Paint Chip Repair Help

B

Boongie

Member
Hello: I have a 2017 Hyundai Elantra in Silver Metallic color. I just noticed some paint chips on the roof, just above the windshield. I have a small bottle of touch-up paint from a body shop that I used to repair a hood in the recent past. I know that I could just dab the touch-up paint on but not sure if I will get a repair that I will be satisfied with. Is there a product that can be recommended to use for the touch up that will give good results, especially condsidering the location of the chips? I am aware of Dr. Color Chip and Langka but have never used either of these.

Picture attached.

Thanks!
 

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Did you have the windshield replaced at some point? That doesn't really look like stone chips, it looks like it happened when someone pulled the trim/gasket. That's in a bad place for rusting, because the water may pool up there against the trim--and even worse if the chips extend under the trim.
 
Yes, the windshield was replaced twice. Two years ago and this week. I just noticed the chips today. So I don't know when they occurred Nor can I prove if the chips happened during either replacement. Can you suggest a remedy?
 
Well, I'll give you my opinion, since I too am never really satisfied with my paint-chip touchup. Griot's used to sell some little...microfiber?...paint applicators. It turns out that these are some sort of fake eyelash tools, that you can get from Amazon for a lot cheaper ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008FZZH2S?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1 ).

One of the key things is to make sure your touchup isn't too thick, so it doesn't get blobby, if it's thin you can build it up with a few coats to fill in the chip.

I think for long-term corrosion protection you're going to need to peel back that trim/gasket and make sure it's protected under there. Not sure how you are going to do that or how flexible it is.

Or you can complain to the windshield place that they chipped your paint and see what they will do about it. It seems to me it probably just happened now since you didn't notice it before. I imagine this happens, and they either have some fine print in the contract absolving them for any damage, or they have some standard way of dealing with claims like this. Presuming it's a big chain like SafeLite.
 
Touchup paint is an art, one that I haven't mastered yet even after, well probably three decades of messing around with it. I haven't used Dr. ColorChip though lots of people seem to like it, but I do like Langka. Honestly you can make your own Langka, its about 3/4 rubbing compound with 1/4 acetone (adjust to your tastes). With good prep and patience, you can make a repair that no one but you will notice. The nice thing about langka or acetone if you screw up, you can start back at square 1.

The key here is... you will always know where the chip is, get over it. Focus on results that don't make it look worse than the actual chip and all is well.
 
Boongie- Unfortunately, those do extend under the windshield's trim and are thus most likely a ticking timebomb with regard to future (potentially serious) corrosion. But the good news is that the chipping doesn't appear to have fully penetrated the E-coat so maybe you'll get lucky and do OK with touch ups. Sorry if that isn't too reassuring.

If you use the Dr. Colorchip stuff, FWIW I prefer to use it like a conventional (single-stage) touchup paint. I do not smear it all around, I apply it with a tiny brush (disposable touchup brushes are available online in different sizes) so there isn't a huge glob to smooth out.

For the cost, I'd just buy/use the Dr. ColorChip solvent or Langka rather than mixing up a DIY, but that' just me. As noted, those solvents can remove touchups that didn't turn out right, and they won't (or at least shouldn't!) mess with factory original paint.

I don't expect you do do this, but if it were mine, and I planned to keep it for a while, I'd take it to a bodyshop and have them pull the windshield and fix that area right before carefully reinstalling it. Yes, I'd spend the $ because I'd worry that it'd rust out if I didn't and then it would require that "proper fix" anyhow, but by then it'd be such a big issue that you'd probably just sell the car instead. Yes, it could very well prove that serious (I sold a Mazda over that exact problem).
 
Those paint chips look pretty new, and they were not done by rocks, etc., hitting the paint while driving... Tell the people that...
Find a really good, reputable, Body and Paint shop, and get an estimate in writing, to fix those chips...
Take it back to those people who last worked on your windshield, and have them cut you a check.. You immediately go to the bank, and deposit it, and see if it clears...
Then, take your vehicle back to that Body and Paint Shop and schedule to have this fixed correctly.
If you decide to do it yourself, the best touch up brush is sold at auto body and paint supply stores... It has the ability to come to a very fine bristle point, and I have used the same brush for decades to fix chips for people... The touch up paint sold does not hurt existing paint because it is some type of lacquer based paint...
After Cleaning those chips really well, You need to fill those chips in thin, repeat, thin, layers, letting each layer dry before adding another...
The repair may or may not adhere good enough, or look good enough to last forever, etc...
Or... Do whatever you want... :)
Stokdgs
 
Last edited:
Setec Astronomy said:
Well, I'll give you my opinion, since I too am never really satisfied with my paint-chip touchup. Griot's used to sell some little...microfiber?...paint applicators. It turns out that these are some sort of fake eyelash tools, that you can get from Amazon for a lot cheaper ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008FZZH2S?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1 ).

