buzzardsluck

YES, I tried a search but saw nothing that answered my question.

I noticed that on my left front fender the clear coat was "bubbling" is the best word I can think of to describe it. So I took it in and they said no problem it's covered. So a week later I pick the car up (at night) and drive home happy. The next day I go to look it over in the sun and notice that while the clear coat no longer has the bubble look/feel, you can see some pitting (again thats the best word I can think of) under the clear that is in the paint. I go back to the dealer a week later and show the service writer. He tells me that 4 spots are places where dust got into the drying clear coat and not to worry about it. That was 5 or so days ago. Today I decide to clean and wax my car and while cleaning the passenger door I notice several areas of clearish spots that look like small flakes on the door that will not come out. When I go to clean the drivers side door I see a whole fcking cluster of the same type of pitting on my left fender is now on my door. It is about 10" longer and 3" high. This area does not have the bubbling clear coat the fender had. So after a little while of sitting on the ground trying to remain calm I stand and what do I see? There are now 3 small spots of bubbling clear coat on the top of the drivers door. I have had my car since August and washed it several times and none of this stuff was on my car. The car is under a car port and covered by a car cover whenever it is not being driven.

1. Has anyone else had these problems?
2. WTF is causing this?
3. Should I tell the dealership to redo the left front fender to remove the dust spots? I was told they were normal.
4. My year warrenty is about up also. If they admit that this is a Mazda **** up, should I try to get them to repaint the car?
5. When the shop "fixed" the front fender it seems like they forgot to clear coat some of body, leaving it rough feeling with no shine. Does that sound correct?


I REALLY need some help and input from somebody that knows about paint and what is correct and what is not. I plan on taking it back to the dealership when the service guy gets back from vaction. I get that feeling like I'm going to get screwed over on this problem. So once again ANY thoughts are welcome.

whenson417

Sorry to hear abou the paint problems. What color is your car? Kinda sounds like a paint job painted by a GM/Chevy plant.

buzzardsluck

Red is the color. So am I the only one?

bureau13

This doesn't sound good. My FD had similar paint issues....about 10 years after it was painted at the factory. The whole thing had to be repainted. It sounds to me like something happened when your car was painted....something was contaminated, or it wasn't left to cure properly...something.

The "rough area" you mentioned might be fixable with a clay bar. Sometimes when a section of the car is painted, all the sanding/rubbing in the finishing process gives off a lot of paint dust. If this dust isn't removed, it gets to be a real bitch to get off. Washing won't do it, but a clay bar will (Zaino, Mother's and Clay Magic all offer this product, and they all really do work). Unfortunately, from your description, this is the least of your problems right now :-(

jds

cgrx

Get the ENTIRE car repainted by Mazda

magixpuma

veloc reds have seem to be the 1's that have this prob you are not the first .

EZZY

can you take some pics?

i'd lodge the "claim" with mazda first, and deal with the right person asap.
sounds like a paint defect, the dust particles probably got caught on either base coat or the clear coat.

i'd speak to mazda first and find out what they are going to do. i'd push for a full same colour respray, not just the effected panels (think about colour matching, new/old paint etc). probably a good idea to go visit a couple of body shops and see what they say (independant 3rd party report would be good too), dont believe everything mazda says. while you are there, get a quote on a full respray (same colour), just in case mazda wants to pay you out.... so you have a base figure to negotiate

good luck and let us know

buzzardsluck

I cant any pics to show the problem. I need to write MNAO even though Im going to take it it back to the dealership? Thanks for the info guys dont hesitate to give more. Happy New Years

buzzardsluck

For those interested here is a update. Took it into the dealership today and they said that some sort of reaction appears to be happening between the paint and the clear coat. On Monday I take the car back in and they are going to strip off the clear coat and the paint this time and repaint it. So the front left fender and drivers door are getting a new paint job. I asked about a full respray but was told that it was just this area and the rest was fine. Ill post again when I get it back.

