Fixing pinholes/fisheyes

**purplenurple** · 10-30-2012, 06:05 PM

I recently got paintwork done due to getting hit in a parking lot. There are these pinholes on the paint

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/7049/dsc12532.jpg

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/5424/dsc12542.jpg

I gave the shop multiple chances to fix them, but refuse to take my car back there. They said that the insurance company "didn`t pay them enough for my standards" and that there was "too much gunk on my paint" (gunk being wax/sealant), thus causing these defects. :mad2:

The two pictured bother me in particular because they are at eye level and I always end up seeing them even as I walk by. It honestly makes my blood boil every time that I see them, considering how long my car spent at their shop, first getting the initial work done and then getting their defects "fixed". Any suggestions as to how to fix these? Tape off and apply some Dr. Colorchip or dab some clear coat and sand smooth?

This shop was also regarded as one of the best in the area. I figured that I would let them do the work since they paint the built Supras for a local, nationally-prominent, shop.

I`m not going to even get into the hazing left behind on their painted panels and adjacent panels that they didn`t tape off.

EDIT: Or should I just accept this as "normal" from aftermarket paint and move on?

Thanks.

**Dan** · 10-30-2012, 06:08 PM

Call your insurance company and tell them you aren`t happy is how you fix it.

**purplenurple** · 10-30-2012, 06:24 PM

The shop beat up the insurance company for like 20% more money, do you think that they would still be willing to do anything about it?

**Ron Ketcham** · 10-30-2012, 10:24 PM

It was their job to remove all waxes, sealants, silicones from the paint before starting the repair.

These few "fish eyes" may also be due to a contaminate in the air/airline/filter system at their shop.

Either way, they are responsible, they contracted to do the correct repair, they failed to do so.

The excuse they are giving you is pure B/S, and they are just ducking their responsibility.

Grumpy

**C. Charles Hahn** · 10-30-2012, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by purplenurple

The shop beat up the insurance company for like 20% more money, do you think that they would still be willing to do anything about it?

It is the insurance company`s duty to return the vehicle to pre-loss condition. What you got from that shop does not constitute pre-loss condition, therefore they will have to pay to have it fixed properly. Just that simple.

Just curious, was the shop that you had it done at suggested by the insurance company, or did you pick them yourself?

**Dan** · 10-31-2012, 09:18 AM

This thing happens all too often by incompetent body shops. Then they have the nerve to use excuses like "we don`t get enough from insurance to fix it right" or "you can`t get it as perfect as factory paint." Total crap. A competent shop can make it a repair that most of us autopians can`t spot without a paint gauge.

**Concours.John** · 10-31-2012, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by Ron Ketcham

It was their job to remove all waxes, sealants, silicones from the paint before starting the repair.

These few "fish eyes" may also be due to a contaminate in the air/airline/filter system at their shop.

Either way, they are responsible, they contracted to do the correct repair, they failed to do so.

The excuse they are giving you is pure B/S, and they are just ducking their responsibility.

Grumpy

Ron is exactly spot on. There is a process to properly prepare the paint before proceeding with any repairs. This includes a stripping of all waxes sealants and coatings to the affected area and adjacent panels. This should have been done BEFORE any sanding or repair work took place. The contaminants can transfer to color blends and then to full panel clear coat. As suggested I would contact your insurance company and let them know of your dissatisfaction and the quality of the repair.

**CGdetailing** · 10-31-2012, 09:27 PM

I currently work for a body shop and have a few tips to give regarding your situation. No matter which insurance company you have, body shops will always have a couple of contracted work agreements with "certain" insurance companies to provide them with work. If the customer phones the insurance company with a non satisfactory review, the insurance company will give the body shop a call and demand to know why their customer was not satisfied. If this insurance company is 50-60% of their work load then the body shop will have no choice but to work with the customer to remedy the problems. If complaints are continuously happening, then the body shop can lose their contract with the insurance company. That can mean only one thing if the account is as big as 50-60% of their work, they will go out of business.

