Ford Fusion: Paint - General Information / Paintwork Defects and Damage. General Procedures

Materials

Repair

NOTE: Refinishing - Environmental Damage

1. NOTICE: Never paint over iron particles as rust spots will reoccur. Use only the recommended decontamination procedure detailed below.

   Rinse any dust, dirt and foreign material from the vehicle body with cold water. Flush liberally.
   

1. Prepare the acid neutralizer by mixing 8 parts of water to 1 part neutralizer in a bucket.
   Material: Motorcraft® Acid Neutralizer / ZC-1-A

1. NOTICE: To avoid paint failure, do not allow the product to dry on the vehicle.

   NOTE: Use a separate clean twisted lambs wool wash mitt for each product applied to the vehicle. Rinse frequently to remove any particles trapped in the fibers.

   Working quickly and beginning at the top of the vehicle and working to the sides, apply the neutralizer mix to the entire vehicle. Keep the vehicle wet with the solution and lightly agitate for 5 to 7 minutes. Continue around the vehicle 4 to 5 times. For severe conditions, work the product for up to 8 minutes.
   

1. Rinse the vehicle completely with cold water to remove the product.
   

1. Dry only the horizontal surfaces of the vehicle, do not dry the glass at this time.
   

1. NOTICE: To avoid damage to the paint surface, do not apply the alkaline neutralizer directly to the vehicle plastic trim.

   NOTE: Use a separate clean twisted lambs wool wash mitt for each product applied to the vehicle. Rinse frequently to remove any particles trapped in the fibers.

   NOTE: Alkaline neutralizer is a ready-to-use product. Do not mix with water.

   Pour the alkaline neutralizer into a squirt bottle and apply the solution to a clean closed-loop wash mitt.
   Material: Motorcraft® Alkaline Neutralizer / ZC-2-A

1. NOTICE: To avoid paint failure, do not allow the alkaline neutralizer to dry on the vehicle.

   Apply the product to the vehicle keeping the solution wet and lightly agitate for 5 to 7 minutes. For severe conditions, work the product for up to 8 minutes.
   

1. Rinse the vehicle completely with cold water to remove the product.
   

1. Prepare the detail wash by mixing 29.5 ml (1 fl. oz) with 3.78 L (1 gal) of water.
   Material: Motorcraft® Detail Wash / ZC-3-A (ESR-M14P4-A)

1. Using a clean closed-loop wash mitt, shampoo the entire vehicle and rinse with cold water. Dry the vehicle completely.
   

1. Visually inspect the paint surface for any remaining evidence of ferrous metal particles. Repeat procedure as necessary.
   

1. NOTICE: When attempting to affect a repair by buffing, polishing or color sanding, do not remove an excess of 0.3 mil of paint film or refinishing will be required.

   NOTE: Acid rain discoloring or etching may require color sanding in addition to buffing and polishing. In extreme cases, refinishing may be required if the following procedure does not restore the vehicle finish.

   NOTE: Do not intermix buffing products. Use only one manufacturer’s product.

   NOTE: Always follow the manufacturer’s product usage sequence. Use the appropriate buffing or polishing pad at the recommended buffing speed as specified by the product manufacturer.

   Apply rubbing compound to the vehicle surface as recommended by the product manufacturer.
   

1. Apply machine glaze to the vehicle surface as recommended by the product manufacturer.
   

1. Use an alcohol and water mixture (1 to 1) to clean the buffed and polished areas. Verify removal of scratches and swirls before the application of the final polish.
   

1. Apply a final polish material by hand, with a dual-action sander and foam pad, or with an orbital polisher and appropriate polishing bonnet.
   

1. Wash and dry the vehicle.
   Material: Motorcraft® Detail Wash / ZC-3-A (ESR-M14P4-A)

Repair

NOTE: Refinishing - Manufacturing Damage

1. Wash the repair area with pH-neutral soap and water.
   Material: Motorcraft® Detail Wash / ZC-3-A (ESR-M14P4-A)

1. Remove any trim, emblems and hardware from the area to be repaired.
   

1. NOTE: All delamination must be removed.

   Sand or media blast the damaged surface, keeping the repair area as minimal as possible.
   

1. Treat any bare metal surface to prevent flash corrosion, and prime and block sand as necessary prior to refinishing.
   

1. Mask the adjacent panels to protect from overspray.
   

1. NOTICE: The HVTB (High Voltage Traction Battery) in electric vehicles can be affected and damaged by excessively high temperatures. The temperature in some body shop paint booths can exceed 60°C (140°F). Therefore, during refinishing operations, the paint booth temperature must set at or below 60°C (140°F) with a bake time of 45 minutes or less. Temperatures in excess of 60°C (140°F) or bake durations longer than 45 minutes will require the HVTB (High Voltage Traction Battery) be removed from the vehicle prior to placing in the paint booth.

   Spot repair the base coat as necessary, following the paint manufacturer's prescribed procedures.
   

1. Following the paint manufacturer's prescribed procedure, apply clear coat to the entire panel.
   

1. Reapply any trim, emblems and hardware previously removed from the repair area.