Dull paint blotches

[kingofnothing26]

Hopefully this is the correct section to post this. If not, please be gentle! This is my 2nd post!!

Ever since I have owned my car, there were several areas of dull paint on the hood, the wing, and the pillars. The car is white so its somewhat hard to notice unless its in a certain angle of light shining on it. It almost looks like the idiotic previous owner might have stripped the clearcoat off somehow. Any have any tips or tricks to repair or even restore to a more acceptable shine???


I tried taking pictures but its very hard to see on camera...like I said, its gotta be in the right angle of light hitting the car...

[DanGTP]

Go to town with a buffer/polisher. Can you feel the dull areas? The clear coat may be fine and just need a good polishing.

[Dboy23]

Try posting it here.

Detailing Tips and Tricks - Pontiac Grand Prix Forums : Grandprix

[WhiteGT]

There is a spot on my door exactly like your describing. I have tried waxing it with no luck. My next try will be with a buffer. That won't be until spring though unfortunatlly... Lousy winter!

[kingofnothing26]

I, like WhiteGT, may have to wait till it gets warm again in the spring to really get a chance to buff it up hardcore. It was so warm and beautiful yesterday (70 degrees), but damn family obligations kept me from the task. Drats!

I can feel the dull areas but it feels more like its just not as smooth there as the surrounding paint. I imagine someone would have to really scratch the paint pretty hard to take off the clearcoat. And if they were scraping that hard, surely the base white paint would have come off a bit...

[Warhellride]

It sounds like it might be clearcoat failure. I started seeing this on my roof rails, and a little on my bumper. Clearcoat failure looks white and chalky, and feels rough to the touch. It may not show up as easily on a white car, and may just look like dull paint.

Here are some pictures, and more information:
The Clearcoat Failure Photo Archive - Car Care Forums: Meguiar's Online

Just to note... Clear Coat Failure is not a problem --> on <-- the paint, as in on the surface, but it is a deterioration or breakdown of the paint itself. By this we mean the damage is --> in <-- the paint, as in... throughout the matrix of the layer of paint.

This is why you can't apply a topical paint cleaner to clear coat failure and fix the problem.

Does that make sense?

The only honest repair for clearcoat failure is to repaint the affected area or the entire car.