weird spots on paint

370Fan2000 · 12-12-2011, 08:28 PM

Hi guys, has anyone of you experienced weird spots on the paint? They appear to be UNDER the clearcoat. I had seen the once before, then they went away. I washed the car after 2 weeks of not washing it (really weird for me) and these spots are there. What is even weirder is that only one side of the car seems to be affected. Any input? as I stated, they appear to be UNDER the clear coat.

Image

GaleForce · 12-13-2011, 08:56 AM

It looks like hard water spots to me. Can be a pain in the butt to remove. Maybe someone else with more detailing experience will chime in.

pedZ · 12-13-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaleForce

It looks like hard water spots to me. Can be a pain in the butt to remove. Maybe someone else with more detailing experience will chime in.

Yeah, that looks like hard water spots to me too. You could try using a water spot remover. Chemical Guys has one and I think Meguiar's does too.

370Fan2000 · 12-13-2011, 10:26 AM

I've detailed cars (not professionally) for so long and I had never seen something like this. Is it normal for them to appear UNDER the clear coat?

Also, please take a look at this other picture, the two panes shown here are the quarter panel and the lowest panel in the car, the one that runs from front to back below the door.

Image

pedZ · 12-13-2011, 10:55 AM

It would be very odd if they were under the clear coat. Maybe someone will chime in here if that has happened to them before but I would try the water spot remover or clay bar and polish.

370Fan2000 · 12-13-2011, 10:56 AM

I tried googling hard water spots but could not find one image that looked like this. All of them look like mineral deposits ON the paint. Can anyone point me to a reference of a pic that looks like these? Thanks for the help so far.

GaleForce · 12-13-2011, 11:57 AM

I've seen other guys with the same issue, only one side... etc. Turns out the side of their car that was affected was parked near an automatic lawn sprinkler system... very nasty water.

Anyhow, I would recommend trying what pedZ had said. Otherwise for peace of mind you could try a forum like Detailing Bliss and asking the people there.

LakeShow · 12-13-2011, 02:40 PM

Post some pics up so we can better understand the marks. I currently have an issue with my paint and it isn't water marks abd it's under the clear coat.

370Fan2000 · 12-13-2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakeShow

Post some pics up so we can better understand the marks. I currently have an issue with my paint and it isn't water marks abd it's under the clear coat.

Pics are up in the first few posts, I posted links to IMGUR since they were too big.

Cmike2780 · 12-13-2011, 02:59 PM

Have you tried or applied anything to try and remove it. I know for a fact, any crap that sits too long on the paint, like bird crap or even a wet leaf can etch the paint and leave a mark. I can usually polish it out though. I usually use Adam's polish, but I found really good results by using a clay bar, 3M's scratch remover followed by a fine polish, then applying a new coat of wax. Not really sure what your situtation is without seeing it in person, but I would at lease give the clay bar a shot. It might even be iron deposit, in which case you could give Aquartz Iron Cut a shot.

370Fan2000 · 12-13-2011, 03:27 PM

I'm gonna try to clay and polish as suggested and report back. It's weird because the car is thoroughly waxed. Also the cutoff on the panel is extremely odd.

370Fan2000 · 12-13-2011, 08:24 PM

I tried polishing and the stains didn't even fade. Any other ideas?

Cmike2780 · 12-13-2011, 08:47 PM

I would take it to the dealer. If might be a paint defect, especially since it's only on that panel and not the bumper.

LakeShow · 12-31-2011, 02:03 AM

Hey, did you resolve the issue or not yet?

bigaudiofanat · 12-31-2011, 08:23 AM

It looks like you have a clear coat separation. This happens where there is dirt on the paint surface before they put clear coat on.

I have 2 of them on my altima, much smaller than yours and in different places. But I have the same color as you do as well.

I would do one of two things. Go to your dealer and demand they take care of this ASAP.

Take care of it yourself and head to a body shop, like I am going to do.

12-12-2011, 08:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
370Fan2000 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: VA Posts: 115 Drives: 2010 370z Sport Rep Power: 14	weird spots on paint Hi guys, has anyone of you experienced weird spots on the paint? They appear to be UNDER the clearcoat. I had seen the once before, then they went away. I washed the car after 2 weeks of not washing it (really weird for me) and these spots are there. What is even weirder is that only one side of the car seems to be affected. Any input? as I stated, they appear to be UNDER the clear coat. Image

12-13-2011, 08:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
GaleForce A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 21,749 Drives: Varis Arising II Rep Power: 51865	It looks like hard water spots to me. Can be a pain in the butt to remove. Maybe someone else with more detailing experience will chime in. __________________ >>>GaleForce's Build<<< >>>FaceBook @3GsCustoms<<<>>>Instagram @GaleForce370z<<< Varis Kamikaze-Z

