Paint help...please!

[sLADe781]

Okay guys, my paint is chipping bad. I've been meaning to take pictures and post 'em but I've been too lazy and as a result, the situation has just gotten worse. Here are pictures:





I can't afford a new paint job right now so I need to somehow keep it from spreading. Anyone with any idea as to how to do this please let me know. I know there's a paint/detailing section here but the people there never post anything/reply. So yeah, I know there are a couple here who knows a lot about paint too so maybe you guys could help. Hehe Thanks in advance.

[AutostradaVR4]

hmmm...thats not really a dire situation IMO. Shouldnt really hurt anything, just looks like shit.
I guess if you really want to keep it from spreading...maybe blast it with high pressure air or pressure wash to get all the loose flakey stuff off, tape the area off, maybe hit the area with fine sand paper or blast it with baking soda and shoot some clear on it?

I'm no body shop guy though, thats just what i would do as my own DIY until i got the cash to do it right. I'm sure the body guys will have a better answer for ya though.

[sLADe781]

Yeah, I don't mind the way it looks too much just because I can't afford new paint. The thing is though is that I want to stop it from speading. At first it was pretty small but then it just kept spreading and spreading and now this! AHHH!!

[Igovert500]

High pressure hoses will cause more spreading. TRUST ME I did that to a few cars in my early days of detailing. I don't really know if you can do much to 'contain' it. Basically, any high powered/pressured anything will take more off. I would think your best bet is to just keep a good coat of wax on it and hold off until you get it painted. Definantly avoid it with any pressure washers, I've seen them take off a whole helll of alot more in situations like that.

[sLADe781]

^^Thanks. The next time I wash my car, I'll take off the pealing paint and cover the area with a whole bunch of wax. I'll let you guys know how it holds up...thanks....

[hink12341234]

Originally Posted by sLADe781

^^Thanks. The next time I wash my car, I'll take off the pealing paint and cover the area with a whole bunch of wax. I'll let you guys know how it holds up...thanks....

Just 6 months ago I sold my 93 Dodge Spirit that was doing the same thing. The reason I was told it was doing this because it had been repainted. I have owned 4 Spirits and I currently own a 92 Stealth that the paint is as good as it was in 1992. My guess is your paint is not the original. Only a guess though.

[sLADe781]

No, it's definitely the original paint. I'm the second owner of the car and the previous owner never repainted it. I think it's just due to old age as it's a 12 year old car with the original paint on. What really sucks is that I noticed a very small spot that started pealing like the pictures on top on the spoiler too....imagine how horrendous it's gonna look when it spreads!!!

I washed my car over the weekend and dumped a whole bunch of wax around the area but no help. I checked the top today and it's pealing again so I am officially screwed. No money to get her repainted so I'm just gonna sit there and watch her fade away....how utterly sad...

Know what guys? Sometimes I think I may have to get rid of her. Seriously....it really is just too much sometimes. I mean, there's that thing going on with my engine right now that I can't figure out and I need a new paint job not to mention a new interior (the seats are cracking and even beginning to rip). I've been wanting to do little mods here and there but everytime I save up enough to get something something else breaks. I mean, everything is completely STOCK right now besides my strut system. Gosh, I'm still using the factory filter!!! And the fact that I'm planning to go back to school in January on top of my school loans and other bills just isn't helping. I dunno....just don't know...

[Linebckr49]

Originally Posted by sLADe781

Know what guys? Sometimes I think I may have to get rid of her. Seriously....it really is just too much sometimes. I mean, there's that thing going on with my engine right now that I can't figure out and I need a new paint job not to mention a new interior (the seats are cracking and even beginning to rip). I've been wanting to do little mods here and there but everytime I save up enough to get something something else breaks. I mean, everything is completely STOCK right now besides my strut system. Gosh, I'm still using the factory filter!!! And the fact that I'm planning to go back to school in January on top of my school loans and other bills just isn't helping. I dunno....just don't know...

if you think you need to get rid of your car, then you should never have bought it in the first place. its a sports cars. high maintenance. but you don't have to do everything. you don't NEED a new paint job...it will still run. you don't NEED a new interior, it will still drive. honestly, i think you just need to get over the fact that your car might look a little crappy for a while and just prioritize things. school should be first. in the meantime, you'll have to pay for gas/insurance. sounds like you've done most all the regular maintenance, so nothing should break (knock on wood) in the near future. as far as those little mods, just take it one at a time.

as for the crackling sound, if you can't figure it out, at least it still runs. we'd love to help you figure out the problem. just get another vid/sound clip. since it only does it on start up, then goes away, at least your car still runs.

don't freak out, bro. it will be alright.

