Help identifying paint problem!

[SingingSabre]

So I got home this morning from my workout and saw what appeared to be sap. I grabbed a bottle of QD and a superior shine mf towel.

Ended up not being sap...

What is this?

My car is still under warranty...should I go to a dealership?

[Mike Phillips]

Is it something,

"ON" the finish (Recent contaminant)
"IN" the finish (stain)
"UNDER" the finish (Paint problem from the factory)

Either way, you might want to stop trying to fix it and drive down to the dealership and show them.

Mike

[SingingSabre]

Those are holes in the finish that you're looking at.

I stopped trying to fix it once I swiped it with mf and QD...

Going to the dealership later today.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by SingingSabre
Those are holes in the finish that you're looking at.

I wasn't sure, thus the in, on, under comment. Better safe than sorry.

Going to the dealership later today.

Good plan. If this is something that has landed on your car's finish, you want to trace the origin down right away so it doesn't happen again to this car or any other car, your's or a neighbors.

Best of luck and please let us know what you find out.

Mike

[Superior Shine]

That needs to be refinished for sure. Look over your vehicle to see if you can find anything on the paint that has yet to eat through.

I have seen tree sapand bird droppings do similar damage.

[SingingSabre]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
Good plan. If this is something that has landed on your car's finish, you want to trace the origin down right away so it doesn't happen again to this car or any other car, your's or a neighbors.

Best of luck and please let us know what you find out.

I'm on it! *whips out pith helmet and magnifying glass*

Originally posted by Superior Shine
That needs to be refinished for sure. Look over your vehicle to see if you can find anything on the paint that has yet to eat through.

I have seen tree sapand bird droppings do similar damage.

I inspect my car for obvious contaminants every morning and every evening. Tree sap is practically non-existant (I've never seen it around, even when I park under the mequite tree at home) where I go. And it certainly didn't look like a bird dropping.

I went in for a pilates workout at 7, when I got out at 8, that was there. I drove home and QDed it around 8:20. I've no idea what could do that.

Thanks

[Superior Shine]

WOW Something sure nasty got your car.

I went in for a pilates workout at 7, when I got out at 8, that was there. I drove home and QDed it around 8:20.

Next time you go to your class I would wear a rain coat and goggles!!!!

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Superior Shine
Next time you go to your class I would wear a rain coat and goggles!!!!

Next time you go to your class, check with your friends to see if they have experienced this and even look at some of the cars that are regularly parked there. You could be the only one that is aware of the problem if the others are not car enthusiasts.

Mike

[SingingSabre]

Well, folks, I went to the dealership. Their resident paint "expert" wasn't there at the moment, so they told me to come back. I made the return trip and they decided that it wasn't warranty covered. I can't blame them for that, but they were still a bunch of jerks.

I took it to the place I got my oil changed, Precision Honda and Acura -- a local business my family has been frequenting for years. They said they've never seen anything like it and since my car was in the air the entire time (I don't change oil myself...I'm a massage therapist...I don't deal with car innards, only human) there couldn't have been exposure to an acid strong enough to burn the paint to the metal. They recommended I go to their favorite PBE shop and see Max.

Max said the only thing strong enough to do that is battery acid. They said that an overcharged battery can "sweat" and have the product carried on wind. Cost of repair: $289. Fat chance.

I head back to Precision to buy some touch up paint. My thought is I'll tell them what Max thought the problem is. I also wanted to see the bay I was in to see if there were any possible problems I could bring to their attention. They decided that the most likely cause of my woes was when the technician serviced my battery, he could have dripped the acid then.

Precision called their service manager and the head honchos decided that it would be a good idea to pay for the full repair to be done by Max. Max's work looks very good, so I don't mind trusting my baby to him.

So in the end, it wasn't my class, and I can leave my overcoat and goggles at home!

Thanks for all your help.

[romulus]

Looking at the pictures, at first I thought that it was battery acid or some other kind of acid. But since most of the modern batteries are maintence free, meaning you don't need to add water to keep the electrolite level full is unlikely. I don't buy the story of sweating batteries and have the acid carried by the wind. You have to literally tip over the battery and have some acid come out from the small vents.
Then I thought that maybe someone was messing with some type of acid, but is unlikely in a public place.
So, it could be brake fluid from a service garage since you take your car for oil change. Break fluid will eat your paint if you let it sit for couple of days. Maybe someone was bleading the break fluid from someone's car next to yours the last time you took it for service and got a bit splashed without knowing .
Anyway, I hope that you will get this issue solve.
Cheers

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by SingingSabre
Precision called their service manager and the head honchos decided that it would be a good idea to pay for the full repair to be done by Max. Max's work looks very good, so I don't mind trusting my baby to him.

You're lucky the people responsible owned up to it. After learning of all the pieces of the puzzle, how the damage occurred is easier to understand.

Best of luck with the repair.

Mike