Paint Failing on the Hood

[RocsMerc]

73,000 miles and the clear coat on my hood is shot. Has anyone else experienced this? Is there anything I can do to help it other than respraying it? I tried rubbing compound after taking this picture. It helped with the swirl marks, but it did little for the white haze. I did my best to take pictures of it . The best way I found was to take a picture of my reflection in the paint. I also took a picture of my reflection in the trunk so I had a point to compare it to. It can't even be because of sun fade because the trunk gets the same amount of sun as the hood.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Hood_Angle.JPG

My reflection in the hood.
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/hood.JPG

Here is the picture of my reflection in the trunk to compare to.
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/trunk.JPG

[a_d_a_m]

Rubbing compound won't help you with that sort of problem, as far as the experiences I've had with rubbing compound on paint. That's more for scratches.

Turtle Wax Black Box might help ya. If not, you're only out $20.

[ImpalaSlayer]

Rubbing compound won't help you with that sort of problem, as far as the experiences I've had with rubbing compound on paint. That's more for scratches.

Turtle Wax Black Box might help ya. If not, you're only out $20.

that would only mask the problem if it worked which, if you dont mind doing it every few weeks would probably be fine. only true way to fix it is to re shoot the hood.

[a_d_a_m]

Exactly. Cheap fix for awhile.

[ImpalaSlayer]

definitely worth a try, prolly enough in that kit to do teh hood 10 times

[RocsMerc]

I already tried the "Black Box". It didn't do very much, and as ImpalaSlayer said, the little it did do was only temporary. I know the only way to fix it is to get it resprayed, but I'm trying to make it look a little better for Carlisle which is in a week. I'm not expecting a complete fix, I'm just looking for a way to make it look better than it does now. Do you think I should try a harsher rubbing compound or maybe apply the rubbing compound i have with a wheel? Will any amount of rubbing compound be able to cut through the haze, or does it not work that way?

[ImpalaSlayer]

just pop your hood at the show! problem fixed.

seriously though, i dont think you will be able to rub anything on it to fix it. you might be able to use a rotary buffer and some sort of heavy cutting pad and compound but if you dont know what your doing you will just make it worse.

[RocsMerc]

I have a friend that can use a rotary buffer. I think I'll just let him attack it. Worse case scenario, the paint on the hood gets ruined and I need to get it resprayed and I keep the hood open at the show to hide it. That's no different than what I'm faced with right now, so I got nothing to lose.

[ImpalaSlayer]

I have a friend that can use a rotary buffer. I think I'll just let him attack it. Worse case scenario, the paint on the hood gets ruined and I need to get it resprayed and I keep the hood open at the show to hide it. That's no different than what I'm faced with right now, so I got nothing to lose.

hit the nail on the head man. you got nuttin to loose at this point

[a_d_a_m]

That, or call a pro. detailer and see what it will cost to just have the hood re-done.

[Marylandrauder]

Got one estimate at the dealership in Gaithersburg, MD back two years ago: $400 to strip then paint.

[Serge]

You can try 3M rubbing compound. Might work for a short while.

[ImpalaSlayer]

Got one estimate at the dealership in Gaithersburg, MD back two years ago: $400 to strip then paint.

thats not bad at all

[Vortex]

Back in the days when I was in the Navy we had a haze grey AMC Matador wagon that had totally faded to look just like a primer paint job. Chief suggested I try that stuff in the orange bottle, Nu-Finish I think its called. Did the car and I swear it looked like I had given the thing a paint job, it really turned out good. They still sell that stuff at Wally World, might work and would be lots cheaper than a new paint job.

[Red91LX]

just pop your hood at the show! problem fixed.

seriously though, i dont think you will be able to rub anything on it to fix it. you might be able to use a rotary buffer and some sort of heavy cutting pad and compound but if you dont know what your doing you will just make it worse.

I agree...The shine comes from a thin layer of "clear coat" on top of the color coat (which is flat). Your hood appears to be heavily oxidized, but it's hard to tell for sure in the pictures. Do you know if it is the original paint?

If you rub through the clear, the gloss is gone forever. I would be careful about using an aggressive cutting compound unless you are fully experienced with the use of the proper polishing pads and the techniques of using them.

[Blackened300a]

I agree...The shine comes from a thin layer of "clear coat" on top of the color coat (which is flat). Your hood appears to be heavily oxidized, but it's hard to tell for sure in the pictures. Do you know if it is the original paint?

If you rub through the clear, the gloss is gone forever. I would be careful about using an aggressive cutting compound unless you are fully experienced with the use of the proper polishing pads and the techniques of using them.

I personally tried to bring the color back in the hood. I tried scratch remover and a light compound. It makes it look a little better but it comes back soon after. I would suggest a re-paint.

Your best bet is throwing a flag over the entire hood like the Puerto Ricans around here. :rolleyes:

[boatmangc]

Looks like clear coat failure to me, time to rob the piggy bank of about $400