What the heck happened to my clearcoat

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Mike - 23 Jun 2004 02:33 GMT

After washing and waxing my 2000 Maxima today, I discovered that there are
"water spots" all over the place. Except that they won't come off with
wash, wash, or polish.

The kicker is that I know they weren't there 4 months ago as I had body work
done (fender bender), and that these spots are on the newly painted parts as
well as the rest of the car.

I'm guilty of only washing my car 1-2 times in the last 4 months (its been
driven < 2000 miles in that time period), but I'm stunned that this happened
and I have no clue why.

I live in Wisconsin in a moderately-sized city. The car is in the garage
most of the time as I don't use it to commute everyday. We had 14 inches of
rain in May and it was outside during some of that period.

What the hell? Is Nissan's clear-coat a p.o.s.? This did not happen to my
wife's Chevy which saw more use that my Max. My car has always been waxed
twice a year, and it only has 40,000 miles on it.

Would getting the car buffed remove these?

--Mike

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Roger - 23 Jun 2004 07:29 GMT

Try some very fine rubbing compound and be careful to buff them out.

> After washing and waxing my 2000 Maxima today, I discovered that there are
> "water spots" all over the place. Except that they won't come off with
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> --Mike

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David Efflandt - 24 Jun 2004 00:48 GMT

> After washing and waxing my 2000 Maxima today, I discovered that there are
> "water spots" all over the place. Except that they won't come off with
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> done (fender bender), and that these spots are on the newly painted parts as
> well as the rest of the car...

Do you use a clear non-abrasive wax or white wax that may have clay or
other rubbing compound like material in it (maybe you wore off the
clearcoat)? I cannot speak for the made in USA models, but my 95
(purchased May 94) is still in good shape after 10 years (except for some
hail dings and one place where I chipped it with a brass hose nozzle).
Front fenders and hood were replaced in January 1995 (when I tried to make
the light, and girl in front of me didn't, in pea gravel like road salt).
It has spent its entire life outside and has only been waxed a couple of
times when it was new. Color is Granite Pearl.

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David Efflandt - All spam ignored http://www.de-srv.com/

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Mike - 24 Jun 2004 01:47 GMT

> > After washing and waxing my 2000 Maxima today, I discovered that there are
> > "water spots" all over the place. Except that they won't come off with
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> It has spent its entire life outside and has only been waxed a couple of
> times when it was new. Color is Granite Pearl.

I use Turtle Beach wax. To my knowledge it doesn't have clay or rubbing
compound in it.

A search on Google's archive revealed that others have had problems with
Nissan's clear-coat (and Infiniti).

I think acid rain got me. Hopefully a buffing compound will work, but I may
have it professionally done.

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JM - 24 Jun 2004 18:09 GMT

"> I think acid rain got me. Hopefully a buffing compound will work,
but I may

> have it professionally done.

Could be. Or, could be bird droppings. Suppose you didn't clean it
off, and eventually the rain washed it away. The cause is gone, but
the damage is already done too.

Infiniti paint is definitely subject to damage from bird droppings.
Particularly on the hood of the car. Cooking hot droppings on a hot
hood can damage the paint in a day.

JM

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Racer X - 26 Jun 2004 00:39 GMT

I used a clay bar on my 99 Max last summer and it removed a lot of
"stuff" from my paint. My car sits out all the time. It left it
smooth as silk and clean. I would suggest you go to your local parts
store and buy a clay kit. Right after I clayed the car I put some
Meguires gold care wax on it. You should notice a difference when you
are finished.

The kit cost me ~$10.00.

> "> I think acid rain got me. Hopefully a buffing compound will work,
> but I may
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> JM

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