I've got an '01 Icelandic Pearl, and I was about to Zaino the beast today when I noticed these little black spots peppering the upper surfaces. If I use a fingernail I can rub away most of the spot, so I'm sure whatever it is, it isn't a paint defect (yet). Since Zaino isn't an abrasive which product do I use to remove them?

If it helps with determining what the spots are, I live in Knoxville TN, and the car was shipped in from Salem NC.

 

It could be the adhesive left over that was used to hold those white plastic sheets that cover the hood, roof, and trunk when the car is shipped. I had a few of those black marks when I got the car. A good wax took care of all of them though.

 

We have them too, I don't think it's something to be worried about...all our white cars have had the same thing. Using claybars takes them out.

 

I have been told from my dealer (so this may be total bull****) that it is from brake dust. You will find it on every exposed peice of paint (inside the door sils on the outside of the seals, on the back face of the trunk, it's very disconcerting.

 

I also have a 2001 Maxima- same color- my car has chips in the clear coat all over-hood,trunk, roof, door. Nissan says it is not under warranty, but "contamination". There are hundreds, I am sure, of these problems that people assume it normal wear- my car is 6 months old and I am fighting with Nissan. Log on to NissanPaint.com.

 

there is an article, i think its on the detailing section of Avalons web page, that says the black dots are from the tire shine. do you use tire shine? I found them on the sides of my car only and they did not come back when I stopped using the tire shine..

 

The tire shine mainly gets greyish spots around the wheels and lower body area i think. That's what happened to me anyway. It doesn't make little spots that look like pepper, or those vanilla beans in Breyers ice cream all over the car.

 

Tire shine does BOTH!!


taken from: http://www.avalonracing.net/tirewheelsI.htm
Question:

I am seeing discoloring spots and staining on the lower portion of the body of the car. What is it?

Answer:

The most likely answer as to what is causing these stains is tire dressing. Not all tire dressings, but one particular type - High petroleum solvent containing dimethal silicones and an emulsifier. This is the type which provides a "wet", greasy finish to the tire. The components of these tire dressings break down the rubber components of the tire. The turning of the wheel will sling or deposit these residues on the body of the car. The silicone and other residual components then enter the pores of the paint and cause permanent stains, which normally can not be removed. A good body shop is the only corrective measure. To eliminate a future staining, switch to a water based polymer or poldimethysiloxane dressing. Some of these may contain a small percentage of petroleum distillate, but not enough to effect the composition of the tire.



But there is only one way to find out!!!

Clean them "beans" off your car and clean the tire shine off.

Then if they don't return you know its the tire shine!!

 

I haven't used the shine for 6 weeks...still getting the vanilla beans on the hood, roof, trunklid, etc. Not too noticable tho..

 

I went out and bought a Meguiar's Quick Clay kit, $10 at Auto Zone. The stuff seems to work great! Took the black spots off (haven't done them all yet), and left the paint smooooth. Now this weekend I can Zaino like mad!

 

I was told not to use anything on my car-the circles that I have are actual "holes" in the finish- very tiny, also some blistered marks - a body shop that used to do all Nissan work was told when asked why he hasn't been getting much work that " we hope complaints will go away if we ignore them long enough". That was enough to get me going on this endeavor. Supposedly someone from Nissan is going to look at my car next week. I believe a class action should be started since there are so many people with paint problems and yet the car is rated so high.

 

Bert, I got the same explanation from Ziebart. I didn't really have notice the spots until I took my car to Ziebart for an underbody quote and the guy told me they could take it out for some $$$.

The guy there told me the black spots (you can loosen it with your fingernail, careful not to scratch the clearcoat) were brake dust that adhered to the paint. I've got a 95 Pearl White and it's quite obvious.

You can wax it off.
I use a random-orbital electric buffer and come caranuba liquid wax. I usually wax it, if it's stubborn, I carefully 'loosen' it with a fingernail, and wax until it comes off.

Looks great after that ... not a spot in sight (but sure takes time)!!!

Just my 0.02