Plastics Refinishing
All Components
WARNING: Always refer to Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) when handling chemicals and wear
protective equipment as directed. Examples may include but are not limited to respirators and chemically
resistant gloves. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious personal injury.
WARNING: Do not paint any air bag module trim covers or deployment doors. Paint may cause the air
bag to deploy incorrectly. Failure to follow this instruction may increase the risk of serious personal injury or
death in a crash.
NOTE: When using any Ford-approved refinishing product, it is recommended to stay within the same paint system
throughout the process. For example, do not use one manufacturer's primers and another manufacturer's topcoats.
1. NOTE: Care must be used if applying heat to parts. Thermoplastics soften and tend to lose their shape
when heated.
The first step for any repair or refinish procedure is to identify the type of plastic. Is it thermosetting or
thermoplastic, grained or smooth? This will determine how it should be cleaned and prepared for
refinishing. For additional information, refer to Plastics Identification
in this section.
• It is essential that the correct cleaner is used, depending on which painting system is employed,
solvent-based or water-based.
• Clean part with warm water/mild detergent, then with plastic cleaner to remove wax, silicone and
other contaminants. Do not allow parts to remain wet for extended periods.
• As a general rule, if water beads on the part, it requires additional cleaning as all the manufacturing
release agents have not been removed.
2. New parts may require baking in a spray booth or heating with heat lamps to release trapped solvents or
mold release agents used in the manufacturing processes.
Non-grained components
3. After cleaning, lightly sand with 600-grit or finer sandpaper. Remove sanding residue with plastic cleaner
and wipe dry.
Grained components
4. After cleaning, light use of a gray scuff pad is permissible providing the graining not be flattened. Remove
sanding residue with plastic cleaner and wipe dry.
All components
5. Apply a plastics adhesion promoter to any bare plastic part following manufacturer's recommendation.
Throughout the refinish procedure, any time bare plastic is exposed for any reason, it is essential that
adhesion promoter be reapplied to that area.
6. A sealer may be required to prevent wrinkling and lifting of the topcoat prior to carrying out the refinish
procedure.
7. Flexible and non-flexible components should be refinished separately as a flex additive may be required
when refinishing flexible parts (refer to the paint manufacturer's recommendation).
8. It is recommended to carry out refinishing of exterior components on-vehicle (after cut-in) to control color
match and blending to adjacent panels.
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