Protective Film Removal

Had my truck to a body shop. Truck was vandalized and needed some body work and paint. Took it to a well known reputable shop but repair process was a shitshow. Mediocre work and poor paint job. Paint didn't look right to me - was a creamy white colour. They denied it at first, and then the painter agreed it was the wrong colour. Service guy tried to tell me it was bad clear coat. They ended up repainting all repaired areas.

Anyways, the tech did a poor job installing the protective film on the lower right bedside in front of the wheel well. The line where my thumb points to should be under the fender flare. And the tech just stuck it to the black molding on the bottom.

Debating on whether to bring it back or just replace myself. I did call the shop and sent pictures but they haven't gotten back to me. I've been polite and very cooperative during the whole process but I'm thinking they're ignoring me.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to remove? My fear is that I'll peel the paint off.

 

I just recently removed all the PPF from my taco (same spots at yours), the key is: Use a lot of heat to get it off. This will help get the bonding residue off with ease. Use a heat gun or hair dryer, but run it across the area for several minutes before you start to peel it off.

While you are peeling it off, keep using heat on it. This will help it come off easier (You'll still use elbow grease). After it's peeled off, hit it with Goo-Gone and a micro fiber towel. This will remove any left over residue.

Don't worry, you WILL NOT remove paint when peeling this off. Many of us have done it before. You'll be fine.

 

Was it an insurance repair? Get your agent on your side. Body shops tend to become much more cooperative when the big bad purseholder gets involved.


Otherwise, absolutely bring it back. Be nice, but get upper management involved. That isn't acceptable service. From that top photo, color still looks off. I'd have them take you on a walk-around and meter every panel. Don't accept the cop-out that "this number difference is acceptable," unless it really is a small difference (measured, not eyeballed).

For reference, pick three spots each on two unrepaired panels and measure. That sigma will be your acceptable difference. See if the repaint even comes close to that.

 

Good help is hard to find. I dunno folks I've noticed across all industries the level of service one receives today is hit or miss.
I think the pandemic caused a lot of people to reflect on what is important and slaving away for slave wages dropped to a new low on the priority list.
People would rather live with less and enjoy the most expensive thing in the world: Time

So we the consumer get stuck with an undereducated unreliable work force. People with 20-30-40 years of experience just hung it up, during the shutdown. And even if we did want to go back to work the new younger know-it-all-managers won't give us a second look. ...

Prior to covid a very large company I was with for 15 years declared the work-from-home policy was going extinct, and in order to get my severance I had to fly in for 3 weeks to train my 3 replacements. DUH..... and then after the shutdown my 3 replacements left. DUH.... I could run circles around most kids in my field and in my specialty but these companies look at me and show me the door because of course they know everything and I must be from another century. What they don't realize is I was writing computer code before their parents were born....

Sorry to rant - but that's my take.

I've been lucky to find a fabulous shop for my wife's Subaru - same dudes, all 10 of them been at that same place for the last 15 years.
I found a fabulous shop for my Toyota as well - good people good work reasonable price.
You gotta hunt for it but they are out there.

 

Yes. It was an insurance repair. And you're right. They need to fix this. Was just trying to avoid dealing with these guys again.

 

Maybe your Insurance people will let you take it somewhere else.

 

Fresh paint is soft for a little while after application. I wouldnt remove that film yourself. Let your insurance fix it.

 

That's what I'm thinking. My luck the paint will come off. And with all the problems I've had with this shop, I have very little confidence in the work.

 

If it's a fresh install it may come off pretty easily. Mine was dealer installed and a couple days after I picked it up I noticed the film that lines the rear doors were loose on both due to a bend in the sheet metal.

I washed the truck for first time yesterday and pulled both of them off without issue.