Did I go through the clear coat?

**sunike32** · 07-04-2009, 09:09 AM

Recently purchased a PC7424XP, Menzerna IP, 2 orange, 2 white, and 2 gray 4" pads. I bought some Zaino at the start of the season, so that will be used after the IP.

I`m just a beginner, but even though I`ve been doing detailing on the vehicle for the passed two or three years by hand, the paint is in real good shape. No where were there actual swirl marks; they were more the remains of what was a swirl mark after correction by hand. Because of this I chose to use the IP and a white pad.

First time using a PC...it`s going very well and I`m getting nice results. One spot has be wondering though. The vehicle is a 1999 Dodge Dakota R/T with intense blue (PB3) paint. Almost all panels have been repainted, but this spot is on the passenger door which has NOT been repainted, so it`s factory clear. I was working a little more on this spot to remove a decent scratch. To me it looks like I just barely started to go through the clear coat. The spot is slightly lighter in color, and it feels "dull" and not smooth as glass (like the rest of the vehicle).

Any ideas? Will Zaino cover it up some until I have the door repainted (there are a couple other dings on the door). I would imagine masking, scuffing, shooting with rattle can clear, removing mask and wet sanding the edges is a bad idea?

Thanks for the help.

**gmblack3** · 07-04-2009, 09:49 AM

It does look like there is something going on with the paint on that spot. It would be just about impossible to burn thru a factory clear with a PC, IP and a white pad. Can you take some pics with the flash of your camera in the garage?

**sunike32** · 07-04-2009, 10:22 AM

These pictures are still from outside...actually doing the detail outside. One car garage has too much stuff in the way...

I used a piece of project board to block some sun light. In the second picture it looks like the mark is at the bottom left of the camera reflection.

**Accumulator** · 07-04-2009, 11:27 AM

sunike32- Welcome to Autopia!

Unfortunately that does appear to be CC damage. I bet it was just a thin spot and your not-too-aggressive approach *was* in fact too much for it.

IMO (and IME as I`ve done stuff like that before myself), nothing will really hide it and you oughta lust live with it until you get the paintwork done.

And no, I don`t think you`d like the result if you were to rattle-can it

**yo2tup** · 07-04-2009, 12:10 PM

since that part is factory paint, are you sure it wasn`t there before you polished? I think those 1999 Dakota`s are prone to clear coat failure. A buddy of mine has one and the clear coat is failing everywhere....turning white and peeling off. I`ve seen a few on the road with the same thing.

**David Fermani** · 07-04-2009, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by sunike32

The vehicle is a 1999 Dodge Dakota R/T with intense blue (PB3) paint. Almost all panels have been repainted, but this spot is on the passenger door which has NOT been repainted, so it`s factory clear.

I don`t know too many shops that will paint almost every panel except 1? Especially a major panel like a door. Unless you`ve taken some paint readings I`d assume that the shop did atleast clear this panel. When they prepped it for paint, they probably removed too much paint and didn`t cover it with enough during the refinishing. Just playing devil;s advocate.......:sosad

**sunike32** · 07-04-2009, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by yo2tup

since that part is factory paint, are you sure it wasn`t there before you polished? I think those 1999 Dakota`s are prone to clear coat failure. A buddy of mine has one and the clear coat is failing everywhere....turning white and peeling off. I`ve seen a few on the road with the same thing.

It`s a show truck...I`m about 99% sure it wasn`t there before polishing. I know just about every single nick there is on it. There was a scratch right near where that spot is now that I was working on, so I`m sure it is something I cause. You`re right though, a LOT of Dakotas suffer from clear coat peel. It seems to happen with the darker colors...black, deep amethyst (purple) being the top two I`ve seen. And in those cases it normally starts on the roof, bed rails and hood.

**sunike32** · 07-04-2009, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by David Fermani

I don`t know too many shops that will paint almost every panel except 1? Especially a major panel like a door. Unless you`ve taken some paint readings I`d assume that the shop did atleast clear this panel. When they prepped it for paint, they probably removed too much paint and didn`t cover it with enough during the refinishing. Just playing devil;s advocate.......:sosad

You`re right, I don`t know any single shop that will paint all but one panel either. But, that`s not the case here. I had the bed and tail gate painted at at the same time. The roll pan, bumper cover, grill shell, mirrors, and handles have all been painted. After market hood and wiper cowl have also been repainted. That leaves the doors and cab with factory paint :2thumbs:

Think it was user error on my part. I think I was being real non-aggressive with my pad choice, but maybe as luck would have it that was just a thin spot from the factory

**Flashtime** · 07-04-2009, 06:10 PM

Looks like cc damage to me as well. The door needs to be repaired and refinished professionally.

You`re looking at $500+ for the job and 2 - 3 days. The more you pay, the better

your odds of having it done "right." Good luck!