Paint question.

[mmocahbee]

This maybe in the wrong section but I am on my Auto Guide app and can't seem to find what I'm looking for. I have a 2011 Camry LE, only has 12,000 miles on it. My question is, is paint covered under bumper to bumper warranty? The dealership I bought the car from has a car wash. I get 1 free wash a week. The car is washed weekly. My paint looks dull. I have several chips on my hood. My wife and I are the only ones that drive the car. I know when I have driven it the car hasn't been hit by rocks or road debris. My wife says nothing has hit it either with her driving. She just about notices when a bug has hit the car. Has any one else had problems with the paint?

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[Agent556]

weekly wash? thats alotta washing... wonder if the clearcoat is coming off

[11LE]

The paint is water based and is not very strong on our cars nowadays. My bumper area's paint has dulled before due to hard water drying on the paint, etc, and came out shining after a buff. Nonetheless, the dealer painted a section of my bumper for me when a the corner of my bumper started to chip from unknown reasons.

Paint is covered. Bring it on in, they'll probably try to buff out the dull. Weekly washes may not be good for your car's clear coat, especially if it's machine wash.

[jbrnigan]

I agree with 11LE, 52 machine washes a year has got to be murder on your paint, warranty or not. Most dealerships have basic, automated washing equipment. Most likely not the premium "brushless", "touchless" systems you find in commercial wash systmems.
(and I wouldn't put my car through 52 commercial systems a year)

[profuse007]

^^I have never heard of modern paint as a water base material, they're all petrol/oil base unless something just changed.

_________________
OP,

How is it washed at the dealer? by hand or machine?

[DWVANDY]

I've noticed the same issue with chips and scratches.... I have a 2011 Barcelona Red SE.... Have appx 3500 miles on it and have already had to repair 6-7 small chips on the front end and windshield pillars etc... Believe me, I am very careful and following distance is not a factor. I am also very aware when anything strikes the car.

Same with subtle scratches. Numerous already... Again, very careful around the car and with where it is parked.

I've seen "finger paint" that is more resistant that this stuff.

I've got a 2002 GMC pickup with 115,000 miles that has less paint damage on it.

What do we do?

[jbrnigan]

[QUOTE=profuse007;3535512]^^I have never heard of modern paint as a water base material, they're all petrol/oil base unless something just changed.

_________________
From J.D. Power:
The paint used on late-model vehicles is vibrant, fade-resistant, and extremely corrosion-resistant. Today’s vehicle finishes are also multi-layered, water-based, and refined with a durable clearcoat.
How does the factory paint my car?
Modern automotive paint is a sophisticated blend of resins, binders, fillers, additives, and carrying agents. While the original Model Ts were painted entirely by hand, nearly every modern vehicle is painted using an automated process on a vehicle assembly line, which produces a consistent, high-quality paint job. At the factory, automotive paint is applied with an electrostatic process that uses an electrical current to precisely deposit paint on the metal. The process uses less paint and offers more uniform paint coverage. Manufacturers can use this process with high-tech water-based paints to yield a high-quality paint job that is environmentally friendly.

[toyota_dood2]

Maybe its the soap. I used to and wax my car for hours and I didnt realize whenever I washed it (with dish soap), I was removing the wax buildup too. So now I know that not all soap is the same. I will use car soap from now on.

[mmocahbee]

The car wash is a touchless. In your alls opinion should I just leave it and take it to the dealer or maybe clay bar it to see if there is any change. Hard to believe the paint on my car I've had for since September of last year looks duller than the paint on my 97 F150 with 311,000. The paint feels almost like sandpaper when you rub your hand across it. I live in Northern Kentucky, so the car has seen salty roads this past winter. My car also is the Barcelona Red. Maybe its the red paint or clearcoat that is the problem.?.?.?

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[Dave-o]

clay bar won't do anything to your car if it's that immaculately clean... what I would do is polish the car then wax it

the barcelona red with a good polish have pretty good reflection if the detailing is done right... then again your car is practically new and shouldn't have any clear coat or paint issues

[eyezack87]

Originally Posted by mmocahbee

The car wash is a touchless. In your alls opinion should I just leave it and take it to the dealer or maybe clay bar it to see if there is any change. Hard to believe the paint on my car I've had for since September of last year looks duller than the paint on my 97 F150 with 311,000. The paint feels almost like sandpaper when you rub your hand across it. I live in Northern Kentucky, so the car has seen salty roads this past winter. My car also is the Barcelona Red. Maybe its the red paint or clearcoat that is the problem.?.?.?

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You do realize that "touchless" is called that for a reason right? Have you ever wondered why simple pH neutral water wont remove anything and it does? The chemicals in the wash are generally very acidic or basic. That reacts with your paint over time if no wax is applied to attempt to sacrifice itself first before it hits your paint. Essentially, you are drying out your clearcoat over time with harsh chemicals. Just some food for thought about the system and why I don't use it nor recommend it to anyone...

As for the sandpaper feeling, thats embedded contaminants that are in your paint. Cars that are not waxed often enough generally pick them up faster. Go to Target, Walmart, etc and buy the Meguiars or Mothers Clay Kit and go to town on it. That will remove MOST of the contaminants as well as SOME oxidation (dulling effect). Don't expect it to be a miracle cure for the dulling because after claying, you polish.

[CamrySExxx]

Originally Posted by eyezack87

You do realize that "touchless" is called that for a reason right? Have you ever wondered why simple pH neutral water wont remove anything and it does? The chemicals in the wash are generally very acidic or basic. That reacts with your paint over time if no wax is applied to attempt to sacrifice itself first before it hits your paint. Essentially, you are drying out your clearcoat over time with harsh chemicals. Just some food for thought about the system and why I don't use it nor recommend it to anyone...

Very good point you made. I never thought of it that way, I always went to a "touchless" thinking it was better ... well now that the winter is over I can hand wash my cars again... trust me its not fun washing your car inside a closed garage LOL.

[mmocahbee]

Thank you all for your input and sharing of knowledge. I spoke with my dealer. They are gonna put the car through the detail shop and the body shop to touch up the few chipped paint places. Showed them my concerns and they set it all up with no hassling.

[Streaker]

You did the right thing bringing it to the dealer's attention. This will happen again in time. Toyota's paint and clearcoat coverage has to be the thinnest I've ever seen and I've been owning and driving different makes for 50 years. A good hard wax coating does help. Good Luck avoiding those chips.

[Zembonez]

Unfortunately the chips are simply rock chips. There is no way you will ever hear or see what hits the car every time. Modern paint is pretty fragile and thin. Sadly it's the same for my GMC and Honda.

Very cool of the dealer to offer up a detail and paint touch up! Good guys!