin of an orange (fruit).
Gloss paint sprayed on a smooth surface (such as the body of a car) should also dry into a smooth surface. However, various factors can cause it to dry into a bumpy surface resembling the texture of an orange peel. The orange peel phenomenon can then be smoothed out with ultra-fine sandpaper, but it can be prevented altogether by changing the painting technique or the materials used. Orange peel is typically the result of improper painting technique, and is caused by the quick evaporation of thinner, incorrect spray gun setup (e.g., low air pressure or incorrect nozzle), spraying the paint at an angle other than perpendicular, or applying excessive paint.

[Airnote]

Thanks Buerkletucson,

I took possession just a couple of weeks ago. The car just has 800 km.

I don't know if the orange peel is in the clear coat or the paint. I think this is the purpose of the test. The dealership swears by - and more importantly warrants - the work of the body shop in question.

I agree I'm really not comfortable with the options. I think I'm going to limit the test to a very small surface area. From my understanding only orange peel in the clear coat is correctable. If the orange peel is in the paint, there is nothing to be done but sanding it down and refinishing it completely - re-paint and re-clear coat. Ugh.

D.

[CleanSE-R]

Originally Posted by Airnote

Thanks Buerkletucson,

I took possession just a couple of weeks ago. The car just has 800 km.

I don't know if the orange peel is in the clear coat or the paint. I think this is the purpose of the test. The dealership swears by - and more importantly warrants - the work of the body shop in question.

I agree I'm really not comfortable with the options. I think I'm going to limit the test to a very small surface area. From my understanding only orange peel in the clear coat is correctable. If the orange peel is in the paint, there is nothing to be done but sanding it down and refinishing it completely - re-paint and re-clear coat. Ugh.

D.

Even if it is correctable I would not let them do it. Any sanding/buffing will wear down the already thin layer of clear coat and it will only give you more paint issues in years to come (you know, just as the warranty ends!)