Yellowing chip guard on my new white Subaru

M

markf45

New member
Joined
Mar 26, 2011
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Last November, my wife and I bought a new 2011 Subaru Impreza in satin white pearl. Within just a couple of months, the bottom of the car along both sides had begun to yellow. It is a rough textured surface there. Yesterday, I took the car into the dealer for the first oil change and asked them about it. Their response was: "That's the chip guard to protect the paint. This is normal. It will be a different color than the vehicle." Well, it matched the rest of the car the day I brought it home. Now it has yellowed quite badly and looks horrible. I contacted Subaru HQ with a "vehicle problem" report and was told basically that they'll document this in their customer service database but they have no solution for me.

Can anybody give me some advice on how to fix this? Thanks.
 
Can you post some pictures for us?

It may very well be the chip guard yellowing but it definitely should not be.
 
Chip guard = Film? If yes, they do yellow on occasion and may have to be replaced.
 
Yes, I believe it is a film. I was wondering if I could strip it off without wrecking the paint.

I was able to get one decent shot of it. I'll try to attach it.
 
markf45 said:
Yes, I believe it is a film. I was wondering if I could strip it off without wrecking the paint.

I was able to get one decent shot of it. I'll try to attach it.
Click to expand...

First off.. Welcome to AG! My name is Eric. I also have an Impreza. I have a 2008 in Newport Blue Pearl.

It almost justs looks as if its dirty. Have you tried using an All Purpose Cleaner (APC as we call it) on it?
 
Hi Eric.

Yes, I tried Simple Green on a small spot with no success. I even worked it in with a soft-bristled tooth brush. I felt I could do so safely since it's a textured surface and I believe there's a film covering the actual paint.
 
Yes, there is a film covering the paint, my sisters actually came off, she lives in PA, the dealer paid for the body shop fix, not sure what they did to it though. That film is designed to keep your paint from getting torn up by rocks, I've heard of guys using heatguns to remove it but I wouldn't recommend it.
 
lgtftw said:
Yes, there is a film covering the paint, my sisters actually came off, she lives in PA, the dealer paid for the body shop fix, not sure what they did to it though. That film is designed to keep your paint from getting torn up by rocks, I've heard of guys using heatguns to remove it but I wouldn't recommend it.
Click to expand...

That's how a body shop will remove the film. They will use a heat gun to loosen up the glue and then peel it off slowly. Then go back with an adhesive remover.
 
I've removed clear bras ( same material) use a blow dryer, not a heat gun and slowly peel it off. It's easy. And quite easy to re-install
 
If its a 2011 take it back to the dealer and let them deal with it
 
yeah the film especially on the white will turn yellow but, usually it take a while for that to happen.
 
Can you clay and polish these films like the famous 3m clearbra? We are talking about a clear bra right?
 
If it were installed in Japan.. it could be radiation. Haha.. JK.

Yeah, take it into the dealership and explain it calmly. I'm sure they will take care of it without question.

Be careful to NOT let them touch the rest of your paint.. or give it a courtesy wash!

.... small off topic story...

A few days ago at the dealership the guy who normally works the counter wasn't working. He always asks if I want my car washed and I politely decline. This new guy didn't ask me.. I went and sat down.. and 5 minutes later I go and politely tell him to please not wash my car. He goes "We already did".. I said "your kidding, right?". He told me they always wash it BEFORE working on it. I just about had a heart attack!

I mentioned to him that I detail cars and he said, "oh its ok, we wash HUNDREDS of cars a day and its soft cloth". I was boiling blood but didn't let him know it. A guy also getting his car worked on overheard me say I detail cars... so I gained a new client. :D
 
I believe that chip guard is sprayed on....I could be wrong, but I know I've seen my father apply it back in the day. I'd try spraying some Tarminator on it and see if that cleans it up.

attachment.php


like this stuff here, but the clear version...
912assym.jpg
 
Thanks everybody for all the advice. I believe I'll be taking the car back to the dealer and telling them it needs to be fixed. Remove it or clean it, I don't care but it's unacceptable as it is. Being only 5 months old, the dealer should take care of it at no charge.

BTW, I didn't try claying but I tried Simple Green, paint cleaner and polish. I suppose I could try claying and a tar remover too. Otherwise, nothing seems to clean it up which says to me that it's yellowing, not just dirty.
 
markf45 said:
Thanks everybody for all the advice. I believe I'll be taking the car back to the dealer and telling them it needs to be fixed. Remove it or clean it, I don't care but it's unacceptable as it is. Being only 5 months old, the dealer should take care of it at no charge.
Click to expand...

Yes, they "should" take care of this at no charge. If not, then do as lgtftw suggested and start knocking monitors off the service advisors desks :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top