Brown spots on paint - won't come off (pics)

Hank3 · 09-03-2005, 11:11 AM

After washing my car this morning, I found that some spots won't come off

They seem to have worked their way into the paint somehow as they're smooth when you go over them by hand. The clearcoat seems intact as there doesn't seem to be any hints of it being eaten through. It's not sap from what I can tell, but they did appear after parking under a tree this week. I've tried claybar numerous times and there are no hints of it even coming off. These spots are pretty unsightly on a white Subie

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t3hWIT · 09-03-2005, 11:20 AM

what have you used on it?

t3hWIT · 09-03-2005, 11:20 AM

im asking cuz meguiars 3 step works pretty good with some of that stuff. What about Lifter Bug and Tar Remover?

UncleMeat · 09-03-2005, 11:26 AM

I had a similar problem with my silver WRX. Except mine was a perfect rectangle, like somebody set something down on it in the middle of the paint process. The dealer said they would sand/repaint... but gave me the runaround with getting it done under warranty. It was most definitely under the clearcoat and probably under the paint... Assuming your problem is the same, no wax or cleaner will get it out, you have to sand. Oh and my spot really didn't work its way to the surface until like 15-20k miles. It was not there when I bought the car.

Hank3 · 09-03-2005, 11:39 AM

Yike - I've only used soap and water, Claybar, and a dab of Simple Green. I don't see how these spots worked their way into the paint without it damaging the clearcoat

jac04 · 09-03-2005, 12:33 PM

Try some polishing compound like Meguiar's swirl remover or fine cut cleaner. If it is just affecting the very surface of the clearcoat, then the compounds should work.
With that said, I had a white 91 Sentra SE-R that experienced a similar problem quite often. I removed the spots by bleaching them - not kidding. However, do this at your own risk.

djerickd · 09-03-2005, 12:36 PM

oh noes!

do you have any goo gone?

Hank3 · 09-03-2005, 12:54 PM

The Meguiar's compund sounds like it might work. Haven't used Goo Gone yet, but I'll try that too. Thanks for the idea already - if there are any more ideas, keep em' coming

5spdfrk · 09-03-2005, 12:57 PM

Hank, search and post pics over on www.autopia.org and see what the detailing guys on the forum have to say about it. Hopefully they will have some insight for you. Good luck!

Hank3 · 09-03-2005, 01:13 PM

Thanks 5spdfrk. I've posted a thread on there. Just tried Goo Gone and it didn't do a thing. The spots really do seem like they're under the clearcoat.

Is this Meguiar's compund stuff available pretty much anywhere (Wal-Mart, Advance Discount Auto, Autozone)?

5spdfrk · 09-03-2005, 01:15 PM

Do you think it could somehow be rust surfacing through the paint? Thats the only thing I can think of if it is coming from underneath the clear.

Hank3 · 09-03-2005, 01:17 PM

I don't think so. I parked under some pecan trees on campus here and I noticed the spots appear after that. Just didn't get to it till a couple days afterwards (which was this morning). It's just weird how it worked through the clearcoat without the clearcoat being affected

5spdfrk · 09-03-2005, 02:52 PM

Yeh, super strange imo. Well, make sure to let us know how it all turns out.

djerickd · 09-03-2005, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hank3

I don't think so. I parked under some pecan trees on campus here and I noticed the spots appear after that. Just didn't get to it till a couple days afterwards (which was this morning). It's just weird how it worked through the clearcoat without the clearcoat being affected

Dang paint gremlins they did something similar to my roof

gza · 09-03-2005, 03:41 PM

I lost a CV Boot and the grease that comes out of there is some STRONG stuff. I had a tough time getting it off with normal car washing.

UncleMeat · 09-03-2005, 04:06 PM

More than likely these are inperfections in the paint/primer that have just recently worked their way to the surface.

Sev · 09-03-2005, 04:35 PM

Malco Purple Clay Bar with some Mist-it spray and shine will get it off...

Hank3 · 09-03-2005, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleMeat

More than likely these are inperfections in the paint/primer that have just recently worked their way to the surface.

Really?

Sev - how similar is the Malco stuff compared to Mother's Clay Bar?

A couple members from the autopia forums suggested this ABC stuff:

http://www.autoint.com/autostore/pc/...ct=196#details

Anyone have any experiences with it?

Icedc · 09-03-2005, 04:58 PM

You could try HondaBrite. It comes in a spray can and works like claybarring and it polishes too. You can get it from any honda dealership and its only $8-10. Just make sure you use a microfiber towel to apply.
Before you try anything drastic if nothing seems to work you could take it to a pro-detail shop and see what thry think.
Good Luck!

randolph-rs · 09-03-2005, 04:58 PM

when I had my white WRX wagon I had a similar occurance.
One day shortly after the purchase of my wagon I washed and cleaned the car to show it off at a family gathering. Just my luck we ran into a thunderstorm on the way. Even though the car did not get very dirty the tire shine washed off from driving in the rain. So, from what I could tell, the tire shine along with the rain water caused some brownish/yellowish stains on the paint down the side of the car from behind the front tires down. At the time I used formula 2001 tire shine, the kind in a bright green bottle. I was disgusted to say the least and could find nothing to remove the stains. Gradually over a weeks time the stains disappeared and I stopped using formula 2001. No idea why this happened.

