Honda Paintwork

Z

zey

New member
Hi all, I've been noticing many of the new Honda cars paintwork shows up tiny pimples/bumps/raised dots/whatever-it's-called after a few months of usage. My dad just got a brand new Accord 45 days ago. The paintwork was flawless - smooth. On the first day, I clayed it, applied M80 Speed Glaze and seal it with M21 Synthetic Sealant. After that, I follow up with weekly wash and M21 application. Yesterday, after washing, I started to notice the reflection of the strong light source being distorted on the roof and boot (not on the engine bonnet), there are quite a number of tiny pimples around the light source. Immediately I clayed the paint and even applied Scratch-X over it, but it just doesn't help. I pulled out my magnifying glass and start to observe in more detail. Without straining my eyes, I was able to observe very tiny bubbles, randomly scattered on the surface. Based on my description, I have a few questions and wish some paint expert here could help me.



1) Is it considered as factory paint defect called solvent popping?



2) It had been raining for the past few days and the car got wet very frequently. It was parked in the garage overnight with rain water droplets all over the roof and boot (Engine bonnet was hot, so rain water evaporated way faster). Could the moisture penetrate into the paintwork and cause this tiny pimples?



3) For the first time, the car was left under the hot sun for 5 hours yesterday. Could it be that the heat pushed the trapped solvent out of the paint surface and causing the tiny pimples? (If the paint has solvent popping problem)



I'm sorry there're no pics for it as it's extremely difficult to capture the surface texture. I hope somebody can help as I could be writing into Honda for complains. Thanks!
 
I'm not much of a paint guy, but here is thought.



solvent popping is typically a problem with refinish paint, not factory applied paint. (They are distinctly different systems).



Since it is not occurring on the engine bonnet, I'd suspect that the other horizontal panels have beeb repainted. Happens much more than you might imagine...



In any event, it is a Warranty issue.



Jim
 
I had a little bit of re-painting done on my car last spring and I think I may have solvent pop. It looks like a few little pimples on the paint. Can this be fixed without repainting again? Wet sanding maybe?
 
Thanks Jimmy. IMHO, compounding the surface with rotary buffer will remove the slight defects. However, the same problem might come back again in future since paint quality is the issue over here.
 
Ya, Honda paint is pretty crappy. We have had many cars come off the truck to our dealership where they missed whole sections of clear coat...great quality control over there...
 
Jimmy Buffit said:
Mikeyc, probably. And some serious buffing with a rotary...



Jim
Click to expand...



Sounds like a serious PITA. I'll just leave it then. It's way down near the bottom of the car by the wheel well. So, I'm probably the only one who notices it. BTW they also managed to get an eye lash embedded in the clear on the passenger side rear quarter panel. I know I'm the only one who notices that.
 
zey,



I just purchased a 06 Civic. I've washed it a few times, clayed it, polished, glazed it and waxed it 2X, i.e went over every millimeter of the exterior. The car was built in Japan (not Marysville, OH). The panels and the factory paint are absolutely perfect. As good as my new 1999 Porsche 911 was from Germany. So I'm curious.



What country built/assembled your dad's Accord?
 
jmsc, the Accord was assembled and painted in my country, Malaysia. Partially it could be due to the weather here too - hot with moisture. If you don't mind, please help me to monitor the paintwork on your Civic continuously. Thanks!
 
I've compared my friend's Japanese-built accord to my Ohio-built Accord of the same years. His is slightly noticeably better screwed together than mine. PLastic trim pieces fit better, his door handles have a more solid "pull" etc
 
AREITU, maybe you'll feel shocked when you see Malaysian Honda cars. Parts are sourced locally from cheap low quality manufacturer. Absolutely no match with Japanese standard.
 
AREITU/zey,



I'm comparing my Japan built 1995 Civic to my Ohio 2000 Civic to my Ohio 2002 Civic to my Japan 2006 Civic. No doubt in my mind that Japanese QC is far ahead of USA QC.



Panel gaps, paintwork, overall interior/exterior quality, plastic parts, door sounds upon closing, workmanship (screw downs), gearbox/clutch action way better on Japan built cars especially the new 2006 model year. After 1 1/2 months of scrutiny, I have yet to find any problem. I attribute this not to Honda but to Japan.
 
How do you guys find the Honda paint in general is it soft ? I have a U.K. car to work on and have heard varying stories. Its the metallic black Accord. I forget the actual colour of the paint.
 
Nothing to really offer the OP, but I have owned Hondas from Japan, and those made here--give me the real Japanese made Honda ANY day of the week. The build quality is better, less rattles, panels fit better (interior and exterior), the entire vehicle is just "better."



I'll let you guys know how the QC is in Canada when I pick up the 07 SI sedan this time next year....eh? ;)



JJ_, IME the paint will be *very* soft and will am very easily. It is easily correctable, but I don't think I'll ever have Honda black.
 
I have had several Hondas from the Uk plant and they all seem to be excellent. However, all glue was left on the bottom of the car which must have been squeezed out excess from the attached side skirts. The dealer cleaned it up and gave me a £50 off my next service voucher.



Over hear they are sold as Honda but are Acura level/spec cars and by all surveys seem to be just about the best cars on the road at the moment.
 
[quote name='ebpcivicsi']Nothing to really offer the OP, but I have owned Hondas from Japan, and those made here--give me the real Japanese made Honda ANY day of the week. The build quality is better, less rattles, panels fit better (interior and exterior), the entire vehicle is just "better."



QUOTE]



It's interesting to read comments like that from Honda guys outside of Japan. Over here, though Hondas are the third most popular maker - and many people like them for their excellent engineering and original technology - they actually have a reputation for being "delicate" and having second-rate reliability and build quality compared to Totota (THE KING!), Nissan and even Subaru. People who buy a car here for reliability and toughness DON'T buy Hondas.
 
I have found that there is little to compare when getting one made in Japan and one made state side. In late '93 when the then new Accords came out, you could walk the lot and *see* which cars were from where.
 
In my country, Honda has the poorest quality compared to Toyota and Nissan. In terms of paintwork, Honda has very soft, easily-marred paintwork. It's not fun at all to detail a black Honda, especially when it comes to producing a swirl-free finish. I'm staying away from Honda eventhough the design is really nice.
 
Interesting, my parents are *big* Toyota folks, my brother is a tech there (he drives Hondas, he and his wife), so I see both sides.



IMO, the Toyotas have come a long way in the fit and finish dept in terms of interior, but the paint quality is still lacking IMO. I find that Toyota paint is *almost* as soft as Honda, but with more OP and other "defects."



Nissan, has some of the worst paint IMO in terms of runs, OP, etc. Nissans also have the cheapest "looking" interiors IMO.



Then again, I am certainly considered a "brain washed nutswinger." :D
 
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