Strange piting in clear coat

Ubetit · 07-07-05, 05:51

I've done a few Honda S2000's so far but i've never seen this problem before in any car. The horizontal surfaces had the worst scratches and swirls. I used a white pad with 3M PI-III RC (05933) followed with a white pad and the 3m PI-III machine glaze. The sides will only get SWP or the Machine glaze because it isn't that bad. When completed the trunk was absolutely flawless but the hood has what looks like piting in the clearcoat. I've seen tiny bubbles in clear before and it looks similar. The hood is worst near the center. The flaws disappear half way down the hood and a foot before it meets the fenders. I tried a million ways to take a picture of it but it just doesn't photograph. ALL the scratches and swirls are gone and you can't feel the piting if you rub a fingernail over it.

bigger pic ftp://ftp.hutchisonmedia.com/temp/IMG_3529.JPG

brwill2005 · 07-07-05, 06:17

Could be acid raing etching or some type of damage done by the heat of the engine. My 15 year old mazda 626 has some pitting in the paint which I think is acid rain etching.

Scottwax · 07-07-05, 07:17

Could be from rail dust that wasn't removed when the car was new.

Setec Astronomy · 07-07-05, 07:57

Hmm...my Acura RSX that sat on the dealer lot for 16 months has a bunch of spots like that, but they are not round, they look almost like stone chips in the clear...I presume they are acid rain/bird poop/rail dust/something.

audipower · 07-07-05, 09:00

try aggressive clay. clay magic makes it for hard to remove paint over spray or problems like this.

Setec Astronomy · 07-08-05, 02:25

If you were talking to me, mine are below-surface.

Ubetit · 07-08-05, 02:40

You can't feel mine either so maybe they are below surface as well. After all that polishing I don't think clay is going to help.

Anthony Orosco · 07-11-05, 06:17

Is it a re-paint?

If so then that is your culprit. Solvent pops most likely.

If it were fall out or some type of acid rain etching then you would most likely have it on the truck and roof also not just the hood. Rail dust would be on the fenders also.

Claying would remove the top portions of the rail dust and it shouldn't leave any visible marks. If you have clayed the car and the marks remain then you know its most likely a paint issue.

Anthony

jfelbab · 07-11-05, 06:32

I've seen that on a couple repaints as well. I've only seen it on horizontal surfaces. I tried a very aggressive compound with a rotary which reduced but didn't eliminate them.

zey · 07-11-05, 09:22

I have this problem all over my car, especially horizontal surfaces like bonnet, hood and boot. I guess it must be some industrial fallout or acid rain etchings.

Ubetit · 07-12-05, 02:23

We polished the trunk, it is absolutely perfect. I didn't notice the problem on the fenders either. The hood alone was either exposed to something or it was repainted without the customer's knowledge.

Thanks for all the help guys.