Alright Guys, this is what i saw after 8 months of owning my NHB tsx. Now imagine this all over the trunk, roof and hood. This is a super up close picture. I ask all of you to email me is you have this problem. my email address is acurapaint@hotmail.com




I will have more pictures later. It's extremely hard to take pictures on this car because of it's color...any suggestions? Thanks

 

That could be some tree sap, if that's the case, a lil WD40 on a terry cloth, or wax remover, or degreaser (not really recommended) will take it out. If it's deeper than that then you may need to buff it out. A high speed buffer would be best, however; if you have experience with it then I'd tell you to take it to a detail shop. You can try to use a decent buffing compound and put it on a damp sponge and rub gently but firmly up and down, then take that off and use a sealant over that, then wax over the sealant and that should take it out or lighten it up.

 

It's not tree sap. It looks like the paint from underneath popped. It's like that all over the hood, trunk, and roof. I had a professional detailer look at it and he seen it on several black tsx's. He assured me that it's not tree sap. He tried buffing, rubbing compound and several other techniques to smooth it out but no cigar. I'll have some more pictures up later. In some of the spots, the paint completely "popped" off and you can see the metal.

 

Clay it. Claying should get that out. Post in Wash & Wax and they'll be more than happy to help

 

That's exactly what the General Manager at Acura said. He said clay would take it off. Clay helps removes surface contaminants right? I asked the detailer about it and he said that clay bar wouldn't do any good if there's no paint there.

 

Clay will only take surface contaminants out -- it won't repair a shoddy paint job (ie: bad primer or whatever).

I'd have the service manager and/or operations manager at the dealership look at it. Get them to inquire with Acura about warrantying it, as you are covered for various types of paint defects as part of the standard bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Get a letter signed by your detailer (indicating name, place of business, years in business, and his take on the situation and possible causes and solutions). Pay him a few bucks for his time if you have to. This letter should help your case.

You might have to fight tooth and nail with the dealership to get the warranty to apply (as they can always try and play the road-debris card)... but always remember, there are higher-ups that will be able to override their decision. I had to go up to the operations manager at my dealership (he's above the service manager, below the owner), and he had to get authorization from the district manager, to get my engine replaced under warranty. But, they did get the authorization and I did get my engine... but I sure wouldn't have got it OK'd by the service manager (him and I didn't get along... at all!).

Good luck and keep up updated!

Oh, and I'd cross-post this into WAsh & Wax to see what some of the professionals there think might be the cause.

 

For the full story of what happened with me and the district manager click this link. I had made two attempts already trying to get this problem covered under my warranty and this district manager denied me twice.
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34983

 

I remember reading that thread now...

I'd DEFINITEILY send a letter to Honda North America, CC'ing the District Manager and the Dealership Owner, hilighting your disdain for the treatment from the DM, and lack of a real expert opinion that the DM based his decision on.

Send a letter from an independent detailer (a professional) as an enclosure to get their take on this. You will hopefully get a call from someone at Honda North America and have some recourse then.

Good luck man, and keep your cool. Stay professional.

 

those jerks!

 

Did your detailer have an idea of the cause for your paint to "pop" like that? The dealership, DM, etc., sound like they're going to go with "tree sap" which is likely picked out of thin air.

 

This may not help you, but I also had a paint problem myself. My meteor Silver TSX had small dark navy spots at several points on the hood and near the passenger door. I eventually got the factor rep to look at it at my local dealer. After a little coercion, ACURA repainted the entire hood. They provided me with a free loaner during the whole process.

One thing they told me was that the situation was complicated because I was not going through the dealer that sold me the car. Apparently, the original dealer is responsible for paint problems.

BTW, your own problem looks like some kind of clearcoat failure to me.

 

It might be just my opinion, but that's total BS. There's nothing in the text of the warranty that states some things are covered only at the dealership where the car is purchased and others at any dealership. I chalk that up to them trying make you feel like they are doing you a favor/courtesy by fixing what they already know they should fix.

 

As far as taking pictures I have these suggestions:

1) dont used a camera phone
2) use MACRO mode. that is for close ups (usually a flower icon on the switch)
3) focusing. since there will be little contrast for the auto focus you need to help it.
Use a credit card or business card. lay it flat on the car. have the edge near the paint flaw. let the camera focus on the edge of the card. keep the button half way down - then move the card away. (or leave it there just move it so you can see the blemish.
4) take lots of pics. choose the best to post here.

Good luck with this issue.

 

Hey Guys, i just got off the phone with Acura Client Services...it's a no go. They told me it's up to the dealerships decision if they want to cover me. They told me that getting my detailer and body shop's opinion wont do me any good. So i pretty much spend 30k on a car with white spots on it...what a total bummer. Any other ideas guys? I feel like i've been totally wronged and theres nothing i can do about it. I have no funds to pursue it any further...i'm just a broke ass college kid. What the hell am i suppose to do now?

