Ford Fiesta (2011 year). Manual — part 178

Depending on the size and shape of the aluminum
platelets, different metallic effects can be achieved:

• Cornflake aluminum (1) causes very strong

dispersion because of rough edges, low
brilliance, very low flop and produces grey-silver
shades.

• Dollar aluminum (2) causes hardly any

dispersion because of the smooth surface, high
brilliance, produces very light, almost white
silver shades.

With metallic paints however, only a light-dark light
reflection effect occurs.

Colored metallic paints are produced by the extra
addition of color pigments to the metallic paint.

Pearl pigments

The basis of pearl pigments is formed by mica,
which is metallized with a silver or gold layer.

Depending on the angles of light and observation,
the mica platelets reflect different proportions of
light. Because of this, the color of the paint appears
to the observer to change.

Pearl pigments produce a colored and light-dark
reflected light effect.

Color codes and their determination on
Ford vehicles

It is necessary to determine the correct color shade
of the original paintwork in order to perform a
professional and perfect paint repair.

The original paint color shade can be found by:

• Inspection of the vehicle type plate with the color

code stamped on it.

– Later design

– Earlier design

• Color shade catalog or color shade system of

the manufacturer.

• The bare bodyshell plate with color designation.

Type plate

Type plate - location on Ford vehicles:

• Right-hand B-pillar - door rebate

• Left-hand B-pillar - door rebate

• Hood lock panel

• Left-hand vertical edge of inner front wing

• Right-hand vertical edge of inner front wing

• Right-hand engine compartment side member

• Left-hand bulkhead

• Right-hand bulkhead

G506676en

501-36-

60

Paint - General Information

501-36-

60

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION

201

• Luggage compartment interior

• Inner rear panel - luggage compartment

The type plate gives the color code in the last row.

On the newer type plates, the color code is given
in the left-hand column, at the penultimate position.

Color shade catalog or color shade system
of the repair paint manufacturer.

The repair paint manufacturers offer a variety of
possible systems for the determining the production
color shade of motor vehicles. There are electronic
systems, color card systems and manuals for the
determination of color shades.

G506676en

501-36-

61

Paint - General Information

501-36-

61

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION

201

Most repair paint manufacturers use the following
systems:

• A tabular system based on the following

parameters:

– Color code

– Make

– Model

– Build year

– Color or color name

– Ancillary codes

• A system with color cards based on the following

parameters:

– Make

– Color shade

– Build year

Because of the many parameters used, in a tabular
system the color shade can also be determined by
the lack of a parameter.

When using the color cards, emphasis is placed
on matching of the original color shade with the
color shade samples. For this reason this method
is very helpful when the other parameters are not
available.

Comparison of the results of both methods
increases the certainty of using the correct original
color shade and its formulation.

Additional certainty can be achieved during color
shade determination by making a color sample
plate. Here it is however important to apply the
complete paint structure with base paint and clear
lacquer onto a sample plate (1) in order to carry
out a color shade and color coverage test.

The color shade comparison is done by comparing
the vehicle paintwork with the sample plate (1).
The color coverage test is possible by using the
black test stripe (2): If the test stripe (2) is still
visible after test painting of the sample plate (1),
the coverage is not good enough.

By using this determination of the original color
shade, the formulation and information on any very
slight fine adjustments which may be necessary
can be established.

Bare bodyshell plate

The bare bodyshell plate is located:

• On the hood lock panel.

• Near the type plate.

The color name is stamped on in the last row.

G506676en

501-36-

62

Paint - General Information

501-36-

62

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION

201

Matching tinted filler to the color code

NOTE: Color samples must always be made from
the same materials as the subsequent repair
painting. Perform color shade matching in the fully
hardened state, in natural light or under suitable
artificial light.

Various tinted fillers are used during factory
painting. In order to achieve the exact color shade
of the factory applied paint, attention should be
paid that the correctly matched fillers are used.

The repair paint manufacturers offer suitable
precolored primers. The use of filler color cards
allows the matching color shade to be determined.

G506676en

501-36-

63

Paint - General Information

501-36-

63

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION

201