Newbi with paint bubble/bump issues

[Shaded Fox]

Hiya fellow Fiat fans, i thought id join the forum as iv been a Fiat fan for many years and recently bought my very first fiat!... but alas.. my happiness hasnt lasted for long, 2 weeks ago i bought my 04 active sport Punto in lovely racing red. Im head over heels with the car.. ok its only a punto but its my first proper car lol. the paint was in perfect condition from what i could tell when i went to see it at the dealer, but now after 2 weeks of owning her, and after a few rainy nights iv noitced some bubbling appearing just under the front left head light

sorry if theres a thread already posted on this, but im a newbi and was wondering if anyone could give any advise on how bubbling can be treated or if it simply cant. I fear rusting might follow shortly after if its not treated soon. I was also thinking if the air temperature had anything to do with it and if maybe the bubbling will disapear when the air temp changes.

Any sugestions would be much appreciated

 

[Aircooledbug]

Hello there,
More often, the root cause of blisters is solvent popping caused by the paint sprayer who did not observe the correct flash-off time during the paint spraying stage. Flash-off simply means the allowance of time as specified by the paint manufacturer for the solvent or thinner to evaporate during the paint spraying stage. In the painting process, a car is sprayed over with basecoat (colour) and clearcoat (topcoat) a number of times. If the sprayer fails to observe the flash-off time in between coats, trapped solvents under the succeeding coats will find a way out creating microscopic bubbles.
These tiny holes become very evident during the rainy season when moisture enters the holes and manifests as blisters only to disappear when the sun shines and the moisture evaporates. The long-term effect of blistering is more damaging - as a result paint chipping and lifting will take place.

First off, and I know it's too late now but this is for others reading this and for your future reference. Never take your car to a body shop that any insurance company, even yours, recommends or is "certified" by them. There is no law that says you have to and it is illegal for them to include it in an insurance contract.
Never fall prey to the impression that the insurance company is looking out for your best interests. That is most certainly NOT the case. Choose your own body shop as carefully as you would any repair shop.
They may be correct that the bubbles may have been caused by dirt, but more often the dirt just gets trapped in the paint and looks like a bubble. Bubbles are almost always caused by improper prep work which includes cleaning the damaged areas with lacquer thinner when all the sanding is done and is ready for primer. And, as your information states, insufficient drying time between coats will also cause the bubbling.
If there are bubbles, eventually they will "pop" and the paint will peel and flake off. There is no reason in the world a body shop can not do a paint job as well, if not better, than the factory.

Do you have or can you get any pictures of the damaged area?

 

[Shaded Fox]

hi, and thank you for such a detailed responce, your advise is very much appreciated. I have been trying to get some pictures of the bubbles but unfortunately, or rather fortunately, they have disapeared! lol im waiting for them to reappear so i can take pictures, although im hoping they dont!! lol

 

[Aircooledbug]

No problem...

 

[Shaded Fox]

hey off subject here but how comes my avatar isnt showing on the left like yours?

 

[Steffilove]

Hi & welcome...I'm a newbie too

I know what u mean, mines the same...got sum rust thats bubble on the rear arch which we didnt notice til we got home

 

[Shaded Fox]

shame luckily mine isnt rusting, looks in good shape.. so far. either way gonna have to get it resprayed looks like. hope u sort yours out too mate

 

[mark456]

this is a great thaught

 

[Aircooledbug]

hey off subject here but how comes my avatar isnt showing on the left like yours?

its got to be 80x80 pixels so quite small.