Introduction
 

Hello from Langley, BC I am a new member joining up to find some answers to an issue and hoping to make some friends in the forum. I have a 2012 Grabber Blue Mustang Convertible with some hood corrosion problems, but I really love this car and enjoy driving it every chance I get. I belong to the Local Vancouver Mustang Club as well. Looking forward to spring and summer and getting out to the , Rallies, Rides, and car shows coming up. I have been wrestling with this corrosion issue for a couple years and would like to know what others with this issue are doing about it.

Welcome, sorry to hear about the hood corrosion issues, it seems to be a known issue, I've heard of guys having that problem.

Have you priced of what body shop wants price wise to repair/re-finish it? Other than doing it yourself, or in the most extreme case, replace the hood.

Welcome!

That's the problem with aluminum hoods. My 2007 hood was bubbling under the lip. Lightly sanded the affected area down then repainted the area using an etch primer and then applied touch up paint.

Aluminum Hood Corrosion on Ford Hoods Ford Problems

Hey thanks for the welcome guys, please bear with me as I learn my way around the forum, hope I don't make any mistakes. I hope to get more involved with the local club this summere and get out on some events.
I just don't want to enter my car in any shows because of this unsightly corrosion on the leading edge of the hood. I have been to several body shops out here but none of them are real eager to tackle the job and absolutely none will offer any warranty whatsoever.
Aftermarket hoods, specially plastic and fibreglass don't seem to fit really well, and take a lot of work to look good. Hood pins seem to be a necessity and I have yet to find an exact copy of my hood, they seem to run about $1,000 US for good ones then there is the shipping. Body shops claim that the repaired hoods will eventually corrode again sooner than later. New hoods run around $2,400 and still need to be painted, I had a quote yesterday for $3,572.72 from a local body shop, and again NO WARRANTY as the new hood will likely corrode they say. Getting a good used hood from an auto-wrecker will cost $1200 and chances are it will have mild corrosion, I have never found one yet that isn't corroded. So, it's out there, just wondering what people that have this problem are doing to solve it.
I installed a ground wire from the battery to the hood and found that has really slowed the corrosion down almost stopping it completely. If I don't find a solution soon, I will take the car to a more experienced body man that can hopefully do the repair with some expertise.
If you can think of a good solution, hell any solution I would sure appreciate it. A.C., most body shops are looking at well over two grand to repair the existing hood. Thanks for the ear!

Thanks for the quick response, I have been checking kijiji frequently and found a guy in Ontario that also had a 2012 Convertible and after installing a cold air intake bought a Cervini with a hood scoop, so he had the original hood for sale for $600. Body shops out here tell me that shipping this far is expensive and it won't make it here without damage and then I'm stuck with a hood that's worthless. The owner advised against buying a Cervini as his didn't fit well, needed extra body work, needed hood pins installed making checking your oil a big deal. Plus you can't buy one that looks like a normal hood, as they all come with hood scoops etc. and they are not cheap with the shipping costs and currency exchange. I continue to look locally at auto wreckers, Kijiji, and other on line sources. Finding a good used hood is the answer I think, but locally is impossible. I call body shops weekly and some of them laugh at me, they are just not available and when they are, they show signs of corrosion. It's been two years now, and if I don't find one soon, I will just get this one repaired and when it shows the first paint bubble I'll sell it. Too bad, cause it really is a great car, I love it.

Can you post some pictures of the issue. A picture helps to determine what should be done.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cmo...993c4faef7.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cmo...cbb9df3f48.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cmo...bba51af49a.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cmo...0661951ade.jpg

Sorry Ray, sure screwed that up. I'm amazed I even got the pictures to post though. First pic is passenger side underside of hood just above headlight, second pic is drivers side just under leading edge above headlight, third pic is same as second different angle, fourth is top, passenger side. Damage is too extensive for a home repair like you did on your car I think, although... I am thinking about it. I would sure appreciate your opinion or any other members.

Thanks
Lance

Thanks, I will check into it and see if I can get one in Canada at a reasonable cost that at least looks close to stock. My fear is that it will be too flimsy and require hood pins etc. But, you are right, I have to check it out.
Thanks
L

After careful consideration I opted for an aluminum hood platinum certified purchased locally, no duty, cnd currency, no shipping charges, considerably cheaper than cervini fibreglass, stronger than fibreglass with no extra parts to purchase, and best of all it looks like it belongs on a Mustang. I'll have it installed and painted at a local body shop soon.

Glad to hear things worked out for you.

Just thinking out loud here, the problem likely comes from the abuse (road debris etc) the front edge of the hood takes. Do you think a protective clear wrap would help any?

I know a lot of guys on the US forums put that stuff on their GT350's because of all the rocks the tires pick up and throw but they do the front ends as well. Just a thought.

Nope, you got that wrong, problem comes from Ford. When they manufacture the aluminum hoods they get contaminated by metal dust, specifically around the hood's leading edge and it gets trapped in there by crimping the edge of the hood over to make an edge. Then trapped and sealed by the paint. Some time later some kind of chemical reaction takes place and the corrosion starts by bubbling out and blistering the paint along the front lip of the hood. Ford admits how it is caused and a class action lawsuit ensued but some judge decided that it wasn't Ford's fault and that ended the lawsuit. It is covered for the first three years for the original owner and may be repaired under warranty. Unfortunately, It usually takes a little over three years for this corrosion to take place. It has nothing to do with rock chips, road salt, or the position of the moon. A clear plastic strip was installed when my car was first purchased and it did absolutely nothing to prevent this corrosion. I was pretty sure that the majority of Mustang owners new all about this and that I was the last one to find out. So if anyone reading this didn't know about this, go out to the garage and have a close look at your hood. One last thing, if you do find some corrosion starting, you may be able to slow it or stop it by installing a ground wire from your battery to the bolt that holds the hinge onto the hood.
Amen

First time thats ever happened.

Sometimes that happens when a person thinks out loud.

I was typing.