restroring faded paintwork

[firetracie]

How can I restore the colour to my red corsa which is faded and pink-ish on the roof and bonnet mostly?

I also have scratches in a couple of places as a result of vandelism. These are on the doors where the paintwork is not so faded.

TIA

[harley_Husky]

Hey Tia.
The fade you describe is typical of red cars. It's caused by the acid and nasty stuff in the air/rain coupled with the UV from the sun ( SUN ...! there's a joke ! ).

The best course of action is to take the bloom out with some top quality cutting compound ( definately NOT Tcut ).

farecla G3 used wet ( dampen area with water from a spray bottle ) will help to break down the deposits in your paint. Make sure you wash your car first to remove any grit etc.

Finish off with some Farecla G10 and then a decent polymer polish good for a ' good as new ' job.


There is a slightly quicker way for the braver, involving some 2000 grit wet and dry, but i'd stick to the compound.

Let me know if you're unsure of anything.

Best wishes.
Eddie

[bigboots]

Eddie forgot to mention you will have to put a lot of elbow greas into it ,expect your arms to be acheing or invest in a machine polisher, but be careful with machine polishers as the can quickly polish through the paint

[scotgal]

Hi firetracie, my son has exact same problem with his red corsa and we have seen one or two others the same. Someone actually told him it was a vauxhall problem. I think the only real way to fix it would be a complete respray but that's out of the question because it's quite an old car (T reg) and it's not worth it.

[chas2008]

not just a Vauxhall problem although it seems to affect more of them,its do do with certain pigments in red,

[NORMANTHEDOG]

take no notice of how to do it yourself,these products are expensive,go to one of these drive in car wash sites,they will polish it up like new for �40/50 a lot easier then 4 hours yourself and �30 for the meterials.

[tonyav]

hi firetracie,it is not just a vauxhall problem.can you remember all the faded straight red sierras, cortina's,fiesta's and other make's of car's.in fact most make's of car's if it is staight red ( not metalic or pealesent )will fade as you have discribed if it has not been waxed regularly.

[TWR]

Hi, I car valet in my spare time and come accross this many many times & red is the worst colour, the paint Oxadizes it is no big deal but as said hard work, with respect to the last answer to me it is a challenge to get it back to a glowing red, First, Swill the car down & let dry, use Auto Glym for the restore of the paint, do not cover a large area at a time start off with the front OFF/S wing and then go to the drivers door when you have done the drivers door go back and poilsh the wing & keep going like that untill you get the finish you want but as said do not use T Cut only you ARM. good luck let us all know how you have gone on.

[woodchopper]

I've had 2 red Corsa's - never again - damned paint !

Got rid of the last one because of it - 2 weeks after I buffed the pink out of it, it went pink again.