Faded Red Paint

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kennyg

New member
I have a 1995 Cadillac STS that I recently bought in Florida. There is heavy fading on the roof and hood of the car. I knew this when I bought it. Yesterday, I worked for 2 hours on the hood. I used what products I had, SSR2.5 done twice with a polishing pad, SSR1 with a polishing pad. And finally, a coat of EX-P Sealant with a finish pad. After the polishing, the whole hood looked great and ready for sealant. After putting on the sealant, I was very disappointed with the results. It is much better, but some of the fadding in the center of the hood came back, and there is not much gloss and luster that I have gotten with this same routine on another car. Any suggestions on how to do better? I might try a chemical polish before the sealant. I need something to restore the lustre to the paint. I don't think I need to get more aggressive with a cutting pad. I understand it is difficult to recommend a product without photos.
 
2 hours on the hood? wow. The entire exterior of the car should take 2-3 hours, even if its bad!

Why did it take so long?

If the paint is THAT faded, sometimes there is no bringing it back to 100%. I would cut with a heavy cut foam pad first with the SSr2.5 . Then folow up with a light cut and the same SSR2.5 compound. Then use a polished pad and the SSR1 then apply the EX sealant with an orbatial buffer and finally top it with some good carnuba based wax.. whalla, theat will be the very best you can do..
 
I do not think that two hours is an inordinate amount of time. This was not a professional detail...correct? This was work on a personal vehicle...right? I often spend a day(albeit short day) on the hood. then the same thing on another section. To do a complete detail of my Black truck takes me seven days to make it the way that I like it. Sometimes time cannot be a consideration when it comes to detailing.

I agree that a chemicla polish could be the answer. Although your process would seem to be a good process as well. KAIO or Poorboy's ProPolish might help you in this instanse.
 
Fading doesn't 'come back' in a couple days. It is possible that you have dead paint on the hood that isn't going to get fixed with any amount of polishing. If you have clear coat failure then you don't have any choice but to get it repainted. Faded paint is easy to clean up with the right products though. Here is an example of what just Klasse All In One can do.

AIOside1.jpg


AIOside2.jpg


Oxidation is easy to clean off without even using physically abrasive products. However, if you are dealing with clearcoat that is lifting off the paint, then you won't have much luck with that even if you used the most abrasive products out there. However, like you said, without pictures it is really hard to diagnose the proper steps to repair the damage.
 
Hi Its sounds like the previous owner neglected the paint upkeep, not saying anything bad about the car, but Florida sun can cause fading, two hours on the hood, I am sure you took down a lot of the clear and are now at risk of burning through, either way your description seems painting is the answer, good luck and hope things work out.
 
Thanks for all the feedback. Like I said the fading is only on the roof and hood, the rest is good. I will try the AIO. Do I apply that with the PC after polishing??
 
kennyg said:
Thanks for all the feedback. Like I said the fading is only on the roof and hood, the rest is good. I will try the AIO. Do I apply that with the PC after polishing??
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In this case I would use it immediately then seal with your prefered wax or sealant. I would do one side of the hood and see if it makes a difference compared to what you have done. If it helps continue use. If it does not help there is no reason to continue.
 
cwcad said:
I do not think that two hours is an inordinate amount of time. This was not a professional detail...correct? This was work on a personal vehicle...right? I often spend a day(albeit short day) on the hood. then the same thing on another section. To do a complete detail of my Black truck takes me seven days to make it the way that I like it. Sometimes time cannot be a consideration when it comes to detailing.

I agree that a chemicla polish could be the answer. Although your process would seem to be a good process as well. KAIO or Poorboy's ProPolish might help you in this instanse.
Click to expand...


Yes a professional detail on a personal vehicle. Two hours on a hood tells the the wrong products /equipment was used.

With a "rotary" high speed buffer, The paint can be cut down, polished and sealed in less then 4 hours on an entire car, thats assumign its in BAD shape but not bad enough to wetsand. I could see 8+ hours if the entire car was wet sanded.

Enlighten me, I must be missing something here!
 
Whoever said he was using a rotary? It looks to me like he is using a PC.

When one is experimenting to see what works best it isn't uncommon to spend longer than normal on a project. I often spend longer on my personal vehicles than I do on customer vehicles. Particularly when I am experimenting or learning new processes.

Perhaps if you lighten up a bit then you wouldn't miss so much. No need to take shots at someone's process just because he chose to take his time on a project.
 
Let me explain. I spent an hour washing the car including 4 nice Cadillac wheels. It was about 92 degrees here and very humid. I would say I spent about 45 minutes on the hood. That's 2 coats of polish put on with the PC at speed 6 and wiped off. Followed by 1 coat of SSR 1 and wiped off. Then the sealant put on with the PC and a finish pad and wiped off. It is alot of work, but this is a case where there is damage and I was trying to improve it.

Previously, I used the same routine on my 97 Escort and that took about 2 hours and came out sparkling. I am not a professional and this was my first polish and seal job.
 
By the way, the areas on the hood and roof I am talking about look just like the fading in the red truck above. I will try the AIO.
 
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