Help needed ASAP. Mazda screwed up the delivery on my 5...

[Slayer33]

so here's the scoop... I installed a hitch on my 2012 mazda5 last weekend and noticed that there was no undercoating on my car. I had purchased the complete protection package from Mazda (paint, rust, undercoat and scotch guard).

I called the dealer and they said they had no record of me purchasing the protection package. I checked my paper work and I did pay for it and have the certificate for the compete package,

The dealer said they will take care of me, but I am a little pissed off/concerned... How does this affect my car now? I have gone through a whole year without any of the protection package installed. My car has been through a tough winter and they use salt on the roads here in my city during winter.

I have noticed tiny rust spots in the paint (pearl white) and had 3M installed.

For them to do the paint protection properly would they not have to remove the 3M first and then once done re-apply it?

Also, how does my car not being undercoated for a whole year affect it being done now?

I have my appointment tomorrow morning, and I am not sure how to approach this...

any suggestions?

 

[Wishmaster]

I'm not an expert on this stuff and hopefully someone with more knowledge can chime in... but my thoughts on the matter:

1. Aren't all the coatings, including the undercoating, clear, and therefore you wouldn't actually be able to see them? I think if the coatings have been done you should have a little sticker somewhere, usually lower windshield corner or side window.

2. So once that's be determined, if you have a sticker, combined with the certificate, I think you're good to go.

3. If you can't find a sticker but you have a certificate, I guess the dealership or the place these cars get sent to, will have to verify if it's actually been coated or not... you should be involved in this process and get them to show you how they can tell, yes or no. If it seems suspect, get a second opinion somewhere else.

4. If none of the coatings were done and you now have proof of this... This is serious and I would speak to non one but the General Manager and have the money refunded plus interest, plus any additional compensation (free oil changes, whatever), then go and have these coatings done at a reputable shop that specializes in this kind of service and skip the Mazda markup.

5. I really don't think one year's worth of winter driving will have done anything... but... my advice is to have it fully inspected by a reputable shop (non-Mazda dealership... maybe a friend can recommend a shop?) and if there is any sign of premature rust/deterioration, then the Mazda dealership needs to fix it at their cost.

Have fun!

 

[ukulele]

I'm not an expert on "undercoatings" as I have always thought all commonly available production vehicles are painted the same way at the factory, then again I don't live in Canada so I don't know about any extra paint options available for that market.

Just my 2 cents, I always thought all cars are primed, painted and clear-coated (the basic steps), sometimes they add little "rough patches" to certain areas where the rocks, tar and salt tend to kick up, I don't know if that is what you are referring to, aside from that I'm pretty sure all cars are painted the same way, there's nothing the dealer can add or take away from a paint job, that's pretty permanent. They can do a nice wax but that's it.

Anyone else care to elaborate on an "undercoating?" I have never heard of it.

 

[thaxman]

I'm not an expert on "undercoatings" as I have always thought all commonly available production vehicles are painted the same way at the factory, then again I don't live in Canada so I don't know about any extra paint options available for that market.

Just my 2 cents, I always thought all cars are primed, painted and clear-coated (the basic steps), sometimes they add little "rough patches" to certain areas where the rocks, tar and salt tend to kick up, I don't know if that is what you are referring to, aside from that I'm pretty sure all cars are painted the same way, there's nothing the dealer can add or take away from a paint job, that's pretty permanent. They can do a nice wax but that's it.

Anyone else care to elaborate on an "undercoating?" I have never heard of it.

Undercoating refers to a layer of treatment that is applied to unpainted metal frame and body parts "under" the car. Used to have a '68 Barracuda that had wheelwells, frame and the undersides of the floorpans and trunk that looked like they were coated in black "popcorn ceiling". It was the old skool way of applying a tar layer as the undercoating. It was at one time a Wyoming car.
Nowadays, I couldn't care less about undercoatings b/c of my location, so I have no idea how they are applied now & what to look for. Sorry to be of no help, OP.

 

[Slayer33]

Ok, here's the scoop, I spoke to the service manager at the dealer this morning, they have no record of the protection package for my vehicle.

