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09-18-2009, 07:41 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
2008 27' International CCD FB
Lincoln
, Nebraska
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 8
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Airstream finish problem
I have a 2008 airstream that has a problem with the front two end caps,they have white milky streaks in the finish. I'm getting the runaround from airstream as they keep telling me its residue left on from factory. I have had it to a dealer who tried to clean with solvent with no results. Now airstream is telling him to buff it out. He is worried that it will do damage to the clearcoat. Has anyone else heard of this problem and what they did to fix it?
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09-18-2009, 11:13 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
St. Cloud
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,280
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I can find Meguiar's products at local auto parts stores and our farm/fleet store. See if you can find their smooth surface mild clay. Rub with the finish grain under plenty of water and see what you can accomplish with simple efforts.
You've got a newer Airstream and if this doesn't take care of it I would think seriously of invoking the lemon law and exploring your options. They're the ones who let it out of the factory. Let us know about each of your steps along this path.
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10-17-2009, 07:25 PM
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#3
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1 Rivet Member
2008 27' International CCD FB
Lincoln
, Nebraska
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 8
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I have just returned from the dealer and they tried to buff with no results. I also tried the clay bar with no difference. The dealer told me that after I pointed this problem out that he has seen other new airstreams with same problem. What would I have to do under the lemon law? Any comments appreciated.
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10-17-2009, 09:11 PM
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#4
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Master of Universe
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Grand Junction
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,694
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Each state has a different Lemon Law. Some are quite weak and useless, others are stronger. Try Googling for Nebraska Lemon Law (or if you bought it in another state, check theirs too). There are usually a lot of hoops to jump through, so follow the law's requirements carefully. Depending on what Nebraska's says, if you bought it in another state, you may be able to make a claim in Nebraska or maybe not.
Many states have a Consumer Protection Act and you should check that too to see if it applies to your situation.
You may have to contact Airstream directly and see what they'll do for you, but know what the applicable Lemon Law says before you do. Also read your warranty (it's in the Owner's Manual) carefully so you understand what it says.
Gene
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10-17-2009, 09:42 PM
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#5
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,812
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jhnquest
...Has anyone else heard of this problem and what they did to fix it?
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T - T - I - W - W - O - P
worse case, new segments installed to replace the ones we cannot SEE...
so i spoke with some of the expert technicians in j/c and THEY say...
Quote:
Originally Posted by jhnquest
...they keep telling me its residue left on from factory...
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does the factory charge EXTRA for residue?
cheers
2air'
__________________
all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.j.
we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
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10-18-2009, 08:49 AM
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#6
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1 Rivet Member
2008 27' International CCD FB
Lincoln
, Nebraska
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 8
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Picture of panel
Pictures as requested
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10-18-2009, 12:15 PM
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#7
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,812
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excellent quest !
and thanks.
now have u got a really really close up photo and one with a broader view ?
and can you FEEL this white irregularity at all?
__________________
it's a bit late for this suggestion to be useful
because solvents and mild mechanical cleaning has been tried,
but my INITIAL approach (depending on IF u can feel roughness that matches the white streaks)
would have been acetic acid (vinegar), rinse with water then 91% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, then more water.
__________________
was THAT present at delivery?
by that i mean did you BUY the trailer (accept it) with that crap on the caps???
___________________
who knows what it is.
could be etching/acid stains IN the alcoa clearcoat.
THAT could happen from mega bird droppings OR water run off from a metal roofed building.
but IF that is residue left ON at the factory, they need to change residues...
____________________
the alcoa applied aluminum clearcoating is NOT repairable and cannot be dealer (or factory) applied.
so imo the ONLY way to remedy THAT panel or others, is to REPLACE the section.
____________________
this opens consideration to several other issues like...
-WHERE 2 go 4 body work?
-WHO pays for the transport?
-WHO pays for the repairs?
-WHAT repair approach (BUCKED or olympic rivets)?
-WHAT about LEAKS where none currently exist ?
and so on...
____________________
who's the dealer involved ?
((if it is that out fit from omaha/council bluffs RUN AS FAST AS U CAN FROM THERE))
____________________
so this leads us to the obvious, which is RETURN it to the factory for resolution (and endcap replacement)
u'll have to go nose2nose with the warranty people (person) to get this covered.
the warranty mentions NOT covering cosmetic/finish issues (open to interpretation)
and 'lemoning' takes a LOT of work (covered by the lemon laws 4 neb n ohio) which i doubt cover this.
anyway that's nasty looking and U may have to get just as NASTY (but in a good way) 2 get this resolved.
cheers
2air'
__________________
all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.j.
we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
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10-18-2009, 12:26 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Port Orchard
, Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
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Could it possibly be corrosion under the clear coat?
