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Naranjita

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The Adaptive Cruise Control Panel (ACC) isn't the exact same black color as the grille on the Lariat trim. Pre-Production units and early production units were even lighter gray than mine. See pic below:

Ford Maverick Matching dark gray ACC panel to black grille - DIY FIX using Forever Black st-test-the-small-truck-done-right-163644207462578


This always drove me nuts. I planned to do something about mine when I received it. However, I always worried if I painted it, it would be too thick and may mess with the sensors. I love my ACC, so I don't want to ruin that experience.

I was relieved that my November 18th build came out with a darker panel than the earlier units as shown above. But still not quite matching. I bought Forever Black exterior black trim restorer fluid from Amazon. It's a thin fluid, so I thought it was the best thing to attempt to not interfere with the ACC radar sensors.

I tried to remove the panel cover first and maybe do this indoors. It appeared like the ACC cover probably snapped on to the grill. I tried to pull it off. It even looked like it kind of clipped in place and I might be able to lift up and pull. However, I was afraid I was going to break it. If it was friction fit, it was going to require more force than I was willing to attempt. So I decided to mask it and apply directly on the installed ACC cover.

I cleaned the panel really well with the cleaner that came with the Forever Black container. Then I started brushing on the Black Reconditioner fluid. The stuff is pretty thin and is applied with a foam applicator that came in the package. Not too difficult to spread out evenly. But can get a little puddly in the seams and crevices. I just kept working through with the foam brush until it looked even. I am very glad I taped it off and not tried to hand do it.

Here is what it looked like after applying the first coat. Still wet.

Ford Maverick Matching dark gray ACC panel to black grille - DIY FIX using Forever Black 1642200354026


The instructions say to let dry 20 minutes. It was super humid, cool and damp when I applied. About 50 ℉ when I applied the blackening fluid. It took about 45 minutes to dry. I applied a second coat. Success!

I don't know how it will hold up or how frequently it will need to be reapplied. But I love the results after the second coat dried. The color is nearly spot on, the sheen is ever so slightly glossier. Still satin-y. The big thing is now my eye is not drawn to the miscolored panel.

And most importantly, I just finished a 30 mile highway trip and the ACC/Lane Centering worked perfectly. All the same. No impact. I will report back about how it holds up over the continued Washington State winter and into the Spring. If it has to be reapplied more than 2-3 times a year, it probably is not worth the effort to me.

Final product
Ford Maverick Matching dark gray ACC panel to black grille - DIY FIX using Forever Black 1642200599297
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The Weatherman

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The Adaptive Cruise Control Panel (ACC) isn't the exact same black color as the grille on the Lariat trim. Pre-Production units and early production units were even lighter gray than mine. See pic below:

st-test-the-small-truck-done-right-163644207462578.jpg


This always drove me nuts. I planned to do something about mine when I received it. However, I always worried if I painted it, it would be too thick and may mess with the sensors. I love my ACC, so I don't want to ruin that experience.

I was relieved that my November 18th build came out with a darker panel than the earlier units as shown above. But still not quite matching. I bought Forever Black exterior black trim restorer fluid from Amazon. It's a thin fluid, so I thought it was the best thing to attempt to not interfere with the ACC radar sensors.

I tried to remove the panel cover first and maybe do this indoors. It appeared like the ACC cover probably snapped on to the grill. I tried to pull it off. It even looked like it kind of clipped in place and I might be able to lift up and pull. However, I was afraid I was going to break it. If it was friction fit, it was going to require more force than I was willing to attempt. So I decided to mask it and apply on the installed ACC cover.

I cleaned the panel really well with the cleaner that came with the Forever Black container. Then I started brushing on the Black Reconditioner fluid. The stuff is pretty thin and is applied with a foam applicator that came in the package. Not too difficult to spread out evenly. But can get a little puddly in the seams and crevices. I just kept working through with the foam brush until it looked even.

Here is what it looked like after applying the first coat. Still wet.
1642200354026.png


The instructions say to let dry 20 minutes. It was super humid, cool and damp when I applied. About 50 ℉ when I applied the blackening fluid. It took about 45 minutes to dry. I applied a second coat. Success!

I don't know how it will hold up or how frequently it will need to be reapplied. But I love the results after the second coat dried. The color is nearly spot on, the sheen is ever so slightly glossier. Still satin-y. The big thing is now my eye is not drawn to the miscolored panel.

And most importantly, I just finished a 30 mile highway trip and the ACC/Lane Centering worked perfectly. All the same. No impact. I will report back about how it holds up over the continued Washington State winter and into the Spring. If it has to be reapplied more than 2-3 times a year, it probably is not worth the effort to me.

Final product
1642200599297.png
Looks really good, but I wonder if the paint could affect its function? Hope not. Good job.
 
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Naranjita

Naranjita

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Looks really good, but I wonder if the paint could affect its function? Hope not. Good job.
Yeah, that's why I went with a thin fluid over painting. So far, no impact to the ACC performance.
 
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Naranjita

Naranjita

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That looks great, but yeah, I'm afraid I'd be so paranoid about it affecting function
The stuff is so thin, I would be surprised. Heavy rain would be more of an obstruction. ACC worked great on my drive into work this morning. I'm leaving for the Oregon Coast on Monday. Driving trip for a week. Will definitely know if there are any impacts soon. I will report back. I will order a new cover if it has issues. I really would be shocked.
 

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Good job!
 
