Anyone else have weird paint like this? Also, how would I secure a loose mirror blinker?

[Prince_Polaris]

Okay, so, I'm just more curious about this than anything- How come my paint is really bright red on the front fenders and the hood, yet everywhere else it's more of a muted red? Is that just something that happens?

Also, my passenger side mirror blinker thingy (on the underside) is loose and hanging down a little, is there a certain way to fix that or can I just slap a piece of tape on there and call it a day? (sorry for the terrible pictures, I never thought to snap one of the mirror itself, I can get one later)




One last thing... If any of you happen to know what's up with the AC here that would be nice too:

2004 5.4L - A/C System Questions

 

[Trainmaster]

Looks like the nose has been replaced and repainted. Have you checked for that?

 

[BRIANGEE]

Is it that bad on the other side? On your other thread it doesn't look that bad but it could just be lighting.

https://www.expeditionforum.com/posts/303081/

Have you checked out a vehicle report for indications it's been in an accident?

You can check by VIN here:
https://www.vehiclehistory.com

 

[Hamfisted]

Yeah, it's probably been wrecked and repaired, and that's the newer paint you see there on the front cap. Did you get a CarFax report with the purchase ? Always a good idea to pull one on any used vehicle you're serious about, before buying.
As far as the courtesy lights on the exterior mirrors go. Check the spring clip is in place that sticks up through the bottom of the mirror body. That's what holds that end of the lens up tight. Also check the retaining screw at the inner edge of the lens, on the bottom of the mirror body. Push the mirror body full forward (as far forward as it will go...) and look up under the mirror body and you'll see the retaining screw up there. Just make sure it's secure. You can get replacement lenses on ebay. I replaced mine with clear ones and use amber and clear LED bulbs.


Here's the spring clip behind the mirror glass that helps secure the lens to the mirror body..... push the mirror glass to gain access to it...






Here's the retaining screw at the inner edge of the lens .... push the mirror body full forward to gain access to it....

 

[1955moose]

It definitely was repainted, mine was left side. They never put back striping is how I knew. Pro job other than that boner. Didn't notice it till I was waxing it one day. Stripe on left fender, but nowhere furthur back.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[Black]

Like others said, likely been repainted in portions.
Though, Reds especially metallic reds can fade in unusual fashions. Differences in temperatures for the body panels can make a substantial difference over time.

I had a laser red 1996 Mustang Gt. I know it had never been wrecked and the metal above the windshield that met the convertible top faded the quickest. The trunk lid and hood faded rather quickly too. When I sold it in 2012 the panels were almost all noticeably different.

 

[Prince_Polaris]

No wrecks, guys! I checked that site, and boy, the 16 mpg it was tested for originally would sure be nice because I'm running at 7 for now.

Yeah, it's probably been wrecked and repaired, and that's the newer paint you see there on the front cap. Did you get a CarFax report with the purchase ? Always a good idea to pull one on any used vehicle you're serious about, before buying.
As far as the courtesy lights on the exterior mirrors go. Check the spring clip is in place that sticks up through the bottom of the mirror body. That's what holds that end of the lens up tight. Also check the retaining screw at the inner edge of the lens, on the bottom of the mirror body. Push the mirror body full forward (as far forward as it will go...) and look up under the mirror body and you'll see the retaining screw up there. Just make sure it's secure. You can get replacement lenses on ebay. I replaced mine with clear ones and use amber and clear LED bulbs.


Here's the spring clip behind the mirror glass that helps secure the lens to the mirror body..... push the mirror glass to gain access to it...





Here's the retaining screw at the inner edge of the lens .... push the mirror body full forward to gain access to it....

Okay, I have a screwdriver in the car so I'll have to check that later!

 

[BRIANGEE]

7 mpg?! Sounds like you need to put your head under the hood and tune her up! I get 13 in city and 15 or so on the highway.

 

[Hamfisted]

Yeah, maybe not "wrecked" because the front bumper looks to be faded like the main body of the truck. But it does look like the hood and fender have been painted. How's the other side fender look ? If you're only getting 7 mpg, something is seriously wrong. Should get at least 16 around town and about 18 on the highway.

 

[JExpedition07]

Those front fenders and hood have definelty been repainted.

 

[Prince_Polaris]

I forgot two important things: My AC is always on and set to 70 because I'm so incredibly fat that heat could probably actually easily kill me, AND the AC is always on full blast because the rear AC doesn't work and therefore the front AC is working overtime trying to cool the entire car D:

I'll have to look at the other fender...

 

[Prince_Polaris]

Oh, and I couldn't find a screw under the mirror, but behind it, I could see the clip and it was like, rusted and not even doing anything, I tried to bend it to somewhat help with a screwdriver but it didn't work...

