Clearcoat damaged. Can I fix this myself?

[stillriza]

Hi guys,

I got sideswiped this morning on my way to work. I didnt have my glasses on so i couldnt get plates and i couldnt follow. Anyone who drives down bloor at yonge in the mornings knows how bad the traffic is. It was a GMC ..white cube van.

Anyway... it was mostly the plastic part of the bumper that grazed my side and I managed to get it all out except this one big gash before the headlight. I chiped away the edges as much as i can ..and the gash is ruffly 2 times the size of the ram air sign that used to b there..so its big.

I clayed and washed and tryd some polish and wax but it didnt really help. Examining it..the paint is fine. It looks like it's just the clear coat.
Can this be fixed bymyself? I dont have a PC or rotary tool, can this be done by hand? How much would a shop fix this for?

Any help is appreciated..

pics below.

p.s only the pics that i marked are important.. the others r just there for me to whore up this thread.:attention

[stillriza]

the whoring part.

[williamGT]

try waxing it.....Or talk to coupe about it, he's awsome with car detailing

[Elderas]

if you have a variable speed random orbital polisher (and i say polisher not buffer) then you should be able to do it yourself. Ofcourse if you have one of those then you probably know how to do it.

so you can either: pay to get it fixed at a detail shop
or buy a porter cable (which is the polisher) and learn to do it yourself for future occurences.

i dont know as much as others on this board so either shoot coupe a PM or wait for a bit, he pretty much looks at everything in this section if im not mistaken

[coupe]

To be completely honest i cant tell what im lookin at lol
It looks like paint burn but it cant be that.

What kind of polish did you use?
Can you *feel* this mark with your finger nail or finger?

[Metallman56]

it looks like a really rough spot

[coupe]

It does look rough, im curious if it can be felt.

[Ajaxus]

...you have a red x on your car, felt you should know...







:D

[stillriza]

The red X..makes my car go faster :amraam: i get like 100hp more. and my car is ford contour fast!

Ya, it can be felt. I am pretty sure it is the clearcoat.

It's a dull silver where the gash is and around it where the clear coat is the colour is more vibrant and glossy. If you feel the gash it's smooth with no damage to the paint. I used wax and polish but it didnt do anything. It sorta looks like its flaking and getting bigger a bit..but the wax i used stopped that. You notice in the pics, the car shines in the surrounding area but the gash is dull.


Claybar got rid of the mess that was around the area.
Used Meguiar's Step 2 Polish and Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax by hand.

i will try and snap a bigger big if that helps.

[Nina]

Ok here's what you do: Buy a new car!lol

[boost21]

shotty job removing the ram air emblems?

[stillriza]

I never had ram air emblems, or grandamgt emblems on my door either for that matter. 2 people asked me earlier.

I have seen people with ram air, raim airv6, ram airv6HO.. i only had the grandamgt on my trunk.

this is a little over 2 times the size of an emblem, thnx though.
I was reading some on clearcoats, apparntly I can purchase this myself and apply. Anyone done this?

[Metallman56]

no, but that was what i was thinking. i'm kinda waitin for Coupe to respond though, i dont want to tell you something, and you mess it up more then it already was, due to my bd info.

[stillriza]

I will wait.. I will also need to pick up some paint for the marks at the bottom of the front fender, I didnt realise that till today. Paint is gone so bad there it's showing the black plastic..

mite as well get both at once.

[Metallman56]

its amazing how much you notice when you claybar/wax/detail. makes you feel like you need a new paint job. :(

[stillriza]

^^

LOL! Soo true!

[coupe]

The red X..makes my car go faster :amraam: i get like 100hp more. and my car is ford contour fast!

Ya, it can be felt. I am pretty sure it is the clearcoat.

It's a dull silver where the gash is and around it where the clear coat is the colour is more vibrant and glossy. If you feel the gash it's smooth with no damage to the paint. I used wax and polish but it didnt do anything. It sorta looks like its flaking and getting bigger a bit..but the wax i used stopped that. You notice in the pics, the car shines in the surrounding area but the gash is dull.


