Clear coat bubbling off

[RC]

My car is a 97 Honda Accord, silver in color. The clear coat is bubbling off in a few places. I thought I would try some polishing compound but that did nothing. Anything I can do to help this paint look any better?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Clear coat bubbling off

No! What you have is an incompatability of a water based color coat and petroleum based clear coat. You've heard that oil and water do not mix? All brought to you by environmental concerns. I guess they'd say it's a small price to pay.

I'm really surprised that automotive paints are as good as they are today. They probably have improved since 1997.

 

[RC]

Re: Clear coat bubbling off

Yes Boomyall I know it's shocking :^

Attached are a couple of pictures. Short of repainting, can I make this better?

 

[DJ]

Re: Clear coat bubbling off

Actually, that is a primer issue.

The color coat is supposed to contain a UV protectant. Without it, or not enough, the sun actually goes through the color coat and sunburns the primer. Once that happens, the color and clear coats can no longer adhere.

You'll notice that it is only on the horizontal surfaces.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Clear coat bubbling off

RC, if you'd send more of your sun up here to the PNW, your car would not get so sunburned.

Nothing you can do but sand it down, use hit it with an epoxy primer, then the sealer/primer, basecoat then clearcoat.

They are kind of fun to do yourself if you have the hankering.