One of the key things is to make sure your touchup isn't too thick, so it doesn't get blobby, if it's thin you can build it up with a few coats to fill in the chip.

I think for long-term corrosion protection you're going to need to peel back that trim/gasket and make sure it's protected under there. Not sure how you are going to do that or how flexible it is.

Or you can complain to the windshield place that they chipped your paint and see what they will do about it. It seems to me it probably just happened now since you didn't notice it before. I imagine this happens, and they either have some fine print in the contract absolving them for any damage, or they have some standard way of dealing with claims like this. Presuming it's a big chain like SafeLite.
Click to expand...
I did peel back the trim by hand. I can reach the chips underneath. Not sure of a good way to keep the trim back while any touchup paint dries. Perhaps with a small piece of wood on either side of the chips. I can post a picture of the chip area with the trim peeled back on Monday.
 
Accumulator said:
Boongie- Unfortunately, those do extend under the windshield's trim and are thus most likely a ticking timebomb with regard to future (potentially serious) corrosion. But the good news is that the chipping doesn't appear to have fully penetrated the E-coat so maybe you'll get lucky and do OK with touch ups. Sorry if that isn't too reassuring.

If you use the Dr. Colorchip stuff, FWIW I prefer to use it like a conventional (single-stage) touchup paint. I do not smear it all around, I apply it with a tiny brush (disposable touchup brushes are available online in different sizes) so there isn't a huge glob to smooth out.

For the cost, I'd just buy/use the Dr. ColorChip solvent or Langka rather than mixing up a DIY, but that' just me. As noted, those solvents can remove touchups that didn't turn out right, and they won't (or at least shouldn't!) mess with factory original paint.

I don't expect you do do this, but if it were mine, and I planned to keep it for a while, I'd take it to a bodyshop and have them pull the windshield and fix that area right before carefully reinstalling it. Yes, I'd spend the $ because I'd worry that it'd rust out if I didn't and then it would require that "proper fix" anyhow, but by then it'd be such a big issue that you'd probably just sell the car instead. Yes, it could very well prove that serious (I sold a Mazda over that exact problem).
Click to expand...
I am going to take the car to my local bodyshop on this coming Monday, where I have had other work done before, to take a look at these chips. And also to give me their opinion as to if they think the chips were caused by the windshield replacement. And to see about use of touchup paint on the chips. I also have an appointment to take the vehicle back to the glass replacement shop later the same day and see if I can get anywhere with them, especially after having been to the body shop prior for their opinion. The glass replacement shop is a national one that advertises heavily.
 
Stokdgs said:
Those paint chips look pretty new, and they were not done by rocks, etc., hitting the paint while driving... Tell the people that...
Find a really good, reputable, Body and Paint shop, and get an estimate in writing, to fix those chips...
Take it back to those people who last worked on your windshield, and have them cut you a check.. You immediately go to the bank, and deposit it, and see if it clears...
Then, take your vehicle back to that Body and Paint Shop and schedule to have this fixed correctly.
If you decide to do it yourself, the best touch up brush is sold at auto body and paint supply stores... It has the ability to come to a very fine bristle point, and I have used the same brush for decades to fix chips for people... The touch up paint sold does not hurt existing paint because it is some type of lacquer based paint...
After Cleaning those chips really well, You need to fill those chips in thin, repeat, thin, layers, letting each layer dry before adding another...
The repair may or may not adhere good enough, or look good enough to last forever, etc...
Or... Do whatever you want... :)
Stokdgs
Click to expand...
Yep, going to my body shop on Monday that has done fine work in the past. Getting their opinion on the cause of the chips and the method to repair. Then headed to the glass replacement shop.
 
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