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Dealership undercoating, etc.

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Old May 22, 2004 | 11:16 AM
  #1  
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Dealership undercoating, etc.

Hopefully Im posting this in the right spot. If not I'm sorry. I have a truck on order that should be arriving in a week or 2 and I checked at the dealership for undercaoting etc. They said they have what they call the Pro pack which if I remeber correctly has undercaoting, clearcoat protectant, leather protectant (and possible carpet protection) and door rustproofing. They have a special for that for $500. I am wondering if it is worth that or is it just a moneymaker for the dealer and the truck is already protected enough from the factory? I want to keep my truck in as best shape as possible, but $500 is $500.....Thanks for any input.
 
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Old May 22, 2004 | 01:28 PM
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I'd avoid having the dealer do the rustproofing. That job always seems to go to the guy that- well, let's just say he's not the sharpest tool in the shed. If you don't know what you're doing when it comes to rustproofing, you'll wind up with a truck that will rust out FASTER. If they're charging $500, then about $460 of that is profit. And if the company that makes the product, or the dealer, goes out of business, where do you turn if you have a problem?

Our local Ziebart outlet does rustproofing, undercoating, paint sealant, fabric and glass protection for $489. I'd go with them before I'd have the dealer do it.
 
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Old May 22, 2004 | 04:12 PM
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You know I always figured Ziebart was quite a bit more money, but if it's $489 then I would think that's worth looking into. Thanks for the reply Jeff.
 
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Old May 22, 2004 | 05:23 PM
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Factory rustproofing is enough

Since Scotchguard is no longer ( or at least a lot less potent than before)
I would say that fabric or carpet protection is a myth at best.

As for rustproofing, the factory dips panels in zinc oxide before priming...
and they DO undercoat.

The previous poster is right about the 460.00 in profit. The supplies
they use can easily be purchased at a local hardware store.....
(what part of Turtle Wax do we not understand?)

As far as rust and corrosion, it all has to do with what part of the country
you're in........seaboard?.....there's got to be companies that do it RIGHT.....
but your best defense is just washing the undercarriage well and frequently....

THanks



ERic
 
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Old May 24, 2004 | 09:27 AM
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Originally Posted by zuluwarrior0760
...As for rustproofing, the factory dips panels in zinc oxide before priming...and they DO undercoat...As far as rust and corrosion, it all has to do with what part of the country you're in........seaboard?.....there's got to be companies that do it RIGHT.....
but your best defense is just washing the undercarriage well and frequently....
For those of us in the rust belt, you must remember that Ford's rust-through warranty specifically excludes damage caused by salt. A lot of people around her get Ziebart because they don't exclude salt damage, and they will guarantee the vehicle not to rust through for as long as you own it. Ziebart is a franchise, so they're all independently-owned. We're fortunate in this area to have a franchisee that's been doing it for years, and he's one of the most upstanding business persons I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with. He really does stand behind the product, but that may not be the case in every state.
 
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Old May 24, 2004 | 02:03 PM
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I live in an area that sees moderate salt use in winter. Back in the Seventies, our family had several new GM sedans Ziebarted. Well worth it. Factory rustproofing materials and rust-resistant design elements were in their infancy. We sold a '78 Buick Regal in 1988 that had just the slightest surface rust at the time, and most of that was found in areas of long unrepaired body scratches.

An application of Ziebart will also have a slight sound deadening effect to it as well.
 

Last edited by PaulC; May 24, 2004 at 02:05 PM.
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Old May 24, 2004 | 08:13 PM
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i dont have an opinion about ziebart but i would not undercoat a vehicle at the dealership. It is a total rip off (in terms of total cost and in terms of what you get for your $$). And as jeff alludes to in a previous post, if the undercoating is done incorrectly it can plug up drain holes and accelerate rust. For my money, focus on keeping the underside clean, or perhaps consider the ziebart. Last choice is the dealership applied treatment. IMO.
 
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Old May 25, 2004 | 12:02 PM
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I think one of the best ways to prevent rust is to coat your vehicle with clean oil before winter. Factory rust proofing is so good, the only way you get premature rusting is through top panel damage.
 
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Old May 25, 2004 | 09:00 PM
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Annual oil spray is the way to go. Proper rustproofing oil has a rust inhibiter in it.
Used engine oil is a really bad thing to use in the doors because the high acid content will strip away the lube in the window regulators & tracks. Guess how I found that one out!?
 
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Old May 25, 2004 | 10:24 PM
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What if the truck came from ford like that? We just bout a F350 new and it had undercoating already done. Is it good or a waste?
 
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Old May 26, 2004 | 08:22 AM
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Pro pack which if I remeber correctly has undercaoting, clearcoat protectant, leather protectant (and possible carpet protection) and door rustproofing.
Ask the dealer if he'll give you a life time warranty IN WRITING with for his rust proofing work - when he doesn't pass on it. Dealership rust proofing usually consists of the shop flunky putting the vehicle on a lift (sometimes with the tires off) and spraying the underside with a can or two of black Rustoleum. They try to get a little paint around the lower edges so they can "prove" the work was done. As for the "Clearcoat Protectant" that means they will have the shop flunky wax the car - maybe, otherwise they just wash it with a little car soap. The shop flunky's work is more profitable then the trained mechanics. The vehicle comes from the factory with fabric protection and what the Hell is "door dustproofing"?
 
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