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Is this really clear coat failure or it can be fixed?

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  • #1

    Is this really clear coat failure or it can be fixed?

    Hi guys,

    I've recently noticed some "light spots" on my vehicle, a 2001 Ford Focus Sedan, European spec, and these spots got bigger and bigger with time, until finally becoming one single big spot on my car

    I dont have much practice on car detailing, I've just got started, Im reading what I can on my free time here on the forums, but I would like to know beforehand if this thing can be fixed or if I will need to repaint this panel, take a look:

    http://i50.tinypic.com/33k4209.jpg


    http://i49.tinypic.com/25i9pqb.jpg


    http://i49.tinypic.com/hwg2f6.jpg


    I did what I could before the sun went down, with my smartphone camera, but I may get better pictures tomorrow if needed


    What you guys think? Its only oxidation or the clear coat really has been damaged for good?

    Thanks
    Tags: None
  • #2
    It looks like it is starting to fail. If you csn take some pics in the sunlight
    Even the best cars look like junk when they are not clean

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Is this really clear coat failure or it can be fixed?

      Hmmm, it's hard to tell from those pics, but to me it doesn't look like CCF.

      It just looks like it has been badly marred or even sanded to dull the finish and some compounding could bring it back. Again, hard to tell...
      Originally posted by Blueline
      I own a silver vehicle and a black vehicle owns me. The black one demands attention, washing, detailing, waxing and an occasional dinner out at a nice restaurant. The silver one demands nothing and it looks just fine. I think the black vehicle is taking advantage of me, and the silver car is more my style. We can go out for a drive without her makeup and she looks fine. If I want to take the black one out, it is three or four hours in the "bathroom" to get ready.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Is this really clear coat failure or it can be fixed?

        Yea I can't tell from the pics either.
        take pics with nothing in the back ground
        From your description it sounds like ccf to me

        DetailingByM.com

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Is this really clear coat failure or it can be fixed?

          Hey,

          Well, I'll take better pics later today! Lets see if it will help

          I have Ultimate Compound......its it enough for me to test for CCF?

          Thanks

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Is this really clear coat failure or it can be fixed?

            There isnt really an exact test.

            You could apply it gently, and see if anything improves. If there was any improvement, it would be nice to follow up with some sort of wax, or polishing oils and then wax, and then wait a little to see if it comes back.
            2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

            Comment

            • #7
              Can you see any flaking that is ocuring? Also is this the only spot that has it? Im just asking because if it was oxidation I would expect it to be in multiple spots unless that one area is seeing constant environmental abuse.
              Even the best cars look like junk when they are not clean

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Is this really clear coat failure or it can be fixed?

                Hi there, took more pics, I know they re not very good but I did what I could (with the weather being cloudy and my smartphone cam)

                No, I cant see any flaking....it looks intact to me, what I can REALLY tell is that the surface is CONSIDERABLY rough to the touch, when the car is wet my finger can slide on the paint, but when it reaches the dull area it just lock on place

                Here are the extra pics:

                http://i47.tinypic.com/29c9hl3.jpg


                http://i47.tinypic.com/i1xyr5.jpg


                http://i45.tinypic.com/ic7aet.jpg


                I will be able to test the Ulimate Compound on the weekend, Im on college so I study on one city but Im from another, so I dont have my UC with me now

                Thanks

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Is this really clear coat failure or it can be fixed?

                  Originally posted by ReaperX View Post

                  No, I cant see any flaking....it looks intact to me, what I can REALLY tell is that the surface is CONSIDERABLY rough to the touch, when the car is wet my finger can slide on the paint, but when it reaches the dull area it just lock on place
                  That description, coupled with the images you've provided, tells us that the clear is indeed failing. It doesn't have to actually flake off to be failing. Clear coat can fail in a few different ways, but the two most common are when it delaminates from the color coat, and when it starts to break apart. Delamination is often due to a production issue (though not always) while the crumbling or breaking apart of the clear is usually caused by oxidation of the clear. Remember that the chemistry of a modern clearcoat is vastly different from that of an old school single stage lacquer. Where lacquer would oxidize and turn a bit chalky and lighter in color, it could be buffed out by essentially removing the oxidized layer of paint and exposing the healthy paint underneath. Modern clear coats are a catalyzed formulation that cross links and bonds rather than just adhering to the color coat beneath. Oxidation begins to break those crosslinked bonds and the clear starts to crumble. Unfortunately, this is almost always impossible to stop without fully removing the paint and starting over.

                  Think of it this way: when bare aluminum oxidizes it turns sort of white, chalky and dull looking. But you can usually just polish it back to a very high gloss. Bare steel, on the other hand, turns to rust when it oxidizes and the only way to stop it is to cut out all the rust and put new steel in it's place. So those old school lacquer paints are more like aluminum when they oxidize, while modern clear coats are more like the steel panel.
                  Michael Stoops
                  Senior Global Product & Training Specialist | Meguiar's Inc.

                  Remember, this hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need therapy.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Is this really clear coat failure or it can be fixed?

                    Im pleased to be the bringer of good news, for now at least....

                    I've used the UC on my car , by hand, and that dull spot got back to life, it shines likes its brand spanking new! I've applied NXT 2.0 on top

                    But as far as I understood the damage can come back with time? I hope it dont!! I plan on doing the entire car now....that spot looks B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: Is this really clear coat failure or it can be fixed?

                      Originally posted by ReaperX View Post
                      Im pleased to be the bringer of good news, for now at least....

                      I've used the UC on my car , by hand, and that dull spot got back to life, it shines likes its brand spanking new! I've applied NXT 2.0 on top

                      But as far as I understood the damage can come back with time? I hope it dont!! I plan on doing the entire car now....that spot looks B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L

                      Great news.

                      Did your cloth / applicator turn black as you were applying the UC?
                      Originally posted by Blueline
                      I own a silver vehicle and a black vehicle owns me. The black one demands attention, washing, detailing, waxing and an occasional dinner out at a nice restaurant. The silver one demands nothing and it looks just fine. I think the black vehicle is taking advantage of me, and the silver car is more my style. We can go out for a drive without her makeup and she looks fine. If I want to take the black one out, it is three or four hours in the "bathroom" to get ready.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Is this really clear coat failure or it can be fixed?

                        Originally posted by davey g-force View Post
                        Great news.

                        Did your cloth / applicator turn black as you were applying the UC?
                        No. I kept watching the pad during the process and there wasn't any black residue on it

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: Is this really clear coat failure or it can be fixed?

                          Hopefully you're good then. That's a promising sign that it probably wasn't CCF at all...
                          Originally posted by Blueline
                          I own a silver vehicle and a black vehicle owns me. The black one demands attention, washing, detailing, waxing and an occasional dinner out at a nice restaurant. The silver one demands nothing and it looks just fine. I think the black vehicle is taking advantage of me, and the silver car is more my style. We can go out for a drive without her makeup and she looks fine. If I want to take the black one out, it is three or four hours in the "bathroom" to get ready.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: Is this really clear coat failure or it can be fixed?

                            Originally posted by davey g-force View Post
                            Hopefully you're good then. That's a promising sign that it probably wasn't CCF at all...
                            If it is CCF it will turn dull quickly? After how long can I be sure Im safe? Thanks

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: Is this really clear coat failure or it can be fixed?

                              Could be a couple days, or a week or two.
                              2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

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