doomtoo

My paint job seems to be getting worse.... There has always been these tiny little scratches in the clear coat, but now there are kind of "spots" on the paint. They're very dim, but they're getting more noticable. Like a water soaked spot, but like it the middle of the hood/trunk/top.
What could I use to breathe new life into the paint job? It's not that bad, but it seems to be getting worse even with weekly hand done washings and usually weekly waxing.

And I HAVE to keep it outside in the arizona sun all day as well, my mom has the garage filled with crud. Whats a guy to do?
I heard or a "clay bar", but am not sure exactly what it does, and have never seen it anywhere...

AscendantMax

iTrader: (7)

http://waxdepot.safeshopper.com/80/552.htm?392

it's just this clump of clay or whatever material that removes a lot (if not all) the contaminents on the surface of the paint. you spray this liquid on the surface and u drag that claybar across it. My friend did it to his car with this kit they have and his car is like show room condition.

male

I can attest to claybar..my buddy used it on his black civic and it looked great when he was done. The paint had that wet look. Give it a shot, just be sure you have a whole day to do it because it is the kind of thing you have to take your timie with, not to mention you MUST wax it after the bar, as the bar strips everything off the paint, including old wax. If you don't, the paint will get real nasty real quick.

N34JZ

iTrader: (1)

if the hood has never been repaired then I dont know what it would be but the way you described it sounds like those "spots" is where the bondo on the hood is absorbing the paint, pretty common for parts that have had alot of work done to them.

lowmax4

do you park the car under a tree or anything like that? my car is white and sometimes I have to park it under a cherry tree and it stains it real bad it's a pain in the butt to get the spotts out, I used turtle was rubbing compund and it did an ok job.

maxedout94

i know exactly what your talking about, my car had these very noticible small spots on the hood, but nowhere else, i just got a new paint job

doomtoo

No, it's never been bondo'd that I know of, and it's not under a tree(although it'd be cool to have a cherry tree, thats beside the point..), but yeh, I'll see about that turtle wax rubbing compound. But do you guys know of any local place that would have the clay bar?

lowmax4

I don't know if auto zone sells those or not you could check a detail shop see where they get em

medic

DON'T use turtle wax rubbing compound. Work up in the agressiveness of the products you use. Rubbing compound is harsh stuff and TW isn't really known for great quality stuff.

Get a clay bar from auto zone. It's like $15 for a bar and the spray lube - they sell clay magic which is a good brand. You can also get Mother's clay at walmart or pep boys. For directions on how to use a clay bar, check out:
Autopia Clay bar info

shvelle

Can you explain the spots in more detail? Has the car ever been repainted?
I ask because factory clearcoats were notorious for loosing their adhesion to the base coat, and basically flaking off.

Dark Lord Bunny

iTrader: (5)

Your problem is very simple and its the same one I have as well. Leaving your car outside in high desert heat is causing the paint to bake and oxidize. You can try that clay bar stuff, but unless you find a way to get your car some shade as much as possible, you'll be doing it for forever and a day and a half. Sucks...