Claybar got rid of the mess that was around the area.
Used Meguiar's Step 2 Polish and Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax by hand.

i will try and snap a bigger big if that helps.


Is this mark raised? Like is it higher than the surounding clear coat or is it lower?

First thing i would do is get yourself some laquire thinner/100% mineral spirits, pour some on a terry cloth or a microfiber towel. Rub the area good, keep the towel saturated with the laquire thinner/100% mineral spirits. If that dont work let me know and we can take the next step. As long as it isnt missing clear coat we can fix it. Wish i was there to see it/feel it, hard to diagnose something like this over the net.

[coupe]

was reading some on clearcoats, apparntly I can purchase this myself and apply. Anyone done this?


Dont do that, it wont work.

[coupe]

its amazing how much you notice when you claybar/wax/detail. makes you feel like you need a new paint job. :(


Maybe you guys do :amraam:







:angel

[stillriza]

Is this mark raised? Like is it higher than the surounding clear coat or is it lower?



it's lower than the surrounding clear coat..

if u scratch it, then your scratching paint..

does this mean i am screwed?

[stillriza]

Wish i was there to see it/feel it, hard to diagnose something like this over the net.

wish you were there too, then i'd pay you to fix it

[coupe]

it's lower than the surrounding clear coat..

if u scratch it, then your scratching paint..

does this mean i am screwed?

Unfortunately yes your screwed, you will have to have that fender repainted to fix it.

wish you were there too, then i'd pay you to fix it

If the clear coat is gone there isnt anything i could do anyways, sorry

[GrandAmGT1996]

Would a spray can of clear coat fix it? Just spray over that area, at least to protect whats already damaged?

[coupe]

Would a spray can of clear coat fix it? Just spray over that area, at least to protect whats already damaged?


No


Well, if it where me this is what i would do.

Tape off a section about 5" all around the affected area (of course 3m painters tape).

Cover the rest of the car with news paper.

*try* to spray a uniform layer of clear over the taped off area, extra layers if needed to fill the void.

Once level and cured for a day i would wet sand with 1000-1500-2000-2500-3000.
Then
Wool light cut pad + Optimum Hyper compound 2000-2500rpm
polishing pad foam+ Optimum compound 1500rpm
polishing pad foam+ Optimum polish 1000rpm
Finishing pad foam+PC and megs #82.


Would that work?
I dunno. Worth a try if you have money in the bank for a repaint and that was the plan anyways. If it dont work no biggie it was in the plans, if it does work great you can save your repaint money.


Disclaimer: This is not for newbs, if you try this and you royaly phock up its on you.

[Metallman56]

Maybe you guys do :amraam:







:angel

lol, shut up Rand!

[stillriza]

No


Well, if it where me this is what i would do.

Tape off a section about 5" all around the affected area (of course 3m painters tape).

Cover the rest of the car with news paper.

*try* to spray a uniform layer of clear over the taped off area, extra layers if needed to fill the void.

Once level and cured for a day i would wet sand with 1000-1500-2000-2500-3000.
Then
Wool light cut pad + Optimum Hyper compound 2000-2500rpm
polishing pad foam+ Optimum compound 1500rpm
polishing pad foam+ Optimum polish 1000rpm
Finishing pad foam+PC and megs #82.


Would that work?
I dunno. Worth a try if you have money in the bank for a repaint and that was the plan anyways. If it dont work no biggie it was in the plans, if it does work great you can save your repaint money.


Disclaimer: This is not for newbs, if you try this and you royaly phock up its on you.


Well, I mite grab a bottle of clera coat and put a dab on and see what it does. I do have some automotive sand paper, diff grits but not sure if I have those. I will post a pic if it works, and get qoutes while im at it.

For the time being, since i waxed it..it should be ok right..in terms of protecting the paint?

If i have to get the fender painted..i will just wait till i get the lip spoiler and paint that all at once as well.

[coupe]

Good luck and take your time.

[stillriza]

Thanks for all the help so far.