[hink12341234]

I do remember that MOPAR had paint problems on a few models a few years ago. I'm pretty sure it was with there minivans. I hear you on the upkeep of these cars. My Stealth's condition is almost like the day it was new on the lot. The paint is still perfect and not 1 rust spot. I'm very impressed on how well it's held up. I too have 1 nagging problem that I can't fix. Tried everything and still it doesn't run right. A person does get frustrated and selling it has crossed my mind.When it runs right it's a blast to drive. It's the only car that I have owned that should be driven at 100mph. The car is "comfortable" at this speed.

[sLADe781]

Originally Posted by Linebckr49

if you think you need to get rid of your car, then you should never have bought it in the first place. its a sports cars. high maintenance. but you don't have to do everything. you don't NEED a new paint job...it will still run. you don't NEED a new interior, it will still drive. honestly, i think you just need to get over the fact that your car might look a little crappy for a while and just prioritize things. school should be first. in the meantime, you'll have to pay for gas/insurance. sounds like you've done most all the regular maintenance, so nothing should break (knock on wood) in the near future. as far as those little mods, just take it one at a time.

as for the crackling sound, if you can't figure it out, at least it still runs. we'd love to help you figure out the problem. just get another vid/sound clip. since it only does it on start up, then goes away, at least your car still runs.

don't freak out, bro. it will be alright.

**said in a sobbing tone** Thanks man, that's just what I needed to hear. It's just that....just...just....well, ever since Musashi left us, I've just been....just been really lost you know? 'Cause man, just kinda like...well...you know... Okay, I'm running out of sob stories.... LOL

On a serious side though, yeah, I know you're right. I can't afford to have her in perfect condition right now cosmetically nor will I have everything in perfect working order mechanically so it just pains me to see her in such bad shape. Not that she's in super super bad shape but you know...just not as best as it could be sucks. I mean, I had all these plans that I was going to do and now, it just seems like I won't be able to do 'em all...not as fast as I would have liked at least. So yeah, we'll see what happens I guess....

[planet_keeper]

its the curse of the 3/s. we all want our cars to perfect so badly. people look at me like im crazy when i start talking about spending hundreds of dollars on tools and fluids plus hours of work just to fix little blemishes in the paint and body and interior... then again, none of my friends are going to celebrate their car's birthday

[AutostradaVR4]

Originally Posted by planet_keeper

its the curse of the 3/s. we all want our cars to perfect so badly. people look at me like im crazy when i start talking about spending hundreds of dollars on tools and fluids plus hours of work just to fix little blemishes in the paint and body and interior... then again, none of my friends are going to celebrate their car's birthday

...thats sounds way too familiar...lol. Thats part of the reason why people think of these cars as money pits IMO. They are addictive. I know most of us are car enthusiests here, but, speaking for myself at least, theres something about the 3/s thats special. Sounds but thats the best way to put it. Theres something about them that brings out the perfectionist is people. If i wont the lotto tomorrow, sure, i would go buy a Saleen S7R, but i would also buy a few 3/s's, different years/trims etc.

Theres just something about them thats addictice. I am always jelous when i see on someones sig that they have more than 1. Someday, im gonna be one of them. I want a spyder, a '99 VR-4 and a '99 SL.

sorry to tangent. Im not alone on this feeling though right?

[planet_keeper]

imo, its because these cars are so unique and are very special machines. for the cost of a low milage civic you have a car that can run a 13.5 outta the box and a 13 flat with just a couple hundred in mods. i dont wanna turn this into a "why i love 3000gt's/stealths" thread because it would be way, way to long but i dont think ive ever seen a car with such enthusiastic owners. the average tuner is just as content to leave his car primered, put two rims on the front and write "wash me" on his rear window... why cant we just do that?

i have 2 theorys as to why we love the 3/s so much:

1.) the car looks, performs and sounds stunning while maintaining the ride, reliability and practicality (cept for the back seats, lol) to be a daily if taken good care of and not heavily modded.

-or more likely-

2.) we put so much money into fixing our cars that if we didnt have a damn good reason to do it we'd all look like jackasses

[Linebckr49]

Originally Posted by sLADe781

**said in a sobbing tone** Thanks man, that's just what I needed to hear. It's just that....just...just....well, ever since Musashi left us, I've just been....just been really lost you know? 'Cause man, just kinda like...well...you know... Okay, I'm running out of sob stories.... LOL

On a serious side though, yeah, I know you're right. I can't afford to have her in perfect condition right now cosmetically nor will I have everything in perfect working order mechanically so it just pains me to see her in such bad shape. Not that she's in super super bad shape but you know...just not as best as it could be sucks. I mean, I had all these plans that I was going to do and now, it just seems like I won't be able to do 'em all...not as fast as I would have liked at least. So yeah, we'll see what happens I guess....

its obvious you take pride in what you own. that is a good thing. don't ever let anyone discourage you in that regard. however, sometimes one must make sacrifices, and i can tell you right now that education is more important than how a car looks. if you can just keep her running and solve the mechanical problems, then later on you'll have the money to paint it and fix her up real nice. patience is a virtue, but it sucks too.