Need expert evaluation of a scratch

[Richard E]

After investing time and money in Meguiar's products to keep my new car beautiful, it's upsetting to find that some humans don't appreciate the effort. I came out to my car last weekend and found some stranger had keyed it. Do you think there's a special place in hell for people like that? Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!Well, putting aside the useless theological debate, I'd like some advice about what to do next to restore the car.

Here's a before picture:


The next four photos are the results of the best I could do with many applications of Scratch-X and a few of Heavy-Cut cleaner followed by a couple more Scratch-X, all done by hand with a foam applicator. (The limit of my skill is using the dual-action polisher.) It looks to me that there are couple of deep parts near the edge of the door that are beyond what a professional detailer can fix. That is, it looks to me like it's right down to the metal. Is it? Trying to use touch up paint would look pretty bad, wouldn't it? Do some areas look like they could be fixed by a rotary?











If it needs repainting, I'm wondering about taking it to the Chrysler dearer here in San Diego (it's an electric blue pearl PT Cruiser). Does any know, do they repaint the whole door or can they just do an area? Any other recommendations? Thanks for all your help.

[Jeff Smith]

I am responding as I want to subscride to this thread. If it is possible to get rid of a scratch like that with Megs Products. I want to know how. I don't have anything like that yet but it's probably just a matter of time.


I wish you luck.

[Hannibal]

I am getting ready to tackle a scratch (see this thread)

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9686

I found a scratch kit from http://www.carpaintonline.com/Default.aspx
which comes with a 12oz primer, basecoat, and clearcoat. They are in a patneted "no spatter" spray can. It comes with a touch up pen (2oz) as a bonus. They are done with PPG paint (very good paint). I have been told their matching is next to none. I will be tackling it pretty soon.

I would have gone with this kit:
http://www.duplicolor.com/products/repair.html But they didnt have my color (medium Green Pearl Metallic) in the aeresol. This kit comes with everything (sandpaper, sanding block, 3 stage paint etc). Check it out, you will need to locate your paint code. If you take it to a body shop I doubt they will repaint, they will just spot repair unless you have the cash for a more thorough job. I think with time and right products you can make this invisible!

here is a "how to" on scratches :

http://www.duplicolor.com/projects/howto_scratchfix.html

That is most unfortunate for you. I think Karma will deal with these people that scratched your ride.

[grover]

I agree with Hannibal. The cost of having the dealership do it will probably be a lot. I found a lot of companies on the internet that match paint and have kits. Do a search on google for "auto paint touch up". Like Hannibal said, some even sell complete kits with cleaner, primer, color matched paint, clearcoat and rubbing compound. And most come in paint pens, bottles or spray cans. I just ordered some for my Sebring and my wife's PT Cruiser.

The PT seems to get tons of stone chips, how are your front fenders and hood? We've had it six months and there are probably 4 or 5 chips that need touching up.

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

In the next couple weeks, here, I'll be repairing several scratches like that on a project car. I'll do a write-up at that time on successful paint touch-up.

I think what you have there is very repairable, but it is an involved process (paint, let cure, wetsand/level out/blend, compound.... etc.

Don't give up hope, I'm sure it will come out fine.

[1998Stang]

Originally posted by Jeff Smith
I am responding as I want to subscride to this thread. If it is possible to get rid of a scratch like that with Megs Products. I want to know how. I don't have anything like that yet but it's probably just a matter of time.


I wish you luck.

Ditto all that, except I also received a "gift" from someone walking by my car . . .

It really is a shame that some people can be so thoughtless and just plain mean.


All best,
Joe

[Richard E]

Thanks everyone for your responses.

Thanks Hannibal for your suggestion about the duplicolor product. I found it at my local Kragen's. The kit part is purchased separately from the particular color you need. They don't have the color match for my car either, but I asked the salesman if I could substitute the touch-up paint I got from the Chrysler dealer and he said no problem. I 've never done wet-sanding etc. so I don't have my hopes up too high about how good it will look when I get around to doing it. The kit doesn't include spray paint, just a brush or a roller ball pen applicator for the clear coat.

I got an estimate from a recommended body shop and they wanted to do both entire doors for $650. Gulp! Is this the sort of price you give when you really don't want the job? Is it true that some guys can afford to refuse business, don't want to bother with a smaller job? I'll get a couple of other estimates.

Also, grover, I agree, the PT does seem to have rather soft paint that is more prone to stone chips. I've done about 9000 miles and I have 2 stone chips. Though they aren't that large, they seem to go right to the metal. On my old car I had the problem of touch-up paint flaking off after a year or so on chips that appeared to go down to the metal, so I bought a can of gray primer today. I'll have to use a very fine brush to apply it, after spraying a blob onto a card.

Looking forward to learning from your upcoming post on scratch repair, Shiny Lil Detlr.

You're right, Joe, it is a shame that people can be so thoughtless and mean. But a forum like this is a good place to turn to and be reminded that there are also lots of helpful people in the world.

[Jeff Smith]

BTW. I have a question for you Richard. If possible, could you post how many applications of Scratch-X it took you to get it to where you are now?

