It ain't bird poo after all! (With reference to the thread "CRAP!!")

I brought my X in to have the oil and filter changed and the differential looked at (because the drain plug was loose and leaking) and the tech dripped washer fluid on to the grille of my truck. (I guess he thought he was doing me a favor). I figured it out when I lifted the hood and noticed the trail of discoloration leading right to the washer filler. I took a qtip and dipped it in the fluid and rubbed on one of the spots that was concealed by the hood and the finish came off down to shiny black plsatic!

I'm going to the service dept in the morning. My salesman has been great and said he would let the manager know. Crazy, eh?

Wierd...what kind of washer fluid takes off paint!! Glad you are getting it taken care of though.
John

A lot of them will discolor plastic, like the grille on the X. Most of the types that service departments use must be diluted, we buy it concentrated and mix w/water. If its straight fluid without water, it could eat clearcoat if not promptly cleaned off.

Thanks for your reply...

I'll take a pic of the damage and show you all.

See ya

I have a slight trail down the grille from the resevoir myself. It kinda sucks, but you hardly notice it. Throw some B2B on there, and try not to think about it...

Thanks for the encouragement, but B2B ain't gonna put grey on shiny black plastic. It stripped it down beneath the colored surface.

I just took some pics....I'm new at this. I'll figureout how to put a pic in my next post.

Don't get wiper fluid on your plastic!

Eureka! Sorry about that nolarocks!!

DOesn't washer fluid contain some kind of acetone type product that breaks up bug guts, bird shit and the like? Or am I just insane?

If it does, in pure form it would certainly strip through any kind of paint or clearcoat within hours, even minutes.. Sorry about your situations man, glad tosee your dealer is cooperating..

Wow, that's pretty bad!

Mine is more like your "not rubbed" slightly lighter grey...

Why wouldn't this part just be made from the right shade of grey through-and-through to begin with? I guess different coatings are applied, depending on the vehicle - like chrome or something for the Frontier?

I wonder if this is covered under warranty?

Holy Shit Batman! Bet you a dollar the guy that serviced your X would not have left that stuff on "HIS" truck...slopy work, piss poor attention to detail..You my friend need to get them to replace all tha damaged items...I am curious though as to how it would look all stripped down to black...you could be the first to start a trend

I'm starting to think the same thing, actually... With an ARB on the way, I was thinking of painting the bumper to match the grey plastic, but now... I'm thinking the opposite.

The only problem is that the mud flap plastic actually IS molded with grey plastic...

I got back from the service dept and have to say that they were great. There wasn't any argument! They are ordering a new grille and agreed that the concentrate is harmful. Also, the manager said I'm not the first, so.....

TatsuoX: The manager mentioned that the concentrate WILL eat through clearcoat paint, so it's no surprise it damaged the plastic.

BoarderPhreak: I would think you could call it to your dealer's attention. As far as color, I know the "crossbar" on my '02 Grille is silver to match the rails, etc whereas the SE has charcoal trim with the "crossbar" to match. I figure I'll bring the damaged grille to the Plant in Smyrna when I go in June and let them know about it. I suggested to the manager that techs put a towel over the front of the truck when topping off the washer fluid. He agreed...especially since they'd have to replace it again, if needed. They were really helpful.

staubers21: It was just the grille that was damaged..thank god. Imagine hitting the lights! Those suckers are 160 bucks a pop in addition to the $120 grille!

See ya'

WOW!! When reading the original problem, I would have said use B2B. However, after viewing that pic, the only solution is to get a new bumber/grill. Am glad that the dealer is working with you. Also, if the dealer has had similiar problems in the past, I am puzzled why they continue? I also agree that if that were the tech's truck, he/she would not have let the drip happen. LOL

Zowman
2002 XE 4x4 Molten Lava
Lehigh Valley, PA

Winter mix windshield washer fluid contains alcohol - it keeps the liquid from freezing. The alcohol will also damage the coating nissuck used on the grill.
When you consider the location of the washer tank and the grill, you have to ask what nissuck was thinking when they spec'ed that paint. It *should* be resistant to fluids used nearby.

dave and xtoy - the cheap-skates saved a penny

Well, I finished painting my grille this morning. I used Dupli-Color Trim Paint in black.

Before:



After:



Nice matte finish:



?
Brent

Hey Brent, did you remove the Nissan logo or just find some way to tape it up?

Grill looks good by the way, now ya gotta follow up with the rest of the plastic pieces!

OK time for the big question - will that paint resist windshield washer fluid/alcohol and bird bombs?

dave and xtoy - at least you can touch it up

I haven't permanently re-affixed the badge yet. I figure some epoxy will be fine.

No plans to black out the rest of the plastic.

As for the paint, I'll test it out. I did some test spraying on a metal tank to see the spray pattern and finish, I'll hit it with washer fluid and put it out for the birds to crap on

Brent

FYI

Service Bulletin Number: 99057
Bulletin Sequence Number: 793
Date of Bulletin: 1999/08
NHTSA Item Number: SB607939
Make: NISSAN TRUCK Model: XTERRA Year: 2000
Component: VISUAL SYSTEMS:WINDSHIELD WASHER
Summary: CONCERNS WITH GRILLE STAINS FROM WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID. *TT

Stormy, what's up with that service bulletin? Does that mean they'll replace the grille under warranty or something?

Brent - that looks really, really nice. Way better than the stock grey, IMO!

wow!

that's pretty informative

thanks

I’m not sure. I would defiantly give it a shot and refer to the TSB. Nissan did see this to be a problem in 1999. I don't know if they would replace it.

IMO - that's an obvious defect and they should replace it.

Where can I find all of the service bulletins distributed thus far?

go to the NHTSA website and you can pull up service bulletins for any model you wish...

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

If it does that to your bumper wouldn't it do the same to the wind deflector when you spayed your windshield ?

You spayed your windshield?! Wow. Where'd you find a vet to do that?!?

Your wind deflector isn't painted.

that situation sucks... I'm glad they worked with you to fix it.

I think I'm going to try to prevent the same potential probelm from the other side - specifically tell any dealer or oil change place NOT to add wiper fluid. Then I'll just take car of it myself (carefully and with a nicely diluted solution).

Thanks for sharing with us !