 

You can slap a Comptech or Injen sticker over it!

 

My parents a few years back had some paint issues with a GM (Buick) vehicle they purchased. My dad fought with the dealership about the paint; the dealership kept saying it was acid rain, the environment, not properly waxing, etc., etc. He had discussions with GM, and they essentially towed the line with the dealership and refused repair.

My dad filed a suit in small claims court. On the day the papers were served, my dad received a phone call asking for a meeting locally to look at the car. At the meeting, they asked my dad what he wanted. My dad said he wanted to have 1) his choice of places to take the car to be completely repainted with GM paying full costs incurred, 2) a rental car/gasoline for the entire time period, and 3) refund of the money paid for the rustproofing/paint protection the dealership added to the car when it was delivered.

There was no argument. GM agreed in full. My dad took the car to a local place where they took the car completely apart, stripped the paint and applied new primer and then re-painted. I think the place had the car for something like 6 weeks. All in all, the total payment made by GM for the rental car, the protection refund and the paint job was about $8k.

My dad sold the car 6 months later and never bought GM again.

Stand up to them. It will only cost a little bit of cash to file a small-claims suit against them. At the very least, it will get their attentiont hat you mean business. Don't let 'em walk on ya.

 

kjamsf,

i'm taking a interest in your idea...so where can i find a sticker that big....???? lol

 

Hey guys,

Thanks for the support. I really appreciate it. I"m glad i joined this forum. I love acura/honda's and i dont think i'll ever stop buying one. Zaxdude, i'm gonna see what i can do...i'm gonna take my car to several body shops and have them look at the paint issue. At first i thought it was acid rain...but there's no acid rain in sunny sacramento, ca. I'm actually taking a business law class. My teacher was a lawyer but decided to teach after having her child. I'm going to ask her for some free advice...hopefully she can help me out. I'm gonna stay optimistic because of you guys. I'll keep you all updated. Thanks and wish me luck.

 

I think this is a VERY good idea, and following the path of ZAXdude's dad is probably a wise approach as well.

As always, remain professional when dealing with the dealership (especially after the papers are filed), and be adamant that you are not going to stop until it's fixed properly, at your convenience, at a place of your choice.

Good luck and KEEP US POSTED!

 

Wow your dad is tough!

 

oh and good luck to you PiSSed.

 

Hey Guys, strange thing happened today. I got a call form acura client services and the same guy i spoke to told me to take pictures and email it to him. At first he was telling me that the dealership has the final say, but now he's going to look into it. I sure hope I can get this resolved...

 

sweet

 

Here's some super up close pictures of the blemish.....





I want to keep this thread going! I still haven't heard from client services...but i'm still hopeful!

 

^^^The spidering blemish looks like you left bird shit sitting for a while.

Are the white spots actual pits? Can you feel them with your fingernail?

 

I feel your pain, I don't have the spider web looking spots but the entire front end is covered with those white spots. Anyone had any lucking getting rid of them, Ive been to 3 detailing shops and been told everything from claying to speed polishing to painting. I'm going to see my dealer after work hopefully they have some answers for me.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

The other guy didnt say, but maybe you can tell me. Are the white spots something that feels like a chip? Or do they feel like a bump?

 

These spots feel like pits. First they look like webs then it starts chipping. In the picture it looks like you can peel it away, but you can.

 

All right guys, here's the update. As mentioned before, acura client services called me again and told me to send pictures which i did. A few days later, i get this voice message from the guy who's handling my case. He said since he didnt get an email from me, he's closing the case. I was like what the f*#K?!??!!? I emailed him the pictures and sent a blind copy to myself for records. I called him and he didn't answer his phone. I emailed him twice already and have not heard from him.

I dont know what's going on, but i think i'm getting played here. First he tells me he couldnt do anything about it. Then he calls me and tells me that i'm not cooperating. I email him the pictures and then he tells me he never received them. Man, this is totally pissing me off. Screw this, i'm gonna take my car to a couple body shops and have them look at the paint. If they all say dealer, i'm gonna tell them to give me a quote for repairs. Then i'll file a complaint with Consumer Affairs and seek more legal advice. I'm getting tired of this and it's been 5 months already and it feels like they've been wasting my time. I need all the support i can get guys. Thanks

 

Does the person who handles your case have a manager? When I was frustrated with Acura I thought about sending a letter to Dick Colliver, Executive Vice President, American Honda Motor Co., Inc as well. However, I wasn't sure which address to use.

Time to move it up to the next level! I hate hearing how they screw consumers over

Keep fighting them, they'll cave.

 

Ok. Well, honestly I can see this happening on the hood. Espically if you drive on the highway often. But it just dosent make sense to have it on the roof and trunk as well.

Do you see this pitting on the sides as well?? That would seal it that the paint job is bad in my book.

 

Time to move it up the flagpole and start dropping the lawyer threats.