Why is everyone skipping the corrosion test on aluminum repairs?

I've been doing this for about 7 years now, mostly at a shop in Phoenix. Lately I keep seeing techs just weld up aluminum panels and spray them without doing the salt spray or the simple acid test first. We had a 2018 F-150 come back last month with the repair area bubbling out after only 14 months. The customer was pissed and honestly I can't blame them. That repair was done by a guy who said the test was a waste of time. It takes like 10 minutes and costs maybe $15 in supplies. How many of you actually run a corrosion check on aluminum before you paint, or is this just a trend in my area?

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gonzalez.phoenix20d ago

Ain't it funny how the same mindset shows up everywhere? I see it at the grocery store when people grab bruised produce because they're in a hurry, or at the gas station when someone skips checking their tire pressure for months. It's that whole "it'll be fine" attitude that saves five minutes now but costs an hour later. Your F-150 story is proof that the shortcuts just move the problem down the road, literally. A $15 test and ten minutes of patience beats a pissed-off customer and a redo any day of the week.