 

[Hamfisted]

Well if you fold the mirror forward as far as it will go (through the normal stop detent...) and look up from underneath, you should see the retaining screw up there. If it's missing, find a replacement screw (stainless...). If you buy a new lens it comes with a new spring clip on it anyway.
What's wrong with the rear A/C ? Is it the typical actuator box failures ?

 

[Prince_Polaris]

Well if you fold the mirror forward as far as it will go (through the normal stop detent...) and look up from underneath, you should see the retaining screw up there. If it's missing, find a replacement screw (stainless...). If you buy a new lens it comes with a new spring clip on it anyway.
What's wrong with the rear A/C ? Is it the typical actuator box failures ?

snippity snap si bob

Hmm, is that what the AC looks like inside? How hard is it to remove all of the trim to look at it? I might do that myself, because if I do, and those boxes are the problem, they look easy enough to replace....

Oh, you mean push it PAST the point where it stops? I don't think I did that, I was worried I'd break it... I'd buy new lenses but amazon doesn't have them and ebay wants way too much money for them! D:

 

[Hamfisted]

You need a good set of tools. But here's a how to video on replacing the rear blend door actuators, if that is your problem. You didn't say what the rear AC was doing, or not doing.

 

[Prince_Polaris]

You need a good set of tools. But here's a how to video on replacing the rear blend door actuators, if that is your problem. You didn't say what the rear AC was doing, or not doing.

Yes I did

....on another thread, whoops

Lemme get it...

Anyway, yes, the front AC works fine. Since it was cold this morning, I tested the heat, and I do have working front and rear heat, thankfully, that will be nice this winter...

So, the front AC works, and surprisingly, it works best at highway speed, despite reports here on the forums about how highway speeds will make it stop working, due to the air pressure problem that you're meant to solve with an elbow... joint? I think that's it, the pipe thing.

The rear AC however, does not. It doesn't blow hot air, it's just simply not cold, like a fan you'd sit on your desk, it just blows the air. Also, there is a constant hissing from the rear when the AC is on, and it increases and decreases with what I assume is the fluctuations of the AC system.

It just confuses me, because... if it was a leak, a leak bad enough to hear the hissing, surely it would've leaked enough to stop my front AC from working, right? I read somewhere else on the forum (perhaps it was you, moose...) that if you're a bit low, the rear will stop working first, and all you need to do is add refridgerant to get it working again.

Normally, I would say something along the lines of "It's not that important because it's usually just me", however, our 07 chrysler van is once again broken, so I'm the family transport for now, and since me and my brother sit in the front, my parents aern't too happy with the nonfunctional AC, so I'm either hoping that it's an easy enough fix for me and my not-so-good-skills to fix, or that we can at least find out what's wrong so I can take it to a shop and save them from having to diagnose it themselves....

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

As others have said, it looks like it was repainted. Perhaps it was just repainted or perhaps it was indeed wrecked. Even with a Carfax you can never be sure, especially if the vehicle was driveable post-accident, which would preclude it from usual "towed from accident" entry often seen on Carfax reports. The Mrs has wrecked her car 3x, with the last one resulting in a driveable but totaled vehicle. Nonetheless, the Carfax for her car shows zero accidents.

 

[Prince_Polaris]

As others have said, it looks like it was repainted. Perhaps it was just repainted or perhaps it was indeed wrecked. Even with a Carfax you can never be sure, especially if the vehicle was driveable post-accident, which would preclude it from usual "towed from accident" entry often seen on Carfax reports. The Mrs has wrecked her car 3x, with the last one resulting in a driveable but totaled vehicle. Nonetheless, the Carfax for her car shows zero accidents.

Well, what kind of wreck would involve having the hood and fenders replaced, but not the front? Cause the bumper and grille and all that do match the rest of the car... I suppose it having been in a wreck isn't the worst thing if it really was, especially if it was okay enough to drive away...

 

[1955moose]

Maybe the hood and fenders were just lacquer checked. A condition where the clear coat starts breaking down, and gives an ugly look. They were getting top $ for your Suv, so they figured you'd overlook some of the mechanical issues if she looked good. Guys we put up with a lot of crap from a good looking woman, not so much from an ugly, or homely one. Sorry buts that's the truth!

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[Prince_Polaris]

Maybe the hood and fenders were just lacquer checked. A condition where the clear coat starts breaking down, and gives an ugly look. They were getting top $ for your Suv, so they figured you'd overlook some of the mechanical issues if she looked good. Guys we put up with a lot of crap from a good looking woman, not so much from an ugly, or homely one. Sorry buts that's the truth!

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

Is that what happens when you see an old car where the paint looks okay, not rusty or bubbled, but it's like.... just messed up and blotchy?

Aside from my back AC, there's no problems that I can't somewhat easily fix, like the mirror lights and the headunit and the mirror switch (which I already fixed) so I sure hope it's okay. The engine does sound like it ticks somewhat, but that's probably just me worrying way too much, heck, our family van sounds like it's saying "Grerh Grerh Grerh" when it's idling!