They said that it wouldn't make a difference if I had this stuff done at day 1 vs today.. I don't know how much I believe this, but I don't know what I can do. The didn't do any of it, paint protection, interior protection, rust inhibitor or the undercoating.

They made an appointment for me to have this done on Thursday now, but I still don't know what I should do, or if I can voice my displeasure and possibly get some kind of offer for their mistake.

Here's an image right from the showroom floor on the undercoating at my dealer.

 

[ukulele]

Undercoating refers to a layer of treatment that is applied to unpainted metal frame and body parts "under" the car. Used to have a '68 Barracuda that had wheelwells, frame and the undersides of the floorpans and trunk that looked like they were coated in black "popcorn ceiling". It was the old skool way of applying a tar layer as the undercoating. It was at one time a Wyoming car.
Nowadays, I couldn't care less about undercoatings b/c of my location, so I have no idea how they are applied now & what to look for. Sorry to be of no help, OP.

Ah, that stuff. Hardly anyone does that here, but would be a good thing to do though because winters do suck in Jersey.

 

[ukulele]

Ok, here's the scoop, I spoke to the service manager at the dealer this morning, they have no record of the protection package for my vehicle.

They said that it wouldn't make a difference if I had this stuff done at day 1 vs today.. I don't know how much I believe this, but I don't know what I can do. The didn't do any of it, paint protection, interior protection, rust inhibitor or the undercoating.

They made an appointment for me to have this done on Thursday now, but I still don't know what I should do, or if I can voice my displeasure and possibly get some kind of offer for their mistake.

Here's an image right from the showroom floor on the undercoating at my dealer.

I'm sure that not having it applied "on day 1" and driving through a Canadian winter already started the corrosion process. Look at the muffler. I know my Mazda5 is a 2012 and has about 7k miles and my muffler is already rusting. And our last winter season was bad but I've been through worse in NJ. Try to get something like some oil changes and/or fluid flushes for free, voice your displeasure, I would, there's not much else that can be done, unless you can prove significant wear/damage from not having it done on day 1 and bring it to court, but if the vehicle otherwise operates normally I don't think you have any legal claims (check the warranty booklet for the rust/corrosion coverage period).

 

[Slayer33]

I think as long as they really clean the under side, and apply the under coating generously then I would be satisfied.. and also clean up the exterior (my pearl white 5 has a lot of rust spots from "rail dust") before they apply the paint protection.

I will talk to the GM to see if I can be compensated with maybe a couple free services or maybe a discount on some accessories.. I dunno tho if they will do anything.

They don't undercoat the exhaust or suspension, mainly the wheel wells, and the main underbody.

 

[Robotazky]

I think as long as they really clean the under side, and apply the under coating generously then I would be satisfied.. and also clean up the exterior (my pearl white 5 has a lot of rust spots from "rail dust") before they apply the paint protection.

I will talk to the GM to see if I can be compensated with maybe a couple free services or maybe a discount on some accessories.. I dunno tho if they will do anything.

They don't undercoat the exhaust or suspension, mainly the wheel wells, and the main underbody.

1.) make sure they powerwash the underside before applying the undercoat. You may want to consider having it done and coming back the next day to let it all dry.
2.) I highly recommend that you get a high-quality polish, like Maguire's, and remove the rust spots yourself with a microfiber towel after a good bath. They will use an orbital polisher or something and I really don't trust kids with orbitals touching my car. I used to polish out rail dust spots when they'd come back on my Civic Si that was white. It sounds like if you polish them out and then apply the protectant that you'd be sealing it from oxidizing with the least amount of wear and tear on your clearcoat if you do it yourself and then give it to the dealer to apply their part.

This really isn't a big deal as long as you don't mind putting a little elbow grease in. In could work out better if you consider the rail dust probably would have been sprayed right over with protectant. Try to be positive.

 

[thaxman]

Be sure to insist that all plastic undercladding be removed prior to the undercoating process. I'm sure you've seen how much plastic there is under there, and if they just spray the plastic, you're just going to seal in the salty liquid that makes it inside those cavities, letting it rust even worse.