Paint keeps coming off when I use AIO. HELP!!!

Tortuga · 08-19-02, 04:58

My friend hasn't taken care of her bright red 1997 Saab 900 SE. I believe the paint is heavily oxidized. The paint was dull, lighter, and covered with a disgusting film. It was especially noticeable on the top surfaces of the car.

I tried AutoInt's ABC system on a small part of the car and it barely made a dent on this oxidation.

But when I used a little AIO on a MF, the film came right off. There was so much film on it that that I had to do it twice.

However, the MF was covered in red paint. I don't mean that it just had a little red on it, I mean it was RED. I figured that this is OK because all of the oxidized film was red, so I wasn't removing the base layer of paint.

Then I tried using the PC with a white pad and AIO on a small section of the roof. After a few seconds, I went to rub off the remaining AIO with a MF. The pad was RED. It was so deep red that it really looked like I was using a red pad (if such a thing exists). I want to emphasize, the pad wasn't pink, or just a little came off, it was RED.

So I tried a little more AIO on a MF on a 2 inch section of the paint. Even after six times, the MF was still turning RED.

I've used AIO on several cars and no paint ever showed up on my microfiber before. Not even a hint of the color. None, zero, zilch!

I used AIO twice on the whole car and now it looks great. The film is gone and It's really clean and shiney. I also went over it with clay and now the surface is flat, smooth, and slipery.

My questions are:

Has something like this happened to you before?
Is this normal?
Is the paint on this car failing?
Should she try to sell the car while the paint's looking good?
Any other advice you can think of?

My guess is that she let it go too long and now the paint is failing. The oxidation process will continue at an accelerated rate. She should sell the car while it's looking good.

paco · 08-19-02, 05:29

Is there a chance the car was repainted? If so, perhaps they didn't apply the clear. That would surprising considering the year of the vehicle.

..

Paco

Tortuga · 08-19-02, 05:37

The front bumper was repainted. That's it.

v85097 · 08-19-02, 06:21

I had a red 740 wagon that use to do the same thing. The paint would oxidize quick and bad if I didn't stay on top of it and it was clear coated. The towels use to get deep red until the oxidation was gone and the gloss came back to the paint. It got to the point that if I let it go long enough I could look at the paint and have a general idea that I'd have red towels. This was in the early 90s using Mothers Pre Wax Cleaner and then Nu-Finish. A regular routine of cleaning and waxing kept the paint from doing that. I'd have to think the Saab would be clear coated.

paco · 08-19-02, 08:00

how a clear coated vehicle would release paint through the clear layer??? Is it just me?

If that is in-fact the case, what purpose is the clear having as it surely is not protecting the paint for the elements.

Paco

bretfraz · 08-19-02, 08:26

Hmmm.... I don't see what the problem is. It's "clear" that the paint is not clearcoated. What you're removing is oxidized paint. No big deal.

If she wants to sell the car then I suggest doing a nice detail and advertise it. Nice looking cars sells faster than ratty looking cars.

The amount of paint you're removing is miniscule. It looks dramatic but it's not. Remember, the AIO is removing about the same amount of clear when used on an oxidized finish, you just can't see it like you can the red paint.

No reason to panic - - everything's cool. Take a deep breath..........

paco · 08-19-02, 08:48

.. do topoff with either Zaino Z3 or Klasse SG. A few layers should do the trick.

Paco

JustinTRW · 08-19-02, 08:54

The car does not have a clearcoat.

You must have been freaking out Tortuga? No worries. You scared me for a second when I read the title of this thread. I thought you had already went through the clearcoat on your Benz!