Microblisters in paint

OpenToSuggestions

OpenToSuggestions

OpenToSuggestions

Soldato
Joined
5 Aug 2006
Posts
11,423
Location
Derbyshire
Hey all.
I have a 1992 MX5. It had a full respray last June.
In October it had the boot lid and rear deck repainted as something had dripped in the centre of the boot lid, reacting with and eating away at the paint. I included the rear deck as I had scratched it and it was only an extra £20 to include it.
Today I drove the car for the first time in 6 weeks to take it to my parent's house. They have a double garage they barely. Free hibernation :).
I have not waxed the new paintwork.

So, the issue:
The paint has microblistered on both rear wings near the boot lid. It has also microblistered (very small) on the top of the doors and a fair bit on the right hand side of the bonnet and front wing. Also one 2-3mm bubble on the rear deck that was painted.

RHS Rear Wing


RHS Bonnet and Front Wing
IMG_20151129_120243803.jpg


I am obviously pretty annoyed as the car is rust and dent free, but it is very nearly 24 years old and was purchased as a cheap toy.
I understand microblistering is caused by moisture under the paint that can be caused by a variety of reasons, and that microblistering can take a long time to appear, be it due to the recent very wet weather or due to going back in the paint oven. I am sure it was not like this when I got it back from the painters - I definately would have noticed.
I understand the only way to fix it is to completely repaint the area, but is the damage anything other than cosmetic? If it won't get loads worse over time or the rate of decline is very slow I may leave it.

Thanks in advance :).

Matt
 
I had the same issue with my Ford Capri which was painted in August 2005, first the roof blistered in the winter so they resprayed the roof again then over the years every panel gradually started to blister including the bonnet which was a brand new panel that I bought in primer.

The car is currently undergoing restoration and has been inside now for about 4 years but the roof & bonnet still have the paint from 2005 which is metallic blue and the state of the paint is now horrendous, it's gone matte & every square centimeter of the car has several micro blisters.
 
Thanks for the post.
Having had a few hours to think about the issue, I think it was the snow a few weekends ago that caused this as it sat on the car for a day in places.

Any other thoughts?
 
That's nasty pasty. Not seen that on a car for years... it wouldn't surprise me if every single panelt went that way, ouch :-(
 
Yes, it's from moisture in the air when it was sprayed - it was probably cold and damp in their booth. I don't think it'll cause any underlying damage, it's just between two layers of paint.
 
Bit of an update.

The painter finally agreed to view the car today, after months of excuses around his health. He put the phone down on me when I called him in Decemeber, saying he was unwell, but the business was still running.
I recognise that he was been unwell, but if he is at his lockup painting cars then it is business as usual as far as I am concerned.

He said the blistering problem is either damp, porous paint, or the primer reacting with the paint (this was not a bare metal respray), and that the cause was not me.

He is refusing to investigate the issue further as it was over 12 months ago and I have been a nightmare customer (notably due to his attitude). I was never told about the warranty length but he insists he told me when his son-in-law was with him, when I originally picked the freshly painted car up in mid 2014. The warranty length was never specified. He also complained that I was 20 minutes late (late for wife's birthday party - Probably a story he made up today) when picking a car up and once just showed up without ringing. I don't particularly have any interest in his personal life.

The stated that the paint supplier had identical issues as mine appear in December - Blistering on horizontal surfaces following snow.

I have been in contact with the CAB who state that a consumer has 6 years of good workmanship cover and considered a small claims court proceeding.
However, I have a strong feeling that persuing this case is as useful as urinating in the wind as most work in the 'car world' comes with a 12 month warranty at best.

I suppose this is just disappointing as the job clearly wasn't done very well. The paintwork blistered in the snow because it wasn't done properly.

Please note that the above isn't a rant, it is mainly serving as me noting down today's events whilst still fresh in my memory! I'm likely to edit it a lot!
 
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Surely. IF there was moisture in the air then it has been faulty from new. Its not JUST developed the fault. The fault has always been there its just taken time to show visually.

I'd send a NBA letter and for £70 I'd go down the small claims route.

Although if you dont want the hassle it may be worth seeing if itll polish out
 
Mate, everyone told me not to bother persuing JEEP when they wrecked my gearbox, as it was a dealer that went pear shaped, in the end, out of a 4.2k bill I got back over 2.2k and all for what, £150 quid small claims proceceeding. I would push for this, and see where it goes, by sitting doing noothing mate you 100% won't get anything from him. he's hiding behind smoke and mirrors, and for me, I wouldn't let him get away with it!!! It's dead easy to raise a case, all online, you don't have to do anything. That'll crap him up and he may well eiether:

1). Settle out of court
2). Offer to respray the effected areas...

However, if you don't push you won't get!
 
After speaking with the CAB later last year my next action is to enquire about the ADR scheme.

Do I need to visit the paintshop again in order to get details from his insurance?
He is a member of an ADR scheme as part of his insurance.
 
Off to see him tomorrow morning.

Best line of approach:
1) I want a partial refund or a free repair
2) ADR scheme via his insurance (anyone know what details I require here?)
3) Letter threatening small claims court

Any comments would be much appreciated!
 
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