How to get gloss/shine back?

[carluver111]

I have a 2005 White Honda Accord and the gloss/shine is almost gone. When I touch the surface it seems a little rough like the paint is dry. It's always been in the sun and parked outside for a couple of years. What would you guys recommend? Do I need to add clear coat? Or just wash, clay bar, swirl remover, polish, wax? Would that give it back some shine? Let me know on your ideas/recommendations. Thanks in advance.

 

[RhetoricMixes]

Your second train of thougt is the best. Since your paint feels rough it is probably loaded with contaminants. Claying will remove those and make the surface smooth again like paint should feel. Always follow clay with a compound or medium cut polish (depending on your paints condition) and then follow that with a wax or sealant. My bets reply to you would be to read and then read some more when it comes to using all the products i listed.

 

[BobbyG]

Do you know if its a single stage or 2 stage finish?

Typically, a single stage finish oxidizes much faster than its color coat / clear coat counterpart.

I'd try working on one section to determine what the required course of action would be to breath life back into it.

Will you be working with a dual action polisher?

Possible order of operation;

• Wash
• Clay
• Paint cleaner
  • Inspect
• Compound
  • Inspect
• Polish
• Sealant
• Wax

 

[carluver111]

@BobbyG, yes I will be using a PC 7424XP polisher. I'm guessing the surface is dry and not smooth due to being in the sun a lot. I'm not sure or know what stage finish it is. When I wash it, there really is no gloss at all. After I dry the car it has a stale-like chalky feeling. What is the "compound" in the order of operations?

 

[BobbyG]

@BobbyG, yes I will be using a PC 7424XP polisher. I'm guessing the surface is dry and not smooth due to being in the sun a lot. I'm not sure or know what stage finish it is. When I wash it, there really is no gloss at all. After I dry the car it has a stale-like chalky feeling. What is the "compound" in the order of operations?

Over time single stage, color only, begin to oxidize leaving the finish looking dull and chalky. To test for this, take a cloth with some compound or polish and rub it on the finish. If the color transfers to the cloth then it's a single stage finish...

Compound is generally the most course or aggressive product and from the chart below would be PG-1000 or PG 1000 – PowerGloss Compound (POS34A)

This is a chart of Menzerna products broken down from course to very fine noted by the sanding grit level..

 

[carluver111]

@BobbyG, Thanks for the chart. I think I'm going to try out the Menzerna Power Gloss PG-1000. So here would be my order of operations:

1. Wash and Dry
2. Clay Bar
3. Do I need paint cleaner?
4. Menzerna Power Gloss PG-1000 (for compound)
5. Polish w/ Wolfgang Finishing Glaze 3.0
6. Do I need a paint sealant
7. Pinnacle Souveran Wax

What do you think? Do I need to use swirl remover before wolfgang polish or before menzerna for compound? What about applying paint sealant then wax or just add wax?

 

[fahoumh]

Do you know if its a single stage or 2 stage finish?

Typically, a single stage finish oxidizes much faster than its color coat / clear coat counterpart.

I didn't even know newer cars even came with single-stage paint anymore. I always figured every car these days had a separate clear coat.

Although it would explain why my friend's white 2004 Corolla looks so dull.

 

[embolism]

after claying, take a cloth that is not white, put some compound on it, and rub a test spot. If the cloth gets white (not just from the product) then that's single stage paint.

I'd be careful compounding a honda. The paint is pretty thin to begin with. Maybe try some DG 501 or xmt360 AIO like in Mike's KISS makeover of a toyota tundra...