Nothing like spending $46,000 on a car and having the clearcoat peel off 5 years later



I know ****ty pic, its dark out and way close and the car is dirty but you get the idea, see the off color spot in the middle, its a quarter size area on the back bumper that the clearcoat peeled off, just like any other crap GM product of course...



I'll have the get the back end repainted next year, unless theres a way to get that fixed?

 

mine is doing the EXACT same thing in the EXACT same place... there is actually a recall by GM but they are REALLY finicky to do it unless you have some friends at the dealership...

 

You may want to post this over in the car care section and see what response you get. Serveral professional detailers there and they may be able to give you some suggestions. Good luck.

 

Interesting - my '98 didn't do that, nor did my '98 Blazer...both with crappy GM paint jobs. In fact I have never had any GM car do that. Couldn't have anything at all to do with the way the paint was maintained, could it? I see a lot of swirl marks and a lot of built up wax residue around the emblem - but you're right, it has to be the crappy GM paint.

I would just get rid of that piece of crap and buy something that you'll be happy with.... good luck with your next car.

 

 

Wow what a friendly place, I post something like this, a problem I have seen on multiple GM cars both that I have owned and many other people in my area have. What do I get, a sarcastic response and a heckler adding to it, from a friendly "senior lifetime member".

If you read my post you would see as i said the car is dirty, the car is also outside in the elements and 5 years old, do you expect it to shine the way it came out of the dealer? Nope. But there are plenty of OTHER brands of cars that wont have their clearcoat start to peel off if they are well maintained. But of course you can pass judgement on how I maintain MY cars by one crappy picture of a corner of my car when its dirty. Yes there is some wax buildup there, I haven't had this car for an extremely long time, and I have had a busy summer so I havent had the chance to do a fine detail job on it. I have waxed it to protect the paint because I see that as important to prevent crap like this from happening, better a quick wax job than no wax job.

Ever hear the saying if you don't have something nice to say....... I expeceted better from this place but I guess I was wrong....

 

"just like any other crap GM product of course..."
Maybe that quote from your post irritated him.

 

:o ouch

 

Having paint peel like that does suck. If this has happened on more than one GM car you have owned, I'd be very disappointed with that kind of quality. Not sure where you live, but could the environment be the culprit? My car is over six years old and the paint looks like new - of course it is always garaged too.

 

Peeling paint used to be a GM problem in the late 80s and early 90s. I haven't seen any late models do that though. My 86 Vette had the clear coat peel and the same thing happened to my wife's 88 Grand AM.
The Vette didn't start peeling until the car was over 5 years old but the Grand Am was covered under a GM paint warranty. Although the paint peeled on the Vette it was still one of the best cars I have ever owned and stood head and heels above its competition at the time (Porsche's, 350's, RX7s, etc).
Bill

 

Where is your paint peeling, the front fascia and hood? The previous owner may have instaled a clear bra. That may be what is pealing. I have a friend, CF member JB666 who removed the clear bra and the hood and front fascia looks like brand new. I'll ask him to chime in here.

BTW, you may get better responses to your post if you just post the facts and don't insult the Corvette and all GM products. Just a thought.

 

Since you haven't owned the car since day one, the rear bumper may have been repainted already. Check for the infamous orange peel on the rear compared to the rest of the car. May have been a poorly done repaint?

 

Thanks for the responses. I do live in NY so it could be the environment. I have owned a 94 Camaro that had peel on the roof bar, a 99 Trans Am that had similar (albet smaller). Ive owned various thirdgens that had that problem too. I even owned an 89 Turbo Trans Am that was garaged that had that issue! My mother had a 92 Olds Achieva with that issue, and my first car, 89 Cavalier as well. The 89 Cavalier and 92 Achieva were purchased new and well taken care of by my father.

This vette started its life in Florida, I bought it from a CF member earlier this year who lives in Jersey but had it for less than a year.

Cozmo, Ive seen that but you can feel that this is not it. I have found the back pasenger quarter was definitely re-shot but the rest of the car looks original. Im not a bodyman, but I am 95% sure.

I guess my mistake was to assume that the Corvette was possibly built to a higher standard than a Cavalier. I have had good GM products (such as my 91 Firebird that had 190k miles on the original engine/tranny/rearend before meeting an untimely demise by some jerk in a jeep who decided red lights do not apply to them, or my 86 Regal which had 220k on the original everything and is still going strong with its new owner), and I have had bad ones (87 IROC that fell apart, 89 Turbo Trans Am (fast as hell, broke every week, 24k original miles, I loved it anyway)).

I should not have grouped all GM products together it was just a product of frustration. I just expected better for the cost of the car, someone else on this forum replied with the same issue, and if it wasnt something I saw on other cars before I wouldnt have made such a big deal, but it bothers me that a problem I had on a $10k GM product is now showing up on a nearly $50k GM product. I still love my vette and wouldnt trade it for anything.