12-13-2011, 10:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
pedZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,366 Drives: 11 Tour/Spt/Nav/6MT Rep Power: 27	It would be very odd if they were under the clear coat. Maybe someone will chime in here if that has happened to them before but I would try the water spot remover or clay bar and polish. __________________ 2011 Brilliant Silver Touring/Sport/Nav/6MT --- Build Journal F.I. SS 18" CBE \| Takeda CAI \| Z1 25-Row Oil Cooler \| Swift Springs \| Hotchkis Sway Bars \| H&R 15mm DRS Spacers F&R \| RJM Clutch Pedal \| UpRev Tune

12-13-2011, 10:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
370Fan2000 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: VA Posts: 115 Drives: 2010 370z Sport Rep Power: 14	I tried googling hard water spots but could not find one image that looked like this. All of them look like mineral deposits ON the paint. Can anyone point me to a reference of a pic that looks like these? Thanks for the help so far. Last edited by 370Fan2000; 12-13-2011 at 11:01 AM.

12-13-2011, 11:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
GaleForce A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 21,749 Drives: Varis Arising II Rep Power: 51865	I've seen other guys with the same issue, only one side... etc. Turns out the side of their car that was affected was parked near an automatic lawn sprinkler system... very nasty water. Anyhow, I would recommend trying what pedZ had said. Otherwise for peace of mind you could try a forum like Detailing Bliss and asking the people there. __________________ >>>GaleForce's Build<<< >>>FaceBook @3GsCustoms<<<>>>Instagram @GaleForce370z<<< Varis Kamikaze-Z

12-13-2011, 10:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
370Fan2000 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: VA Posts: 115 Drives: 2010 370z Sport Rep Power: 14	I've detailed cars (not professionally) for so long and I had never seen something like this. Is it normal for them to appear UNDER the clear coat? Also, please take a look at this other picture, the two panes shown here are the quarter panel and the lowest panel in the car, the one that runs from front to back below the door. Image

12-13-2011, 02:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
LakeShow A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: L.I., NY Posts: 5,307 Drives: Everything Rep Power: 25	Post some pics up so we can better understand the marks. I currently have an issue with my paint and it isn't water marks abd it's under the clear coat. __________________ \|2013 Audi S4\|Ibis White/Black\|S-Tronic P+\| \|2013 370z\|PearlWhite/Persimmon\|Touring/Sport/Nav\|F.I. CBE 18" CF\| \|Sold\|2011 370z\|Gun Metallic\|Touring/Sport/Nav\|

12-13-2011, 02:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
Cmike2780 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 5,059 Drives: slowwww Rep Power: 29	Have you tried or applied anything to try and remove it. I know for a fact, any crap that sits too long on the paint, like bird crap or even a wet leaf can etch the paint and leave a mark. I can usually polish it out though. I usually use Adam's polish, but I found really good results by using a clay bar, 3M's scratch remover followed by a fine polish, then applying a new coat of wax. Not really sure what your situtation is without seeing it in person, but I would at lease give the clay bar a shot. It might even be iron deposit, in which case you could give Aquartz Iron Cut a shot. __________________ [09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R] [ArchitTEK Photography]

12-13-2011, 03:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
370Fan2000 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: VA Posts: 115 Drives: 2010 370z Sport Rep Power: 14	I'm gonna try to clay and polish as suggested and report back. It's weird because the car is thoroughly waxed. Also the cutoff on the panel is extremely odd.

12-13-2011, 08:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
370Fan2000 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: VA Posts: 115 Drives: 2010 370z Sport Rep Power: 14	I tried polishing and the stains didn't even fade. Any other ideas?

12-13-2011, 08:47 PM	#13 (permalink)
Cmike2780 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 5,059 Drives: slowwww Rep Power: 29	I would take it to the dealer. If might be a paint defect, especially since it's only on that panel and not the bumper. __________________ [09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R] [ArchitTEK Photography]

12-31-2011, 02:03 AM	#14 (permalink)
LakeShow A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: L.I., NY Posts: 5,307 Drives: Everything Rep Power: 25	Hey, did you resolve the issue or not yet? __________________ \|2013 Audi S4\|Ibis White/Black\|S-Tronic P+\| \|2013 370z\|PearlWhite/Persimmon\|Touring/Sport/Nav\|F.I. CBE 18" CF\| \|Sold\|2011 370z\|Gun Metallic\|Touring/Sport/Nav\|

12-31-2011, 08:23 AM	#15 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	It looks like you have a clear coat separation. This happens where there is dirt on the paint surface before they put clear coat on. I have 2 of them on my altima, much smaller than yours and in different places. But I have the same color as you do as well. I would do one of two things. Go to your dealer and demand they take care of this ASAP. Take care of it yourself and head to a body shop, like I am going to do. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

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