Ken
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10-18-2009, 12:38 PM
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#9
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,812
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Quote:
Originally Posted by w7ts
Could it possibly be corrosion under the clear coat?
Ken
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certainly possible ken and always tricky feeling other peoples units THROUGH this lcd interface.
but 2 my eye and imagination this looks like some liquid dripping, flowing ON to the skin and etching the clearcoat.
OR liquid runoff that initially DRIED in the sun leaving deposit of minerals and fall out.
now, once the coating is breached oxidation can n will happen at the metal level.
i have often and LONG wondered if the hurricane/leak/water shower booths used on the assembly line...
are/were in part responsible for early corrosion issues.
THAT is the first exposure to water and UNDER pressure.
IF the water isn't double distilled or highly filtered, STUFF in the ohio water could be part of the filiform C problem.
and there is LOTS of stuff in the ground (and ground water) in this historically industrial region of ohio.
cheers
2air'
__________________
all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.j.
we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
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10-18-2009, 01:20 PM
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#10
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Master of Universe
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Grand Junction
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,694
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When they make those end caps at the factory, they stretch the metal. This can compromise the clearcoat if it doesn't stretch at the same rate. Since this is a new problem and more than one trailer is involved (post #3), has there been some change in the way they form the caps, or in the clearcoat formula?
Gene
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10-18-2009, 01:30 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
Port Orchard
, Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
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The left front end cap panel on our trailer, has a few ~1/8 in long, pencil line width gray- white marks that are definitely under the clear coat. Or perhaps on the bottom side of the clear coat. Surface treatment has no effect on them, so I decided to treat them by ignoring them. I guess that would be ignorance, thus bliss.
Unfortunately I can't see them or take a photo for a couple days.
Regards,
Ken
P.S, I have found that imperfections show up much less when trailer is dirty. I am not sure if there is a message there or not.
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10-18-2009, 01:34 PM
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#12
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,812
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CrawfordGene
When they make those end caps at the factory, they stretch the metal...
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actually the end caps are made across the street in the old (original?) bazooka plant building, i think.
no bazookas are involved in the process as i understand it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CrawfordGene
This can compromise the clearcoat...
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often suggested,
but i have YET to see any streams with evidence of this 'stretch/forming' process DAMAGING the rolled on alcoa clearcoat.
initially the endcaps were where i EXPECTED to see peeling and corrosion issues.
but the ONLY traces of filiform (or any corrosion) i've seen on end caps,
were in small NICKS just like every location on flat sections of skin.
so i think to date the end cap 'potential' for issues is a NON issue.
cheers
2air'
__________________
all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.j.
we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
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10-18-2009, 01:51 PM
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#13
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Master of Universe
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Grand Junction
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,694
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2airishuman
actually the end caps are made across the street in the old (original?) bazooka plant building, i think.
no bazookas are involved in the process as i understand it.
often suggested,
but i have YET to see any streams with evidence of this 'stretch/forming' process DAMAGING the rolled on alcoa clearcoat.
so i think to date the end cap 'potential' for issues is a NON issue.
cheers
2air'
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The bazookas are used to put the curves in the sheet and the sheets are blasted across the street to the factory—saves labor on loading and unloading. They are still trying to get better aim to plant them right on the trailers. It's quite a sight to see them flying over the highway everyday at noon (also serves as the lunch whistle).
Maybe we are now seeing evidence of stretching causing a problem. A new problem means the possibility of a change in the forming process, or the aluminum, or the coating (or a bigger charge in the bazookas, or somethings in there trying to get out). Since the dealer said they've seen it on more than one trailer is more indication of a new problem.
Gene
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10-18-2009, 02:01 PM
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#14
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,812
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CrawfordGene
Maybe...
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and maybe they are building them on HTRAE now...
or maybe not.
cheers
2air'
__________________
all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.j.
we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
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10-18-2009, 02:07 PM
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#15
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Master of Universe
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Grand Junction
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,694
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Cube shaped trailers from Htrae will be the latest product from Airstream Marketing. Watch for the thread as soon as they arrive in 153 light years.
Gene
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10-18-2009, 04:04 PM
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#16
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4 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Fort Walton Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 478
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HTRAE.....you guys are evil. It took me a couple of seconds to erugif that one out!.
Chief
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10-18-2009, 07:12 PM
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#17
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,812
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oN htrae...
the customers would build the smaerts'
and the j/c service guys would come to US to repair them...
they'd be made from lead, cost under a dollar,
and pull our trucks with ease.
they'd b shaped like triangles turned inside out and UNBALANCED running gear would be desirable.
the frames would never fail and shells never leak...
ok that LAST notion is pure fantasy.
sreehc'
'ria2
__________________
all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.j.
we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
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