 

Just had my 99 GMC crew cab dually down to the dealership the other day for a similar problem. Truck has allways been well maintained and cared for, 75K miles, paint is peeling off all over the passenger side. Never in an accident or had any body or paint work. Spoke with a rep in Detriot, started a claim, presented the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and photos, currently waiting for a decision. Primer appears to be holding well, paint is not sticking to the primer, every time I wash the truck I loose more paint.

 

My only comment on the GM paint job on my 03 Coupe (and many other Vettes) is "the paint itself is in good condition but because of the orange peel result it looks like the car has cellulite.

 

What is your source of information for this statement (recall)?

Recalls are issued for safety defects and are public records via the NHTSA.

Are you SURE there is a GM recall for this?

 

He may not mean a recall but rather a TSB:

Body - Rust Colored Spots in Paint

Bulletin No.: 05-08-51-008

Date: November 22, 2005

TECHNICAL

Subject:
Bumps or Rust Colored Spots in Paint Due to Rail or Iron Dust (Remove Rail Dust)

Models:
1994-2006 GM Passenger Cars and Trucks
2003-2006 HUMMER H2
2006 HUMMER H3
2005-2006 Saab 9-7X

Supercede:

This bulletin is being revised to change model year usage. This bulletin cancels and supersedes Corporate Bulletin Number 43-17-01B. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 43-17-01B (Section 08 - Body and Accessories).

Condition

Visible rust colored spots or bumps on a vehicle's paint surface from rail or iron dust.

Cause

Rail dust comes from tiny iron particles produced from the friction between train wheels and the tracks and gets deposited on the vehicle surfaces. Iron dust can get deposited on the surface if the vehicle is stored near any operation producing iron dust such as a steel ore yard. Either material can lay on top of, or become embedded in, the paint surface.

Correction

Because the severity of the condition varies, proper diagnosis of the damage is critical to the success of repairs. Diagnosis should be performed on horizontal surfaces (hood, roof, deck lid, pick up box, etc.) after the vehicle has been properly cleaned. There are two types of repair materials recommended to repair rail dust or iron dust:

1. GEL TYPE OXALIC ACID:

- Has the characteristics of the liquid type oxalic acid but stays where you put it because of its gel consistency.


2. CLAY TYPE NON-ACID BASED:

- Requires surface lubricant during use.

- Has different grades available.

Caution: Rail dust remover (Oxalic Acid) is an acidic substance containing chemicals that will break down the iron particles embedded in the finish. When working with rail dust remover, use the necessary safety equipment, including gloves and goggles. Follow the chemical manufacturer's directions closely because it may require special handling and disposal.

If, upon inspection, some particles are still present, the various chemical manufacturer's processes can be repeated. After the removal process, small pits may remain in the clearcoat and can be corrected, in most cases, with a finesse/polish operation.


Procedure

1. Move the vehicle to a cool shaded area and make sure that the vehicle surfaces are cool during the removal process. DO NOT PERFORM THE REMOVAL PROCESS IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT OR ON A VEHICLE WITH HOT OR WARM BODY PANELS.

2. Wash the vehicle with soap and water. Dry it immediately and clean the affected areas with a wax and grease remover.

3. Perform the removal process according to the chemical manufacturer's directions.

Once the damage has been repaired, the final step involves a polishing process.

 

I'd say I lucked out with my findings.. All of my "chips" and "bubbles" were in the film.. I've heard of a lot of people having this same problem, though..

 

dude... dont bother with some of the jerks on here.. you gotta remember this is a "corvette" club.. half these guys dont know anything and have a whopping 100 miles on their cars. they dont enjoy them, they dont cruise them, they let them sit in a maintained garage and collect dust...

GM does have a VERY large problem with this time of thing... it is the way the polymers or some garbage in their paint bonds with each other. two of the ingredients dont mix so well and create moisture underneath the paint and voila: creates "bubbles" which is 100% unavoidable no matter how much you wash it or how little.

there is a very large discussion on LS1tech about this... as well as a class action lawsuit going on. there is also a TSB or whatever its called that if you find a reputable good dealership they will fix it free of charge 1 time.

dont sweat some of the members on here... to them its sacreligious for me to have even touched my engine.. let alone put in an iron block stroker and race the hell out of her. thats what these cars were built for and i will enjoy mine in any way i see fit. i dont see the fun in buying something just to let it sit. i drive mine EVERY single day.

 

Thanks I appreciate it, I will have to look into that. I drive the wheels off my car, I autocross it, I enjoy it. It has almost 70k miles on it cause I take it everywhere every day. Thats why I bought it and thats why GM made it. Whats the point if you cant have fun?