Is this clearcoat failure?

[Eddie6th]

Re: Is this clearcoat failure?

maybe it is more a problem with the US honda's? maybe they put on better paint for you all? i had a honda many years ago and had the problem too, and the hondas ive detailed most of them have it as well.

Could be? sounds strange though. I would have thought that the japanese imports,like my civic,would have been the same everywhere.

Crazy...But who knows

[CieraSL]

Re: Is this clearcoat failure?

maybe it is more a problem with the US honda's? maybe they put on better paint for you all? i had a honda many years ago and had the problem too, and the hondas ive detailed most of them have it as well.

It's possible. My parents have 3 Hondas: a 1990 Accord, a 2000 Odyssey, and a 2000 Accord, and none of them have this problem. Of course, their cars are well cared for. My sister's car belonged to another 18 year old girl before she bought it, and so it obviously wasn't cared for then, either. Maybe the level of care has something to do with it? I don't know.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Is this clearcoat failure?

Could be? sounds strange though. I would have thought that the japanese imports,like my civic,would have been the same everywhere.

Crazy...But who knows

The US has stringent laws about VOCs and such for paint. Not sure about cars made elsewhere and imported, but anything made in the US has inferior paint due to the limited materials. It may be that US Honda paint doesn't do well with heat because of that.

[G_S_DB]

Re: Is this clearcoat failure?

Is it possible your freind can be specific about these honda failures due to heat from the header?

I've owned 5 hondas from early '80s up to present and have never had this.My civic is 16 years old now and for about the past ten+ years has had a header without the heat shield.

I can't see this as the problem,unless there are specific models which are affected by this.

In the post that I referenced, the poster did say that he thought it was a problem on certain models of Civics and Integras -- VIN codes EK and DC specifically. But judging by what I have seen here and elsewhere, it is more extensive than that. I have a US built 1998 EJ Civic and didn't really notice it until a couple of years ago. I have a friend with a new '08 Civic and he has an underhood liner for heat protection, mine is bare metal. At least they have corrected the flaw.

[the_invisible]

Re: Is this clearcoat failure?

These two pictures appear to be of oxidation. Severe oxidation is rarely buffed away with consumer products by hand. That is where the Lake Country yellow ultra cutting pads come in handy.

She rarely washes it (it's been more than two months since it's last wash). I've clayed and waxed it a few times (don't see the point in doing anything more than that since she doesn't care), but if I touch it "without her permission" she gets all mad. She has said she doesn't really care about her car, and I'm afraid it's going to catch up with her when she wants to trade the car in. Anyway, enough of that.

I try telling her she should take care of her car, but she won't listen. Guess she'll figure out the hard way when it comes time to trade.

You have to understand, Shane, you cannot push lifestyle choices and hygiene habits to other people, including your younger sister, who is an adult at this point. Every person is free to treat their vehicle the way they prefer, even if the choice leads to financial penalty or psychic costs. I know that you love your sister and you want to take care of her ride, but if she gets offended at you taking care of her Honda, that is when you stop touching her Honda.

[Eddie6th]

Re: Is this clearcoat failure?

In the post that I referenced, the poster did say that he thought it was a problem on certain models of Civics and Integras -- VIN codes EK and DC specifically. But judging by what I have seen here and elsewhere, it is more extensive than that. I have a US built 1998 EJ Civic and didn't really notice it until a couple of years ago. I have a friend with a new '08 Civic and he has an underhood liner for heat protection, mine is bare metal. At least they have corrected the flaw.

Every country has it's regulations,but I didn't know about this in the states.

You can buy liner material,specifically for heat.Maybe you should consider buying some for your civic.It's pretty expensive stuff though.It's normaly used for racers.You buy a certain size and cut it yourself.. I've but the self adhesive tape in the past,and it's really good stuff.I'll see if I can dig out a site that sells it..

Here's an example of this.If I knew this to be a problem,this is what I'd put on the underside of my hood:

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?cls=MSPORT&pcode=NIM14600

I'm sure you'll find loads of links in the states.

[kuhlguy71]

Re: Is this clearcoat failure?

so is there any way to repair the "cat tracks" without repainting? I'm getting ready to work on a buddy's black Mustang that has the same issue on the hood.

Will I cause further damage by using Ultimate Compound on that area? Thanks!

[CieraSL]

Re: Is this clearcoat failure?

These two pictures appear to be of oxidation. Severe oxidation is rarely buffed away with consumer products by hand. That is where the Lake Country yellow ultra cutting pads come in handy.

I've already looked through this thread: The Clearcoat Failure Photo Archive, and it says Many people confuse Clearcoat Failure with Oxidation and while clearcoat failure can be caused by oxidation and part of clearcoat failure can be oxidized clearcoat paint, clearcoat failure and oxidation are different categories of paint problems. Oxidation is a problem more associated with older single stage paints while clearcoat failure is a problem specific to clearcoat paints.

The problem on her paint is reminiscent of this picture in the archive, which is why I suspect it is indeed clearcoat failure and not oxidation.

You have to understand, Shane, you cannot push lifestyle choices and hygiene habits to other people, including your younger sister, who is an adult at this point. Every person is free to treat their vehicle the way they prefer, even if the choice leads to financial penalty or psychic costs. I know that you love your sister and you want to take care of her ride, but if she gets offended at you taking care of her Honda, that is when you stop touching her Honda.

I understand that, but is it so wrong for me to care and want to help her and show her the right way to do things, even if she refuses my help?

[G_S_DB]

Re: Is this clearcoat failure?

so is there any way to repair the "cat tracks" without repainting? I'm getting ready to work on a buddy's black Mustang that has the same issue on the hood.

Will I cause further damage by using Ultimate Compound on that area? Thanks!

From what I have seen, only a re-paint can fix the problem. Based only on my own theories... I think it is much like stretch marks on skin.

Stretch marks are really tears on the underside of your skin that leaves scars visible on the top. You could put lotion on or even use some micro-derm abrasion technique, but it won't fix the underside of your skin -- you are only treating the surface. So to complete this strange analogy, if the heat from the engine caused the paint to crack from the bottom to the top and you use compound or polish on the surface of the paint, you won't be able to remove the defect without going all the way to the metal. That might not be 100% accurate, but that is how I think of it.

But to answer your question, I don't think that compounding will harm anything.

[Eddie6th]

Re: Is this clearcoat failure?

paints.[/I]

The problem on her paint is reminiscent of this picture in the archive, which is why I suspect it is indeed clearcoat failure and not oxidation.




I understand that, but is it so wrong for me to care and want to help her and show her the right way to do things, even if she refuses my help?

I know loads of people like that,Shane..most of the time it's just ignorance of a particular subject.I know one who is the same about his motorbike....It's a nice bike but in a messy condition,but not bad condition.He wants it to look good but is afraid to detail it???? He keeps worrying about the chain getting wet???? I even helped him to buy all the correct stuff(meg's of course),but is afraid to do anything with it.

Fear of anything automotive?

[the_invisible]

Re: Is this clearcoat failure?

I know loads of people like that,Shane..most of the time it's just ignorance of a particular subject.I know one who is the same about his motorbike....It's a nice bike but in a messy condition,but not bad condition.He wants it to look good but is afraid to detail it???? He keeps worrying about the chain getting wet???? I even helped him to buy all the correct stuff(meg's of course),but is afraid to do anything with it.

Fear of anything automotive?

Yeah, that's just like suicidals who refuse to seek free counselling even when their lives depended on it.