What could this be??

General Lee

New member
I don't have a pic but my neighbors ford ranger has these tiny imperfections all over the engine hood. They look like small stars in a sense and be slightly felt with your nail. The rest of the truck does not have these. Could it be acid rain affect? Wierd the rest of the truck does'nt have them though. He can't seem to get them out and they do appear to be in the clearcoat.



Even though no pic, does anyone have any ideas??
 
Both my cousin and I had something similar on the hood of our Fords. We both had ProbeGT's, mine was '94, his was '95.



After a couple of years (during which the paint was meticulously maintained), the paint on the hood started to develop the appearance of having dried, shrunk, and cracked. It did this only on the hood, not on the roof (which has the same sun exposure), or the front quarterpanels (which are in close proximity to the hood).



I tried compounding, polishing, etc., with no improvement. I took it back to Ford, and they (not too politely) advised that the car was out of warrenty, and it wasn't their problem.



If it is the same thing, it will only get worse from here. If it is the same thing, there are really only two choices: 1) repaint the hood, or 2) live with it (ok - I took choice 3 - sell it).
 
~One man’s opinion / observations ~



I’d agree with 2001 civicex, metal brake dust embedded under the surface that has allowed a pollutant to compromise the clear coat.



Try detailing clay and a rust inhibitor and then protect as usual.



Let us know what happens, that's if you don’t take dematre's choice 3 (sell it)





~Hope this helps~



Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/Jon

justadumbarchitect *so I question everything*
 
Postwood you could be right, I went for the brake dust as it close to the wheels (hood, + engine heat) and that's the only place it occurs.
 
I don't think they are bug etches. They are just on the flat surface of the hood. All over it in close proximity as water beads on a freshly waxed surface.



Next time I see him I will offer to clay it. He's old school and is particular with his vehicles so he may not let me.
 
I would agree with dmatre. I have seen this on a black 94 Mazda that I have as well as a couple other cars. Once this happens there is nothing you can do besides repaint. Take a very close look at it and if it looks like the paint is cracking, then it probably is. This usually happens in older cars, what year is the ranger?



If it's not cracking then it could be stuff embedded into the paint like 2001civicex suggested.
 
Not sure if this has anything to do with it, but I know that the current generation of Rangers have hoods made out of aluminum rather than steel. It's the only part of a Ranger body that I'm aware of made from Al and this could be the reason why the blemishes you see are limited to the hood only.
 
velocifero said:
Not sure if this has anything to do with it, but I know that the current generation of Rangers have hoods made out of aluminum rather than steel. It's the only part of a Ranger body that I'm aware of made from Al and this could be the reason why the blemishes you see are limited to the hood only.



Ahhhhh, Good point:xyxthumbs
 
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