Complete Paint Job to Fix Delaminating Paint & Microchecking

Almost Everything's Car of the Day is a 2008 Honda Civic Coupe. The original paint was peeling off in chunks. It also had microchecking, something that can happen to any car but we see more often on certain years of Hondas & Acuras. Microchecking looks a bit like cracked ice. It usually occurs when the primer under the paint is failing. Microchecking can allow water to penetrate to the metal and cause rust.

We sanded off the delaminating paint and repaired a quarter panel. We stripped the panels with microchecking down to bare metal. Then we applied a coat of primer-sealer and painted the entire car in the original Nighthawk Black Pearl using single-stage Enamel+UV Protection paint.

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Close-up of microchecking: lots of small cracks that can be caused by repeated heating & cooling.

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Rusty Honda Makes a Comeback

Almost Everything's Car of the Day is a 2000 Honda Accord Coupe. The owner did a great job fixing damage himself. However he soon found his brand new hood was rusting.

The hood had been primed but not painted. It is a common misconception that primer prevents rust. It is true that primer is essential in the fight. But primer and paint are designed to work together, separately they fail. Primer "bites" into metal and plastic to establish the bond between a surface and paint. Primer is porous, full of microscopic holes. These holes allow the paint to sink in and connect. Paint is not porous and keeps out water and rust.

It is critical to paint a primed part as quickly as possible to prevent rust. Once rust starts, it is like cancer. It is hard to fight and can return and grow again.

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Santa's Honda

Most folks don't recognize Santa driving around town. On the reindeers' days off he sports a 1997 Honda Accord. Mrs. Claus says that Santa is mostly a very good boy. So while he was off making his rounds she brought his car to us for an upgrade. After all, a beat-up green Honda isn't how Santa should roll.

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Things to Look for After an Accident

Bumpers are designed to take minor hits without showing much damage. Generally it's a good thing. But when the bumpers pop back into shape, they can hide damage. Almost Everything's Car of the Day is a good example. This 2000 Civic was hit from behind in the center of the bumper. There's a dent on the corner but that is actually from a previous accident. The photos below show some telltale signs that there may be more damage than is obvious on the surface.

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This is where the impact occurred. The dent is almost unnoticeable.

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Panel gaps up to 1/4" and sometimes even 1/2" can be normal but this one is approx. 1" and is uneven.

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Gaps on the side of the car are bigger than at the front bumper and the bumper is pushed forward.

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When we take the bumper cover off, you can see more significant damage.

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The bumper reinforcement has a big crease and the energy absorber is cracked.

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Flange where bumper attaches is bent.

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Large, irregular panel gap indicates damage under the bumper cover.

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Panel gaps are back to normal after the bumper and components are replaced.

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Large, irregular panel gap indicates damage under the bumper cover.

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Panel gaps are back to normal after the bumper and components are replaced.

Yeeowh! Bumper Torn Off Honda Odyssey

A car sheared off  the front end this Honda Odyssey and left shreds of metal embedded in the minivan. The damage looks serious but the minivan driver stopped quickly and avoided doing significant damage to her car. She and her husband bought a bumper cover themselves and asked us to paint and install it. The cost was less than her deductible.

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