EZZY

make sure they have the paint warranty and paint matching warranty in writing. most likely they will just paint the guard and door and polish both panels as well as panels nearby (ie. front bar, bonnet and rear door) to get the same shineness. thats will probably last for a few months, but after that, when the polish waers out, you will most likely to notice the newer and older paint.
ask them if they are going to "blend" other parts of the car when they repaint the guard and door? for example, when you paint a door, we will have to blend in hlaf of the guard and about half of the rear door to get the same paint flow and to match the colour. if its silver, most likey you will have to paint the whole side (yes, the whole side) to get a proper colour match
you'd want them to take the guard and door off the car for repaint, otherwise there will be some overspray and paint dust in the gaps.
watch for the damages to the rubber seals, moulds etc, especially the waste mould on the door (thats the one between the door and glass on the outside), sometime they get damaged quite easily

buzzardsluck

Well I finally got my car back today. I was so happy to have it back that I forgot to ask about the shop's warrenty on their work. However I have to go back since they broke the inside handle "cover". The plastic piece behind the handle itself. Also I know that they blended the back door because I noticied a blemish about the size of a pinky nail in the paint. I didn't see it at the delership because I didn't think to get up close to that door like I did the drivers door and front fender. Should I let it go or ask them to fix that too? I feel like I may be getting too **** about my car being as close to perfect as I can get it. They also got a small amount of paint on my window and on the black stripping stuff, that once again I didn't notice at the dealership. Also they left what the manager called "tape residue" on my door panel right above the side mirror but he said they would fix it when I brought it back. I want to tell them that I am not impressed with their body shop work and want these things restored to the way it was before I brought in. Please tell me I am not being a ***** bout this stuff lol. EZZY thanks a lot for help and words of advice.

EZZY

good stuff mate, i'd have something in writting if i were you... just to know that if anything comes up in the next 6 to 12 months, you can always take it back.

believe it no not, sometimes it happens alot, especially without the shop amnual, you just dont know where the clips are etc.... shouldnt be a problem, as long as they replace it with a genuine new item.

def. go back and get them to fix that, but most likely they will get the buffer out and buff/polish the blended section. thats why the warranty is good, because you can go back if there are things like that. it should've been buffed/polished in the first place anyway

thats perfectly normal mate

the paint on the window can be removed with steel wool, not a problem, but on the seals (blk stripping stuff), they may try to use thinners to remove the paint, but sometime it may damage the seals. when its done, look closely, if there are damages, ie. discolouration/melt, have it replaced with genuine new item.
the "tape residue" can be remove by grease/wax remover aka. prepsol. but again, they should've done in the first place anyway.

go for it, otherwise there will be someone like you dealing with ****** like that :D
maybe do a written compliant to the dealship, and cc. it to the deal principal :D

no you are not, and no worries. hope it all work out well in the end

dale2020

i just got my 8 a month or so ago and already i have about the size of a football on my hood of the clear coat coming off and not in just one spot its on both sides of the hood and still coming off?
Does anyone know how long the paint and body warranty is for?
my 8 is an '04 and the clear coat is coming off i have a car that is 20 years old and the paint is perfect a few dings and dents but not peeling off?

Also does anyone know of any common things like soap, detergent, or anything that a car would noramally come in contact with that would take the clear coat off like that. Cause all it needs to come off is one spot then the water can get underneath it and cause havoc?

A bit of info
04 winning blue
live in UT
car was originally bought in Las Vegas, NV

it has not been repainted or wrecked for that matter still original paint and body work from the dealer.

I am taking it to the dealer next weekend cause its a 2 hour drive and i just dont have time this weekend.

ODDDOOD

iTrader: (3)

Are you the original owner? If not it is entirely possible that the hood got repainted <poorly it sounds> and this never showed up on any carfax report because it was either very little damage or not reported to the insurance company.

Get a carbon fiber hood...sell the defecting one. You'll probably come out better in the end.

