horseshoes

I have some cosmetic damage that covers multiple body panels, but no bent metal, so it’s just a remove/prep/paint/reinstall job. I have read a bit about Ford certifying body shops for handling the F150. Supposedly they use a different primer for corrosion protection when being painted? I’m not sure what else.

I used Ford’s collision repair locator, and there are a couple of shops in the state but none are particularly convenient. I got an estimate from one shop, and got a bad vibe when they explained the charges and the first line item was 1 hour of labor to check my engine codes with their OBD-II scanner before they start work.

My question is, for a repaint of the door and rear fender, should I care whether or not it’s a Ford certified shop? Or is this a simple procedure that any reputable shop can do? I have to cover it out of pocket, so I’m trying to keep costs down. I’ll pay to have it done right, but I don’t want to get taken for a ride on inflated charges, which I think that certified shop might be doing.

kmarti

I'd say if you have a reputable shop, use them. Every body shop worth it's own salt wants to stand behind their work, which means they'll know how to handle any aluminum body paint work.
I was a Service Manager at a Ford dealership in 2015 when this was all happening, only real reason to become "Ford certified" was so that you could do warranty paint repairs, most body shops in my area thought the costs involved and the hoops they had to jump through weren't worth Ford short paying their body shop claims with warranty rates.

Taylor22

I’ve got a reputable painter close to me who happens to have his shop at the Ford dealer. Guarantees his work for as long as you own the car. Find that kind of guy.

horseshoes

Easier said than done! I have no idea how to even gauge a painter’s reputation. Last place I used had great reviews and the car had paint bubbles on it that chipped off and started peeling shortly after. So, I know not to go there!

Every shop I’ve heard of has that guarantee, but I don’t want to deal with fighting them over a bad job and having to go back several times.

NASSTY

I wouldn't worry about it. F150 hoods have been aluminum since 1997.

Taylor22

Fair enough. I guess I got lucky. Nobody in this shop has worked at this shop for less than 20yrs.
I’d say skip the big chains as that’s where the high turnover (lowest paid) shop guys are going to be.

mds

Oh, hell no! What kind of crooked nonsense is that?

Your bad vibes were 100% correct.

RobTx

Definitely need the engine codes checked first to avoid ever-spray!

KWS 2.7

Plus they have been building aluminum cars since the 1920s or so. It's not new like everyone seems to think.

The most common example is the Land Rover that has been in production since 1948 and has been aluminum bodied since introduced.

tvsjr

Check out previous posts by @mbullock or maybe he'll reply directly... he seems to know a thing or two about this topic!