What to do when paint cracks???
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (11)
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
From: Da O.C. / IRAQ
Rep Power: 0 
well... a few weeks back... some person just hit n run my car... it was ayt... small scratches dat can be taken out by rubbing compound and there was a small paint crack on da right side of my rear bumper... today i noticed dat da crack got bigger.....i hope dis detail helps
Civicforums Junkie
iTrader: (55)
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,087
Likes: 0
From: ARIZONA
Rep Power: 448 
That sounds like a 'stress crack' from the impact...It will get bigger than it was at first, but it shouldn't get much bigger than it is now after a few weeks...
Wouldn't worry about it that much...but you could have the area fixed at a body-shop if it really bugs you...
Wouldn't worry about it that much...but you could have the area fixed at a body-shop if it really bugs you...
DIY King
iTrader: (61)
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 0
From: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 419 Touch-up paint is very very very very (did I say very) very hard to put on and make it look like OEM. I guess it is possible if you're Van Gogh or Monet, but for us non-artists it's impossible. I tried painting inside my door panel to practice and I think I painted over like 100+ little imperfections, but they all came out looking different than the paint that was underneath.
Anyway, are you sure that it's the paint that's cracking? I hope the whole freakin' bumper isn't cracked! Anyway, there really is only one way to fix it. Take it to a bodyshop. They will sand down the area, fill in any dimples or cracks, sand it down again after filling, spray it with a flex additive and adhesion promoter, paint it with the base coat, and finally seal it with the clear coat. Then they'll sand it down and try to feather the edges in through sanding and buffing. Even then you might be able to see where it was painted. To get absolutely perfect results they'de have to do the whole bumper. It depends on how "fresh" the OEM paint is. If your car has less than 30,000 miles and hasn't seen a harsh winter then the paint might match up well. Otherwise it'll be very hard for the bodyshop to get it perfect.
Anyway, are you sure that it's the paint that's cracking? I hope the whole freakin' bumper isn't cracked! Anyway, there really is only one way to fix it. Take it to a bodyshop. They will sand down the area, fill in any dimples or cracks, sand it down again after filling, spray it with a flex additive and adhesion promoter, paint it with the base coat, and finally seal it with the clear coat. Then they'll sand it down and try to feather the edges in through sanding and buffing. Even then you might be able to see where it was painted. To get absolutely perfect results they'de have to do the whole bumper. It depends on how "fresh" the OEM paint is. If your car has less than 30,000 miles and hasn't seen a harsh winter then the paint might match up well. Otherwise it'll be very hard for the bodyshop to get it perfect.
DIY King
iTrader: (61)
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 0
From: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 419 Maybe. You'de have to clean the area really well. Then apply the touch-up paint while sort-of pulling on the bumper to open up the crack. Then you'de have to wait for it to dry. Then you'de want to wax it a couple of times to sort-of polish it up. That might work...
Extreme Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas, US
Rep Power: 0 Yea, just ignore it. For some reason, I have several on my rear bumper and no one has hit me there yet. You could always get a tootpick and some touch-up paint and cover it up and you shouldn't be able to see it unless you really try. Hope that helps.
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