I suggest you give your insurance company a call if they referred you to this body shop and explain to them about your situation.

**RaskyR1** · 11-01-2012, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by CONCOURS.JOHN

Ron is exactly spot on. There is a process to properly prepare the paint before proceeding with any repairs. This includes a stripping of all waxes sealants and coatings to the affected area and adjacent panels. This should have been done BEFORE any sanding or repair work took place. The contaminants can transfer to color blends and then to full panel clear coat. As suggested I would contact your insurance company and let them know of your dissatisfaction and the quality of the repair.

Most of the coatings shouldn`t have anything in them (silicone`s) that will interfere with the painting process, but you will still want to prep the paint like you normally would (sand/scuff).

I reached out to a few of the companies as I don`t want body shops wiping the entire car down (scratching them) when my clients bring them in for small repairs after I`ve coated them.

**Concours.John** · 11-01-2012, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by RaskyR1

Most of the coatings shouldn`t have anything in them (silicone`s) that will interfere with the painting process, but you will still want to prep the paint like you normally would (sand/scuff).

I reached out to a few of the companies as I don`t want body shops wiping the entire car down (scratching them) when my clients bring them in for small repairs after I`ve coated them.

I fully understand. I should elaborate more the biggest thing we encountered was sling from tire dressings on adjacent panels. This is just a practice we adopted to ensure no problems in case the color had to be extended for a perfect match and clearing a whole other panel. We were on the higher end. Our finishing was always top-notch. But this tends to be the exception to the norm. We just had to assume this was a issue unless told otherwise.

It`s a shame we did not always get more Autopian detailed cars in for repairs

.

**RaskyR1** · 11-02-2012, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by CONCOURS.JOHN

I fully understand. I should elaborate more the biggest thing we encountered was sling from tire dressings on adjacent panels. This is just a practice we adopted to ensure no problems in case the color had to be extended for a perfect match and clearing a whole other panel. We were on the higher end. Our finishing was always top-notch. But this tends to be the exception to the norm. We just had to assume this was a issue unless told otherwise.

It`s a shame we did not always get more Autopian detailed cars in for repairs

.

I hear ya....I always cringe when I see people spray tire dressing on, especially when they are outdoors! That stuff carries so far it`s not even funny!

I actually had a car I did for a client go in for repair about 2 weeks after I finished it and they marred the heck out of the paint. I wiped the whole car down myself multiple times but they still went over it themselves too. If the car had been coated I would have been pissed! >

LOL...Who said BFWD wasn`t durable?!? To remove it I did a foam wash with OPC/CGCW, IPA wipe-down, 3 wipe-downs with a Dupli-Color wax and grease remover, and an Eraser wipe down! It was still beading!!!

**solekeeper** · 11-02-2012, 02:14 PM

they said they didn`t get paid enough? wow.

For the dirt in the paint, it could be sanded down and polished. You will however lose orange peel.

There is no fix for the fish-eyes, except a repaint.

**purplenurple** · 11-02-2012, 10:49 PM

I picked the shop based on 3rd party reviews.

I actually e-mailed them the pictures (with some unintentional passive-aggressiveness) and they called me and told me to bring it in. They said that this is the only car where they`ve had an issue. He said that they have "different levels" and should have gone with a higher level job for a customer as particular as myself.

I`ll take it to them, but I think that I am beyond having it sit there and be repainted again (since interior and lots of trim has to come off) and risk it being worse. As far as orange peel, there is already a noticeable difference (to me) between the original panels and their painted panels. I assume that this is from where they tried to sand out the pits when I took it back the first 2 times.

They are adamant about not ducking the problem and offering to fix it. I guess that I`ll have to decide if I want to drop it off with them again. Since it will be 3 months post-paint, I was actually looking forward to the giving the whole car a full polish and seal.

Thanks to all for the suggestions and insight.