Good Luck!

dale2020

I took it to Mazda for a few issues and asked about the hood and they said sorry its probably been repainted not our prob so i said whatever. But about 3 weeks later i noticed that the clear coat is now coming off hood, trunk, rear and front bumper, both fenders, and driver door.

it wont let me add the pic cause they exceed the size limit. but it is almost half the hood. the whole area right above the passenger headlight is coming off. the fenders actually have a spot that looks burnt like the paint has boiled up and went black. on the trunk its coming off right under the Mazda sign and about the size of the symbol. on the rear bumper its coming off just under the passenger side taillight and at the seam to the quarter panel. on the driver door its like a straight line right in the middle going most the way down.

here is a link to the photos just click on the black dragon looking think in the bottom left corner and go to Rx-8 issues they are all there.

http://www.myspace.com/josh1100

Give me some comments or ideas of whether or not it would be worth taking to Mazda and fighting for. and ideas as how to do it.

random info:

2004 6spd
winning blue
second owner car sold in vegas
30k

paulmasoner

iTrader: (1)

whoa damn

jones75254

iTrader: (2)

******* did that to my car as well when i had warranty work done. I bitched about it, mother fucked them for not being man enough to at least TELL me it happened when i picked the car up. Guess they figured i wouldnt catch it?? ****** HATE Mazda service. I didnt even "let" them fix it, i told them i would rather it be busted than to let "You *******" touch it again. He he, i get a lil heated when it comes to these types of issues, sry

I have to take the car in to diff Mazda to get the radiator drain plug replaced (cant simply get replacement myself due to it breaking off from a piece that is lodged up in....is long story) and i am freakin dreading it. Wondering how many dings, scratches and grease stains i will find after this one.

OP, sux about the paint job, and it the heat here in TX doesnt help things either

firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

GOD! I HEAR THAT! Just reading your post brings back unhappy thoughts about my Mazda service center. If they're not fully breaking something or trying to avoid fixing something that is damn well covered... your paint is getting jacked up or greasy fingerprints are getting on your headliner/seats.

nvrfalter

iTrader: (1)

fight em. as it says above, write/ email mazda north america. show them the pictures, give them your VIN, the whole nine. then take it into the dealer and let them know that you've done so.

btw: pretty good music choices- ALL THAT REMAINS and Atreyu. **** yes

m108kos

at my body shop we spray PPG products and you cannot wax the freshly cleared areas for 90 days afterwards. maybe this could lead to your problems if you put a coat of wax on if your parts were recently repainted.

dale2020

What is the contact for Mazda North America cause the paint is not the only issue i am having. The clucth switch is not working even have engine light for it and i have taken it to the dealer 3 times for that alone and all they do is clear the light and give it back.

jones75254

iTrader: (2)

^^Damn. Only thing i can suggest (other than contacting Corporate) is to search for a reputable dealership in ur general area (there are SOME ok ones), no matter how far you have to drive to get there (within reason) because it will be worth it.

GameGuy369

iTrader: (1)

You could move to Kansas City and go to Steve Oliver Mazda. I bring my 8 in for oil changes, and they voluntarily will look for any other issues, and inform me of them before fixing them. The things they have done voluntarily have been awesome.

One oil change resulted in them discovering my engine mounts were collapsing, they replaced them.

Due to the "inconvenience" of me waiting another 3 hours to get my car that day (I didnt complain cuz I was at work so it didnt matter), they did a touchup of paint for me on my front right bumper where my girlfriend at the time had scraped a curb (just a tad).

And my personal fav, the guys dont mind if you hang out and talk with em while they do service to your car.

Theres a reason there service center gets rave reviews from everyone.

Outkast187

The "dust" spots are easily fixed without painting. They just need to be sanded out and buffed. The rough area is where the painter didnt lay the clear correctly. Clay bar wont fix that, you can possibly wetsand it and buff it out....should come out unless its really bad. Sounds like these jack legs have a sorry paint booth, and a sorry painter. Bring it back, and inspect it carefully when you pick it up. Dont expect perfection, its simply not possible. But, they should be able to fix any issues after the fact.