Paint fading underneath clear coat.

[Snowman620]

I hav a 2005 liberty that in the last year the paint has started fading underneath the clear coat. Just gotten worse in past 2 months. Took to a body shop that has been in business for 25 plus years. I was told that he has never seen this in all the time he has been in the paint business. This jeep in 8 years old and the paint should not be fading under the clear coat. This is factory paint. Does anyone have any input.

 

[tommudd]

Paint fades over time
I assume from the looks of your sig you're in Texas
If it sits outside a lot under the hot sun it'll fade
Depends on how its been taken care of also , how often you wax etc

 

[tjkj2002]

I hav a 2005 liberty that in the last year the paint has started fading underneath the clear coat. Just gotten worse in past 2 months. Took to a body shop that has been in business for 25 plus years. I was told that he has never seen this in all the time he has been in the paint business. This jeep in 8 years old and the paint should not be fading under the clear coat. This is factory paint. Does anyone have any input.

Guess that painter is still using single stage paints.

You have a 2 stage paint on your KJ and the 1st stage,the color,is dull to begin with.The clear coat is what makes it shinny.If the color is fading that means the clearcoat is worn off and exposing the 1st stage to air which will make it look faded.

 

[JeepCoMJ]

I'm guessing the paint code shows up as salsa red, one of the greens, or black. Mine is salsa red, the paint has faded UNDER the clear like the OP's. it looks great, and I've had my detailer use a special low RPM buffing compound that's black instead of clear to buff it back to darker. It's UV resistant, I'll ask him what it is...I know it's a carcinogen and is no longer produced, but he had some left over.

 

[jeepguy4276]

Mine is salsa red with the same problem.

It is actually in the color base coat beneath the clear coat. My clear coat is nice and has great shine. I have detailed cars for many years and this is the first I have seen this actual problem. I have seen issues with clear coat or thin base coat issues, but not this. This is odd. It is over the entire car just like a single stage would fade. Mine actually has marks on the hood in the color coat that looks like a chemical has run over the paint, run marks but not paint runs. It's weird.

I have done a little buffing on it and it shines great and many of the scratched came out. This fading is still there. Like I said, I have been detailing and buffing cars for years and am skilled in color sanding and have done bodywork and painting. All I can figure is the paint manufacturer jeep used originally used something different to get the metallic and pearlescent look.

Compounding has not worked for me as it's in the color coat. I'd be interested in knowing a technique that has worked. I will try color sanding some but I don't think it will help.

Perhaps an automotive paint chemist could help. It is totally weird.

 

[Keseleth]

Yikes...the southwest has struck again. Hopefully someone speaks up with a miracle solution, because it sounds like you'll have to cut through the clear one way or another.

Vibrant red paints are chemically a lot more susceptible to fading. The duller, more natural colors get their pigment from inorganic compounds, which are very hardy and resistant to weather and light. The richer, more vivid colors (like Salsa Red) have synthetic organics added to the mix. While some of these synthetic-organic pigments hold up pretty well, the majority will fade from sun and weather exposure. It's a trade-off between eye-catching color and longevity. No amount of clear-coat, waxing, or claying will prevent it. (Unless, of course, you're doing so in a garage...haha)

Here's a link to a thread on another forum about the same issue:
Faded Milano - Detailing World

Best of luck to you!

 

[jeepguy4276]

Very interesting. Seams to be a big problem with some cars.

I'm in North Dakota and the truck has been up here since new. We get sun like everyone else, just not as much. Lol. Fading isn't as big of a problem up here but it does happen. Maybe that's why I haven't seen it.

It appears it is caused by something in the paint that gives it it special coot characteristics. Maybe it's not that common, I have only found a couple posts about it with jeeps. At least not common enough for jeep to do anything about it.

Maybe I'll send jeep an email just to see what they say.

Thanks for posting that link. I had brought it up on a couple detailing forums I'm on and didn't really get any responses beyond "it can't be a clearcoat".

For now, after I finish buffing it, it has a nice shine and looks great to about 15'. A repraint is in the future.