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Transaction No.: 2040590

Technical Service Bulletin

/15

00-19-01 - PDI - Appearance of Paint Issue - Water Migration Under the
RAPGARD®

Condition
Applicable Vehicles
Model(s)

Year

Eng. Code

Trans. Code

VIN Range
From

VIN Range To

All Models

2023-2026

All

All

All

All

Revision Table
Instance Number

Published Date

Version Number

Reason For Update

2040590/15

1/13/2026

00-19-01

To update model year
applicability.

2040590/14

2/5/2025

00-19-01

To update model year
applicability.

2040590/13

12/14/2023

00-19-01

To update model year
applicability.

2040590/11

1/30/2023

00-19-01

To update model year
applicability.

2040590/1

6/5/2015

V001503

Original publication.

Water migration under the RAPGARD® can be mistaken as a paint defect when in fact it is only moisture
trapped in the clear coat of the paint. See examples 1-12 to see how water migration may appear.

Technical Background
When RAPGARD® is applied at the factory, humidity in the air can get trapped between the plastic and the
paint. Over time this moisture can be absorbed into the clear coat creating marks.

Production Solution
Not Applicable.

Service
Topics Covered
•

RAPGARD®, removal and disposal

•

Inspecting for water migration in areas where RAPGARD® was removed.

•

Examples of water migration after the RAPGARD® is removed

RAPGARD®
Vehicles are shipped with RAPGARD®. This self-adhering plastic product is applied in certain areas of the
vehicle and is designed to provide protection from all types of possible damages.
RAPGARD®, Removal
NOTICE
RAPGARD® must be removed from the vehicle no later than 9 months after application. See sticker
(location on vehicle body varies) for detailed information
Vehicle must be at room temperature.
The ideal body surface temperature for RAPGARD® removal is 60°F (15.5°C) to 80°F (26.6° C).
If body surface temperatures are below 60°F (15.5°C) or above 80°F (26.6° C) then:
•

Removal procedure should be performed indoors after surface temperatures have been allowed to
stabilize within the given range.

•

Rinse vehicle thoroughly with water to remove surface dirt or dust and to help stabilize body surface
temperatures.

•

Starting at the corners of each panel, carefully remove RAPGARD® from vehicle.

RAPGARD® Disposal
RAPGARD® can be disposed as normal paper waste. If unsure about proper disposal procedures in your
area, check local regulations.
RAPGARD®, Paint Inspection after Removal
Inspect painted surfaces under one of the following lighting conditions:
•

Indoors under fluorescent lighting.

•

Outdoors under bright sunlight.

Inspecting for Water Migration
After removal of RAPGARD®, some vehicles may exhibit temporary paint discoloration or paint swelling
(caused by trapped moisture under the RAPGARD®).
•

This temporary swelling is caused by the paint finish absorbing moisture trapped under the RAPGARD
®

•

film.

This swelling will disappear with exposure to the sun or heat lamps within 2 -3 hours. Severe paint
swelling may require 2 -3 days to recover.

CAUTION
DO NOT buff or refinish paint for this condition!
Paint discoloration (looks like shaded or dark magic marker lines) can be removed with a heat gun using the
following procedure:
•

Hold heat gun approximately 3 in. away from affected paint surfaces and apply heat using slow
oscillating motions until discoloration is gone.

•

If discoloration remains, wipe the heated area with Isopropyl alcohol and repeat procedure to increase
surface drying.

Various Examples of Water Migration under the RAPGARD®

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

Example 5

Example 7

Example 9

Example 6

Example 8

Example 10

Example 11

Example 12

Warranty
Information only.

Required Parts and Tools
No parts required.
No special tools required.

Additional Information
All part and service references provided in this Technical Bulletin are subject to change and/or removal.
Always check with your Parts Dept. and Repair Manuals for the latest information.
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