Chevrolet Equinox Service Manual: Anti-Corrosion Treatment and Repair Emblems/Decals/Paint

Warning:When applying sound deadeners, or anti-corrosion materialsdue care and preventative measures must be exercised to prevent anymaterial from being sprayed into door and quarter panel mechanismssuch as door locks, window run channels, window regulators and seatbelt retractors, as well as any moving or rotating mechanical orsuspension parts on the underbody, particularly the parking brakecable. After material application, be sure that all body drainholes are open. Improper application may increase chance ofcorrosion damage or limit the operation of moving parts, resultingin personal injury.

Any procedure that disturbs these special treatments, such aspanel replacement or collision damage repair operations, may leavethe metal unprotected and result in corrosion. Proper recoating ofthese surfaces with service-type anti-corrosion material isessential.

After repair and/or replacement parts are installed, allaccessible bare metal surfaces must be treated with metalconditioner and reprimed. Refer to the GM Approved RefinishMaterials book which identifies the paint systems you mayuse.

The latest revision of the GM Approved Refinish Materialsbooklet is located on the GM Genuine Parts website atwww.genuinegmparts.com.

After a collision, some vehicle structure areas such as framerails, cross-members and rocker panel sections may need to berepaired. In most cases, the anti-corrosion materials need to beremoved to perform these repairs. These materials are classifiedinto two types: Closed Cavity coatings and Undercoat coatings. Theprimary difference is the way the products set up or "dry". Bothare intended to protect the surface they are applied to fromcorrosion caused by water, salt water or Magnesium Chloride blendedde-icing compounds used to thaw icy winter roads. They also canprovide a measure of sound deadening.

The Closed Cavity coatings remain sticky to the touch andwill seep into seams initially and over extended periods of time.Closed Cavity coatings provide the best corrosion protection insideof rocker panel sections, pillar sections, frame rails,cross-members, doors, rear compartment lids and closed areas ofhoods - anywhere that is concealed or closed off to exteriorsurfaces.

The Undercoat coatings are "dry to the touch" and offer thebest corrosion protection and sound deadening for floor pans,wheelhouses, inside rear compartment and underhood areas - anywherethe coated surface is exposed.

Below is a listing of Undercoat coatings and Closed Cavitycoatings that GM believes to be reliable. While others may exist,we have found these products, or equivalents to them, can be usedwith satisfactory results. Always use these products according totheir manufacturer’s recommendations.

Undercoating and Closed Cavity Coatings

The following products are available from *AutomotiveInternational/Valugard. Contact them at 1-800-543-7156, or atwww.valugard.net

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The following products are available through your local*3M® distributor. Information about 3M® productretailers in your area may be obtained at 1-866-364-3577 or atwww.mmm.com/automotive.

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The following products are available from *Crest Industries,Inc. at 1-800-822-4100 or www.crestauto.com.

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The following products are available from *Kent Automotive.Contact them at 1-888-YES-KENT (888-937-5368) or atwww.kent-automotive.com.

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*We believe these sources and their products to be reliable.There may be additional manufacturers of such material. GeneralMotors does not endorse, indicate any preference for or assume anyresponsibility for the products from these firms or for any suchitems which may be available from other sources.

Sealers are intended to prevent water and dust from enteringthe vehicle and also are anti-corrosion barriers. Sealers areapplied to such areas as rear compartment lid hem flanges,wheelhouse, quarter outer, floor, cowl, roof, and various otherpanel to panel attaching points. The originally sealed joints areobvious and any damage to these sealed locations should becorrected by resealing. Attaching points of new replacement panelsshould be resealed. Replacement lids and doors will also requiresealing in the hem flange areas.

Flanged joints, overlap joints, and seams should be sealedusing a quality sealer of medium-bodied consistency. The sealerused must retain its flexible characteristics after curing and bepaintable.

Open joints which require bridging of the sealer in order toclose a gap should be sealed using a heavy-bodied caulkingmaterial. Follow the label directions for the materialselected.

Color application may be required in order to restorerepaired areas such as hood, fenders, doors, quarters, lid, roof,engine compartment, underbody, and inner panels to originalappearance. When this is necessary, conventional refinishingpreparation, undercoat buildup, and color application techniquesshould be followed.

Deadener materials, spray-on type, are used on various metalpanels in order to provide corrosion resistance and joint sealing.They control the general noise level inside the passenger area ofthe vehicle. When deadeners are disturbed because of damage, areremoved during repair operations, or a new replacement panel isinstalled, the deadener material must be replaced by a serviceequivalent material. The application pattern and location ofdeadener materials can be determined by observing the originalproduction installation.

Cleaning of the interior and underbody panel surfaces isnecessary when original galvanized or other anti-corrosionmaterials have been burned off during welding or heatingoperations. Removal of the residue from burning will requireadditional care in such areas as interior surfaces of box-typeconstruction and when configurations of the metal panels limitaccess to interior surfaces.