how to fix clear coat

Clear coat peeling can have negative effects on your car physically and damage the paint and metal underneath. Understanding what it is and how to fix it will help lengthen the life of your vehicle.

What Is a Clear Coat?

Essentially, the clear coat of a car is the third and final layer of a car's paint. The other two layers are the primer and base coat. The clear coat is actually a non-pigmented coat of paint that goes on top of the base coat to seal it. Basically, it protects the other layers of paint.

Does It Really Matter?

The answer in short to that is yes. The clear coat provides your car with the glossy showroom finish that catches the eye. It also stops water spots, paints swirls, and sun damages from hitting deeper layers of paint. It is much easier to remove defects in the clear coat than in the deeper layers of paint.

How to Fix Clear Coat Peeling
- Step 1: Clean Affected Area
Eliminating dirt and debris will allow you to see the problem clearly. To clean the affected area of the car, purchase any car wash soap and use a wet microfiber sponge to wipe down the surface. Scrub the area gently to clear away any dust or dirt, then rinse it with a hose. Finalize the wash by drying it with a microfiber towel.
- Step 2: Remove the Old Clear Coat
To remove the old clear coat start by taping off the section that needs to be fixed. You can use blue painter's tape for this. This stops you from accidentally sanding other parts of the car. Then sand the area with fine-grit sandpaper until the area is smooth and dull. Sand a little past the affected area to create room for blending later. Once that is done rinse and dry the sanded area.
- Step 3: Protect the Rest of the Car and Yourself
This step is very simple. Use some material to cover windows and other parts of your car to prevent the clear coat from getting on them. Additionally, grab a dust mask and a pair of safety goggles. Park your car in an area with ventilation that has a roof. For example, an open garage.
- Step 4: Apply the New Clear Coat
Shake the can of clear coat spray and start applying it to the car. Hold the can about eight inches away from the car and spray it on evenly while moving at a steady speed. After spraying on the first coat, wait for it to dry. When it's not sticky, it's dry. Then, spray on a second coat and wait a couple hours for it to completely dry. Then remove the tape and newspaper protecting the other parts of the car.
- Step 5: Blend It All Together
After you are done applying the new coat it is recommended you wait for at least 2 days before blending the clear coat. You will notice that the area you painted still stands out from the rest. To fix this, just blend the edges by wetting the area. Afterward, wet sand the area until you notice the difference is faint and dry. Lastly, polish the area of the car with a rubbing compound until it shines. Try to avoid polishing against the direction you put on the clear coat, or it may cause clear coat peeling again. Wipe the surface and you are done!

Remember the best step is always prevention.

If the clear coat peeling how-to seems to be too difficult of a task, consider getting it professionally done. DetailXPerts has professional detailers with plenty of experience to make fixing this issue easy.

Enjoyed this post? Sign up for our newsletter to receive more valuable tips, ideas, coupons, and extras!