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Naranjita

Naranjita

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Looks really good, but I wonder if the paint could affect its function? Hope not. Good job.
That looks great, but yeah, I'm afraid I'd be so paranoid about it affecting function
Drove home tonight 35 minutes in the fog. Pretty dense at times. Used ACC/Lane Centering the whole way. Worked great. No issues. Reacted exactly the same way as it always does in the same places. If it's not being thrown off by fog with it applied, I think it's pretty safe to say it has no impact.

Ford Maverick Matching dark gray ACC panel to black grille - DIY FIX using Forever Black MAVaccFOG

Semi-Autonomous Driving Assist with ACC and Lane Centering is pretty nice. I can let go of the steering wheel for a moment to take the picture.
 
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clavicus

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Hah if a thick plastic doesn’t affect the radar behind it then I’m guessing some paint won’t either.
 

NewBernWolf

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The Adaptive Cruise Control Panel (ACC) isn't the exact same black color as the grille on the Lariat trim. Pre-Production units and early production units were even lighter gray than mine. See pic below:

st-test-the-small-truck-done-right-163644207462578.jpg


This always drove me nuts. I planned to do something about mine when I received it. However, I always worried if I painted it, it would be too thick and may mess with the sensors. I love my ACC, so I don't want to ruin that experience.

I was relieved that my November 18th build came out with a darker panel than the earlier units as shown above. But still not quite matching. I bought Forever Black exterior black trim restorer fluid from Amazon. It's a thin fluid, so I thought it was the best thing to attempt to not interfere with the ACC radar sensors.

I tried to remove the panel cover first and maybe do this indoors. It appeared like the ACC cover probably snapped on to the grill. I tried to pull it off. It even looked like it kind of clipped in place and I might be able to lift up and pull. However, I was afraid I was going to break it. If it was friction fit, it was going to require more force than I was willing to attempt. So I decided to mask it and apply directly on the installed ACC cover.

I cleaned the panel really well with the cleaner that came with the Forever Black container. Then I started brushing on the Black Reconditioner fluid. The stuff is pretty thin and is applied with a foam applicator that came in the package. Not too difficult to spread out evenly. But can get a little puddly in the seams and crevices. I just kept working through with the foam brush until it looked even. I am very glad I taped it off and not tried to hand do it.

Here is what it looked like after applying the first coat. Still wet.

1642200354026.png


The instructions say to let dry 20 minutes. It was super humid, cool and damp when I applied. About 50 ℉ when I applied the blackening fluid. It took about 45 minutes to dry. I applied a second coat. Success!

I don't know how it will hold up or how frequently it will need to be reapplied. But I love the results after the second coat dried. The color is nearly spot on, the sheen is ever so slightly glossier. Still satin-y. The big thing is now my eye is not drawn to the miscolored panel.

And most importantly, I just finished a 30 mile highway trip and the ACC/Lane Centering worked perfectly. All the same. No impact. I will report back about how it holds up over the continued Washington State winter and into the Spring. If it has to be reapplied more than 2-3 times a year, it probably is not worth the effort to me.

Final product
1642200599297.png
You are very brave.
 
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Naranjita

Naranjita

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Hah if a thick plastic doesn’t affect the radar behind it then I’m guessing some paint won’t either.
Yeah, I was thinking that. But I don't know exactly how the sensors are in there. The plastic is pretty thick, but I don't know if it's thinner where the sensors are housed behind there. Maybe in a carved out inset? Also, I can tell you that snow stuck to ACC panel does give me a sensor obstruction error. And it doesn't take a lot of snow. But it surely is a lot thicker than blackening fluid or paint.

I have never had any ACC impact from rain or fog, no matter how heavy the rain or dense the fog. But the lane centering can be impacted by rain or fog if it severely impacts visibility from the camera and it cannot detect the lane markers.
 
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Naranjita

Naranjita

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You are very brave.
Ehhh. I don't think so. It would probably come off with some solvent if it became an issue. Also, the plastic panel probably wouldn't be over $100 if I had to replace it. Worth the risk. It was driving me crazy. And now I know there is no issue. So, all good.
 

clavicus

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Yeah, I was thinking that. But I don't know exactly how the sensors are in there. The plastic is pretty thick, but I don't know if it's thinner where the sensors are housed behind there. Maybe in a carved out inset? Also, I can tell you that snow stuck to the front panel does give me an error. And it doesn't take a lot. But it surely is a lot thicker than blackening fluid or paint.
Ah good point. I guess different chemistries can vary in how they absorb certain wavelengths.
 

The Weatherman

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Just a note: The black box is only half the ACC system. It monitors for vehicles ahead. The camera in the upper part of the windshield is looking for the lane markers as the second half that keeps you centered.

It’s my first time owning a car with this feature and I find it fascinating and a very nice feature on the open roads.
 
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Naranjita

Naranjita

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Just a note: The black box is only half the ACC system. It monitors for vehicles ahead. The camera in the upper part of the windshield is looking for the lane markers as the second half that keeps you centered.

It’s my first time owning a car with this feature and I find it fascinating and a very nice feature on the open roads.
Of course, yes. I did nothing to the camera. It isn't is a mismatching gray. LOL
 

uh50

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The Adaptive Cruise Control Panel (ACC) isn't the exact same black color as the grille on the Lariat trim. Pre-Production units and early production units were even lighter gray than mine. See pic below:



Final product
1642200599297.png
Man, it looks great now. 🤠
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