Technical Paint issue, any ideas?...??*♂️

[Dark_Crusader]

Hey guys it’s been a while! ?

Quick question. On my mk2 Punto HGT, the paint has until now been reasonably quite fair in terms of condition...until last year when I noticed a small scuff on the middle section (see pic) of the roof which wasn’t there before.

Now these scuffs have appeared in more than one place on the roof. Now I take into account that it’s an old car and will never be like factory new again, but my query on this is the rapidness on how quickly the paint is coming off. So I have some theories on what it may be if you have others then please let me know. The car is washed around average 2-3 times a month or when I am able to.

Here are the theories as follows..

1. Wind & Dust (my Mechanic’s answer not mine)

2. Car Wash damage over time (rotating bristles)

3. Age

4. Polish was too strong? (Meguiars compound/Simoniz Polish)

5. Vandalism

The car is 18 y/o but has anyone else experienced a similar problem and what was their solution? Also if we argued that age is a factor in wear and tear of bodywork and the roof would be first hit, surely other parts of the bodywork should have similar symptoms right? Bubbling on paintwork I understand. I have never seen this before and my initial belief is that it’s the work of some evil b****rd?

Any help would be appreciated ?

 

[LeoAchaicus]

I have to say I have never seen anything like these abrasions on an automobile before and certainly not on my Fiat Punto MK II (2002).

As chance would have it, I am doing a full repaint of my own Punto which will cost 1100 euros, and I was round the painter's place the other day inspecting the car with him.

On my own Punto, the top part of the car (where the antenna is) is completely mint and untouched. Same for the bonnet hood.

Here in Greece people have this hobby where they use keys or nails or other sharp objects (such as small knives) to cause damage to one's car. I never understood why people would vandalize thusly cheap cars such as FIAT Puntos, but they do and my own Punto was scratched virtually all around by "people".

(Here in Greece Anarcho-Communists also freuqntly burn expensive cars, such as Mercedes or Porsche for teh lulz by using molotov cocktails).

The abrasions at top look like a deliberate act to me, mate. Sorry. In spite of this, it seems to me that car vandalism is not so widespread in the UK compared to here, so you might just have been unlucky.

 

[Dark_Crusader]

“The abrasions at top look like a deliberate act to me, mate. Sorry. In spite of this, it seems to me that car vandalism is not so widespread in the UK compared to here, so you might just have been unlucky.”

Hey thanks for responding ? €1100 for a paint job?!? ?, think I may have to come and see your guy in that case??, that’s quite a good price compared to most in the U.K., here they quote you £200 a panel!

That is quite bad the random acts of vandalism you get over there is a lot more rife than in UK and quite surprising in some respects to me as I have a couple of Greek friends here and in Greece and they never mentioned it but to be fair it was never a question that came up.
However, Yes I’m more leaning towards foul play and looking at the marks it’s as if almost like sandpaper has been used on it to initiate the erosion of the paint. Another friend of mine suggested whoever’s doing it may be doing that so I will sell the car ??* It’s a strange one to be sure!.

 

[chris3234]

My first thought is somebody has been cleaning that with sand paper
That or somesort of strong household cleaner like oven cleaner

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Can’t really see the picture dry clearly, however from what I can see it does look a lot like sun damage.

 

[atom0007]

you've got bubbling in the lower left.
If yout take the rubber trims off, you'll probably find that the roof rack mounting points are a bit rust and are trapping water.
The "abrassions" (I guess) are break down of the top coat lacquer

 

[Eklipze3k]

I can't find any pictures of it, but the same happened on my Mk1 GT when I had it. Well, tbf, it was already starting before even blu73 owned it, by the time I sold it most of the roof was pretty much lacquer-less.
I think it's just down to cheap paint products, and adverse environmental conditions.

 

[Scudmonkey]

IIRC Car Wash horizontal brush spends a lot of time rotating on that section of the roof when the wheel brushes come out to do the front wheeels.....
Personally i always wash my car by hand as Car Washes don't get to all the places that need cleaning (Top of rear bumper just under the edge of the Tailgate for one, Inner Door Sill just under the doors) and a lot of crap seems to get into those places.

 

[Dark_Crusader]

IIRC Car Wash horizontal brush spends a lot of time rotating on that section of the roof when the wheel brushes come out to do the front wheeels.....
Personally i always wash my car by hand as Car Washes don't get to all the places that need cleaning (Top of rear bumper just under the edge of the Tailgate for one, Inner Door Sill just under the doors) and a lot of crap seems to get into those places.

Tbh I used to hand wash my cars every two weeks but these days, work, family commitments it’s as and when. Car wash is usually a last option, otherwise a hand wash or a jet wash. Just can’t take car being dirty for long periods lol

 

[blu73]

I can't find any pictures of it, but the same happened on my Mk1 GT when I had it. Well, tbf, it was already starting before even blu73 owned it, by the time I sold it most of the roof was pretty much lacquer-less.
I think it's just down to cheap paint products, and adverse environmental conditions.

I'd say its pretty normal on fiats and alot of cars tbh.. enviroment car has been in is usually key. The GT had spent alot of its times in wooded areas and even though it was kept clean sap is really damaging to paint and clear. But really it just being in the sun and rarely in shade will do it. My mums mk2 punto did the exact same thing as the GT did, never parked under trees or anything, just sun damage. Lacquer peel on the roof, bonnet would have gone too like the GT did but the bonnet got resprayed from a repair. And yes, they start tiny and take ages to get bad but the rate they deteriorate is exponential for sure. For diy but not perfect fix wet and dry the area down and apply some clear, you will be able to see it if your looking but will stop it spreading. Prob cost about £100-150 to have it sorted properly at a bodyshop who would do the exact same thing except theyd do the whole roof.

The only real way to stop this from happening in the first place is taking care of your paint and not exposing it to things paint dont like all the time and of course lots of polish and wax helps prevent this too. But next time you go to an actual hot country check out the 15+ year old cars, lacquer chipping and peeling off is really common, paint dont like sun!

 

[atom0007]

Agree with that, no rust in Arizona but lots of cars with degraded interior plastics and busted lacquer. It's UV damage and temperature