Clear Coat

[tomd]

How can you tell if the clear coat is gone? My car has been buffed out so many times by the body shops am now wondering if the clear coat is gone from my trunk lid! I had bird crap on the trunk lid and couldn’t get it all off so I used some polishing compound from turtle wax. Now I have 3 spots, each the size of a sliver dollar that you can easily notice at different angles. I’ve used Zaino Z5 twice but NO luck I still can see the spots! :mad2:

[Blue Marauder]

If you are seeing dull spots, you have rubbed through the clear coat.

[tomd]

Originally posted by Blue Marauder
If you are seeing dull spots, you have rubbed through the clear coat.

That's what I was thinking, I didn't even rub that hard! :mad2: :mad2: :mad2:

[tetsu]

That's why I wouldnt let anyone powerbuff my car.

Johnny

[Blue Marauder]

Originally posted by tetsu
That's why I wouldnt let anyone powerbuff my car.

Johnny

There is nothing wrong with doing that as long as you know what you are doing. There are different grades of rubbing compounds that are used to buff out a car after it has been painted. Always used on clearcoat after painting. The problem comes about when you hold the buffer in one place for too long or on sharp edges like fender creases. You have to keep the buffer moving or use an orbital buffer. Hand rubbing with too harsh a compund in one spot can very easily cut through the clear coar. That sounds like what Tom did. Also, just the bird poop could have been acidic enough to damage the clear coat if it dried and sat too long. The buffing only worsened the problem. I always try to remove bird doo as soon as I see it using a wet cloth. I had just run the Marauder through the car wash last week and as I was pulling away from the air driers, a bird on the roof pooped all over the back window and trunk lid. The rest of the car was spotless except for there, I was so :mad2: .

[vaderv]

Wax the suspected spots, if u see black on the applicator the clear is gone.

[RCSignals]

Turtle wax polishing compound can be quite harsh, and leave the clearcoat looking dull

[mdmarauder]

I use 3m Rubbing Compound. The fine-cut grade (ie. lightest) never had it take off any paint yet. They do have harsher grades that do. I used the Turtle-Wax compound on an old Pontiac once way too harsh.

[tomd]

Thanks Guys!

I have used that rubbing compound on my other cars and it didn't do what it did this time. :mad2: but I've never owned a black car, so maybe I didn't notice?

I did put 2 coats of Z5 Zaino on the spots now they are a little darker but still look kind of dull from an angle.

I think the Body shops buffed off most of the clear coat or it was put on very thin.

:flamer:

[ChuckB]

Tom,

Hate to say but the CC is really thin on my MM. Appears you may have the same. i've painted my share of cars and the CC on the MM was one of the thinnest. i did some work to my grill and at the same time wanted to re-shoot the front bumper skin - ah la gravel truck. i literally went thru the CC and color coat with no more than 3 or 4 passes with wet 400 grit. Damn good thing i planned to repaint the set.

bird dooky isn't so bad on the CC but the color coat is a "bird of a different color". If you can see it after a swirl remover and wax the prognosis is not so good.

luckily the black on the MM is real forgiving and easy to match. take it to a shop whom does good black work. you may only have to prep and shoot CC.

But as the previous MM owners point out bar it (clay bar - pick a brand you like) if you feel the need - but take care if you plan to take a polisher to it. Low speed, swirl remover at the ruffest, stay off the corners, varigated foam bonnet and keep it cool. And for goodness sakes don't buy the polisher or the materials at Kragen or some weeky cheapy outlet - get a real quality polisher and products from a reputable autobody / tool shop.

[RCSignals]

Actually, if it is thin clear coat, Ford should be covering it

[ChuckB]

RC

To be perfectly honest i agree with you 100% - Ford should fix this. I just don't want to wait 2 or 3 years to wait until it starts developing problems. The other only drawback is that i'd have to let them (being the local group of bone heads at the dealership) wrench on my car. Sadam has a better chance of being drinking buddies with Pres Bush.

My car. And nobody wrenches on it but me. I know it's a hard line approach but i put my family in it and frankly don't trust some "trained" technician named Larry, Mo or Curly to do more than watch it.

[nexstar7]

what does it cost for a professional to redo our clearcoat with somthing better?

[engine23ccvfd]

I would like to hear from some of our blue and silver brotheres (and sisters) on this issue....Do you guys have the same problems?

[Blue Marauder]

I used Meguire's polish followed by their carnuba wax when I first bought the car with no problems. Applied both with an orbital buffer. Looks great.