Sev · 09-03-2005, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hank3

Really?

Sev - how similar is the Malco stuff compared to Mother's Clay Bar?

A couple members from the autopia forums suggested this ABC stuff:

http://www.autoint.com/autostore/pc/...ct=196#details

Anyone have any experiences with it?

Not familiar with Mothers bar...but I can send some of the malco bar if you wana try it. Just send me yer addy

2003Baja · 09-03-2005, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleMeat

I had a similar problem with my silver WRX. Except mine was a perfect rectangle, like somebody set something down on it in the middle of the paint process.

I HAVE THE SAME THING ON MY FRONT FENDER! Its a perfect long rectangle!!!!!

Hank3 · 09-03-2005, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2003Baja

I HAVE THE SAME THING ON MY FRONT FENDER! Its a perfect long rectangle!!!!!

So yours seems like it's under the clearcoat? Did it just appear out of the blue or do you think something got on the car and then it mysterically seeped underneath the clearcoat?

Adamk24 · 09-04-2005, 05:06 PM

One of the techs at the dealer I work for splashed some brake fluid on a car by accident, and it wasn't until a few weeks later the person came back in. But the spots looked alot like those. They almost didn't look like surface spots, but like spots from underneith the clear coat.

I doubt thats what it is, just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

Hank3 · 09-17-2005, 03:40 PM

Update on the spots. A local guy offered to help by using some of the cleaning agents he had last Saturday. The spots dimished a little bit after he used some light compounds. After that, I decided to just not worry about it

Fast forward to this week: The spots are almost all GONE!!!

I have done absolutely nothing to them since the guy tried to clean them off. I'm sooo clueless as to what occurred but am very thankful that they mysteriously disappeared. Talk about some intriguing contaminants

09-03-2005, 11:11 AM	#1
Hank3 Scooby Guru Member#: 16157 Join Date: Mar 2002 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Tallahassee, FL Vehicle: '03 Mazda P5 <>< '02 WRX & '08 MS3 SOLD!!!	Brown spots on paint - won't come off (pics) After washing my car this morning, I found that some spots won't come off They seem to have worked their way into the paint somehow as they're smooth when you go over them by hand. The clearcoat seems intact as there doesn't seem to be any hints of it being eaten through. It's not sap from what I can tell, but they did appear after parking under a tree this week. I've tried claybar numerous times and there are no hints of it even coming off. These spots are pretty unsightly on a white Subie * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

09-17-2005, 03:40 PM	#25
Hank3 Scooby Guru Member#: 16157 Join Date: Mar 2002 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Tallahassee, FL Vehicle: '03 Mazda P5 <>< '02 WRX & '08 MS3 SOLD!!!	Almost all gone... Update on the spots. A local guy offered to help by using some of the cleaning agents he had last Saturday. The spots dimished a little bit after he used some light compounds. After that, I decided to just not worry about it Fast forward to this week: The spots are almost all GONE!!! I have done absolutely nothing to them since the guy tried to clean them off. I'm sooo clueless as to what occurred but am very thankful that they mysteriously disappeared. Talk about some intriguing contaminants Last edited by Hank3; 09-17-2005 at 03:47 PM.

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09-03-2005, 11:20 AM	#2
t3hWIT Scooby Guru Member#: 58779 Join Date: Apr 2004 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: ** Town Vehicle:** 95 WRX RA replica, 98 Tacoma (300k Club)	what have you used on it?

09-03-2005, 11:26 AM	#4
UncleMeat Scooby Specialist Member#: 33256 Join Date: Feb 2003 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Milwaukee, WI Vehicle: 2010 subasuckbox vomit	I had a similar problem with my silver WRX. Except mine was a perfect rectangle, like somebody set something down on it in the middle of the paint process. The dealer said they would sand/repaint... but gave me the runaround with getting it done under warranty. It was most definitely under the clearcoat and probably under the paint... Assuming your problem is the same, no wax or cleaner will get it out, you have to sand. Oh and my spot really didn't work its way to the surface until like 15-20k miles. It was not there when I bought the car.

09-03-2005, 11:39 AM	#5
Hank3 Scooby Guru Member#: 16157 Join Date: Mar 2002 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Tallahassee, FL Vehicle: '03 Mazda P5 <>< '02 WRX & '08 MS3 SOLD!!!	Yike - I've only used soap and water, Claybar, and a dab of Simple Green. I don't see how these spots worked their way into the paint without it damaging the clearcoat

09-03-2005, 12:33 PM	#6
jac04 Scooby Specialist Member#: 49895 Join Date: Dec 2003 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Connecticut Vehicle: 09 Forester 06 Legacy 2.5i Wagon	Try some polishing compound like Meguiar's swirl remover or fine cut cleaner. If it is just affecting the very surface of the clearcoat, then the compounds should work. With that said, I had a white 91 Sentra SE-R that experienced a similar problem quite often. I removed the spots by bleaching them - not kidding. However, do this at your own risk.