I have been pretty fortunate in that I have not had to turn to Scratch-X as yet but I see the day coming and want to have a better understanding of the product.

[Don]

The question is: 'Can you feel the scratches with a fingernail?' If not, you have a good chance of smoothing it out to where it can't be seen anymore, however there are a few places where I see from the pic that it's gone through the color coat.

[Richard E]

Yep, you can feel the scratches with you fingernail, through the whole length of the scratch, so I guess that means it's too deep to buff out with a rotary.

I used about 6 applications of Scratch-X, which didn't take long as I was doing such a thin area. You work it in hard with a foam pad until it starts to go transparent, which tells you the diminishing abrasives have worn down as fine as they are going to get, then wipe off, and start over with a fresh application.

[Pete-FWA]

Don mentions an excellent point about the fingernail test. From what I could see in the photos, those two areas near the doors have lost their top coat.

Richard, you did get some good results doing your work by hand. You mentioned "pearl" as part of your color. Generally, when I see that in a paint name, it means a three stage paint with a tinted clear. Is that the case on your paint? I've only seen that color and never worked with it.

If you're unsure of doing it yourself, take it to a detail or body shop and they can tell you right away if there's much salvage left or if it really needs to be painted.

When you mentioned painting only part of the door: yes, that is quite possibly what they'll do. In such a case, the scratched area is spot prepped down as far as it needs, then sprayed with base coat. Finally, the door will get an overall spray of clear blended onto it. This gets you as close to new as is possible and is often a much better match than simply panel painting.

[Hannibal]

Originally posted by Richard E
Thanks everyone for your responses.
The kit doesn't include spray paint, just a brush or a roller ball pen applicator for the clear coat.

See this link:

http://www.carpaintonline.com/ShowProduct1.aspx?vend=&year=&modelID=8684

Click on the Kit ($54.95) It has primer, paint, clear coat in spray cans. Also included is compund and polish. They even throw in a 2oz touch up paint for you (same color). They mix to factory specs using DuPont PPG paint. The link takes you to a kit that I have selected for my truck, so if you buy be sure you have your color code selected. They have a search function that looks up your paint code too!
Good luck either way!!

[Richard E]

Hi hannibal, when I referred to the kit not having a spray, I was talking about the Duplicolor kit at the auto parts store. Of course, you're right, the carpaintonline link shows a kit with a sprayer.

Pete-FWA, I think the two spots beside the door gaps are right down to the metal. The body guy who gave me that high estimate said so too. Plus there is one other spot like them. The rest of the scratch is deep in the clear coat, possibly all the way through it into the the base (color) coat.

I hope it's not a three-stage process with tinted clear coat.
The base coat is sold as "electric blue pearl" at the place Hannibal mentioned and it doesn't mention a special clear coat, but maybe they're leaving something out.

I feel like I'm getting in out of my depth.
Oh well, if I make a mess of it , there's always plan B, paying a pro to fix it. But it occurs to me that this probably won't be the last scratch I ever get, so if I can learn to do a respectable job, I can save money and have the car looking better. There's no way you would pay a pro to fix all the scratches that occur over time. Well, maybe Barry Meguiar could afford to!

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by Richard E
Hi hannibal, when I referred to the kit not having a spray, I was talking about the Duplicolor kit at the auto parts store. Of course, you're right, the carpaintonline link shows a kit with a sprayer.

Pete-FWA, I think the two spots beside the door gaps are right down to the metal. The body guy who gave me that high estimate said so too. Plus there is one other spot like them. The rest of the scratch is deep in the clear coat, possibly all the way through it into the the base (color) coat.

I hope it's not a three-stage process with tinted clear coat.
The base coat is sold as "electric blue pearl" at the place Hannibal mentioned and it doesn't mention a special clear coat, but maybe they're leaving something out.

I feel like I'm getting in out of my depth.
Oh well, if I make a mess of it , there's always plan B, paying a pro to fix it. But it occurs to me that this probably won't be the last scratch I ever get, so if I can learn to do a respectable job, I can save money and have the car looking better. There's no way you would pay a pro to fix all the scratches that occur over time. Well, maybe Barry Meguiar could afford to!

I agree. I have dabled a time or 2 trying to fix scratches on my older vehicles. That takes an experienced hand. Mine always came out looking worse than the scratch itself. I bet folks here could fill up a whole forum just on tips & tricks, and lesson learned while patching up scratches.

Just go the the local grocery store with a paint scratch repair kit and start fixing other folks' cars. Probably get alot of practice. Who cares if the color matches or not.

[tguil]

Been there, done that with major scratches. Your chance of making it perect are near zero. Your metallic blue simply can't be matched with a spray can or a brush. Your eyes will always go right to the repair.

Pick the best body shop that you can find and let them go to it. A good shop will repair the damaged area and then blend in the color coat on both doors. They will then clear coat the doors. The paint repair may still be noticed in the right light and angle. Metallic paints are a ----- to match.

Your comprehensive insurance should take care of the repair -- vandalism.

Tom