Little ding, big repair

Not sure yet what I'm going to do about this.....just bought a Platinum in the Black, as I was cleaning it up I found a raised spot on the roof. With a closer look, it looks like maybe during the build, while installing the pano a screw had over extended and went into the metal, causing it to dimple out. I had the dealership body shop look at it as well and they believe it was a screw that did the damage and it cracked the paint as well. According to them to repair it correctly they have to remove the windshield, the Pano and its components, headliner, wiring, etc. its a pretty major undertaking but I'm a little leary and not sure whats the best way to go. They also mentioned several other things they can do but theres a down side to every idea
1...Do it the right way and its done. Downside is tearing everything out then putting it back correctly with no other damage and no leaks from the pano, windshield, antenna fin.
2...Have them do touchup and leave it alone. Downside, the screw is still there and down the road it comes through the roof.
3...They said they could potentially do a light tap down, touch up and buff. Downside the screw is still in there and they put a hole in the roof.
I'm not sure there are many other options out there, I'm open for suggestions but right now I'm thinking just to leave it alone, have them touch up and buff. Regardless what they do I think Toyota needs to be involved and to warranty any work done for the life of the truck while I own it.


I have not gotten back over to the dealership to talk with them yet, probably Monday morning

 

Go with option 1. Agreed get a warranty on the work done. You definitely don't want to leave something like that for the years to come.

 

My 2019 Ridgeline had paint pealing off the drivers door. I took it in and they repainted the entire door. The work was a perfect color match. I would go for the proper repair and get them to warrant the work. It may take a few days but it will be better in the long run. The dealership that you go to should have a paint and body shop that does quality work.

Matching the metal flake in the MBM will be the hard part but if they are good, it will be a good job.

 

How long are you planning to keep your truck? 5 years, 10 years or longer?

Yes there may be a chance that this screw may come through the roof and then you'll have a hole and a bump to deal with and keep waterproof. Not impossible but shouldn't happen on a new truck.

For the proper fix, what would that entail? Take out the screw, flatten this bump with a hammer, sand, then repaint the whole roof? It better be a good paint job with 10 years warranty if such exist. What if your new roof paint starts peeling after 5-10 years?

 

I'd be scared of something leaking after removing and replacing so much stuff with seals. It's easy for an internet crowd to say "do it right" when they aren't the ones dealing with the consequences. Yes, do it right should mean exactly that, but it has been my experience over the last 12 months that Toyota and their service departments do not understand what that means.

How to move forward would be a tough call for me, but I would look at an option that didn't involve tearing apart the truck....but that's just me, YMMV.

 

New truck build defect = fix it correctly, and like was said earlier, get some sort of writer/extended warranty coverage for full cost on leak damage.

We had a Subaru with double sunroofs that leaked. Multiple dealers gave us the runaround until it was out of warranty...never fixed it correctly.

 

With my past experience dealing with paint, the dealership just handed the truck over to a body shop. This work would be done at the body shop.

Someone qualified to do a paint match on this black paint would certainly be able to make the pano roof parts work and probably better than original

I think it comes down to your comfort level with this process. In the end this damage needs to get fixed and if the truck is going back after lease in 3 years or longer. It should still get fixed so that the next owner doesn't have to deal with rust in the strangest place.

This next possible owner is most likely a forum member too

 

Ask for pay out, I took $1200 for a dent in my door rather than get body work done. That roof dent looks small and not easy to see unless you’re taller then the truck.

 

Have them fix it right! If that screw is left near the roof skin, vibration, etc., will cause it to rub on the roof skin from the inside out. This will eventually wear through the roof skin and you will have a hole and potential for rusting.

 

I would ask them to verify the presence of the screw and see why it’s like that. Then have a PDR guy tap it down from the outside. Shouldn’t be a big deal and no repaint.

 

I'd imagine if that's a screw it would be hard to tap that flat while assuring you weren't damaging the threads, dislodging the thing and possibly affecting the integrity of the moonroof install.

 

Well, he said the paint was "cracked" so should be repaired

 

I agree with others do #1 and require a loaner. At least you know it’s fixed correctly.

 

Fix it right. Fix it once. Solve the issue.

Would you really be happy with it, if you knew it wasn't fixed right? Whats going to happen if you plan to sell it? They will notice it and take off $ for it.

 

I'm going to keep this one (Wife said something about burying me in it??). Like I said my initial thought was just to have them to touch it up and I'll live with it but BeauD you are right, it would drive me nuts knowing it was there. I still hate the thought of them having to drop the pano and its componnents......fortunately I have a great Dealership and their body shop is top notch.
Thanks all for the input, got me back on the right track!