09-03-2005, 12:36 PM	#7
djerickd Scooby Guru Member#: 3782 Join Date: Jan 2001 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Tampa Btch! Vehicle:* 02 WRX WFC#040 Clean on 19's	oh noes! do you have any goo gone?

09-03-2005, 12:54 PM	#8
Hank3 Scooby Guru Member#: 16157 Join Date: Mar 2002 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Tallahassee, FL Vehicle: '03 Mazda P5 <>< '02 WRX & '08 MS3 SOLD!!!	The Meguiar's compund sounds like it might work. Haven't used Goo Gone yet, but I'll try that too. Thanks for the idea already - if there are any more ideas, keep em' coming

09-03-2005, 12:57 PM	#9
5spdfrk Scooby Specialist Member#: 46407 Join Date: Oct 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Way souf of ATL Vehicle: 2002 WRX blew	Hank, search and post pics over on www.autopia.org and see what the detailing guys on the forum have to say about it. Hopefully they will have some insight for you. Good luck!

09-03-2005, 01:13 PM	#10
Hank3 Scooby Guru Member#: 16157 Join Date: Mar 2002 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Tallahassee, FL Vehicle: '03 Mazda P5 <>< '02 WRX & '08 MS3 SOLD!!!	Thanks 5spdfrk. I've posted a thread on there. Just tried Goo Gone and it didn't do a thing. The spots really do seem like they're under the clearcoat. Is this Meguiar's compund stuff available pretty much anywhere (Wal-Mart, Advance Discount Auto, Autozone)?

09-03-2005, 01:15 PM	#11
5spdfrk Scooby Specialist Member#: 46407 Join Date: Oct 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Way souf of ATL Vehicle: 2002 WRX blew	Do you think it could somehow be rust surfacing through the paint? Thats the only thing I can think of if it is coming from underneath the clear.

09-03-2005, 01:17 PM	#12
Hank3 Scooby Guru Member#: 16157 Join Date: Mar 2002 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Tallahassee, FL Vehicle: '03 Mazda P5 <>< '02 WRX & '08 MS3 SOLD!!!	I don't think so. I parked under some pecan trees on campus here and I noticed the spots appear after that. Just didn't get to it till a couple days afterwards (which was this morning). It's just weird how it worked through the clearcoat without the clearcoat being affected

09-03-2005, 02:52 PM	#13
5spdfrk Scooby Specialist Member#: 46407 Join Date: Oct 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Way souf of ATL Vehicle: 2002 WRX blew	Yeh, super strange imo. Well, make sure to let us know how it all turns out.

09-03-2005, 03:41 PM	#15
gza Scooby Newbie Member#: 84900 Join Date: Apr 2005 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Seattle, Washington Vehicle: 1993 Too many shades of white	I lost a CV Boot and the grease that comes out of there is some STRONG stuff. I had a tough time getting it off with normal car washing.

09-03-2005, 04:06 PM	#16
UncleMeat Scooby Specialist Member#: 33256 Join Date: Feb 2003 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Milwaukee, WI Vehicle: 2010 subasuckbox vomit	More than likely these are inperfections in the paint/primer that have just recently worked their way to the surface.

09-03-2005, 04:35 PM	#17
Sev Scooby Specialist Member#: 8364 Join Date: Jul 2001 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: "the rock" Vehicle: 4.5 STi dirty	Malco Purple Clay Bar with some Mist-it spray and shine will get it off...

09-03-2005, 04:58 PM	#19
Icedc Scooby Newbie Member#: 77554 Join Date: Dec 2004 Vehicle: 2003 WRX Blue	You could try HondaBrite. It comes in a spray can and works like claybarring and it polishes too. You can get it from any honda dealership and its only $8-10. Just make sure you use a microfiber towel to apply. Before you try anything drastic if nothing seems to work you could take it to a pro-detail shop and see what thry think. Good Luck!

09-03-2005, 04:58 PM	#20
randolph-rs Scooby Specialist Member#: 3371 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Asheboro, NC Zoo country Vehicle: 2004 Forester XT Java Black	when I had my white WRX wagon I had a similar occurance. One day shortly after the purchase of my wagon I washed and cleaned the car to show it off at a family gathering. Just my luck we ran into a thunderstorm on the way. Even though the car did not get very dirty the tire shine washed off from driving in the rain. So, from what I could tell, the tire shine along with the rain water caused some brownish/yellowish stains on the paint down the side of the car from behind the front tires down. At the time I used formula 2001 tire shine, the kind in a bright green bottle. I was disgusted to say the least and could find nothing to remove the stains. Gradually over a weeks time the stains disappeared and I stopped using formula 2001. No idea why this happened.

09-04-2005, 05:06 PM	#24
Adamk24 Scooby Newbie Member#: 79967 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Issaquah, WA Vehicle: 2005 Lancer Evo White	One of the techs at the dealer I work for splashed some brake fluid on a car by accident, and it wasn't until a few weeks later the person came back in. But the spots looked alot like those. They almost didn't look like surface spots, but like spots from underneith the clear coat. I doubt thats what it is, just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.