Examples of paint defects

Code 62 - Sealant, adhesive or primer residue 

Cause 

• Substance applied too liberally. Panel deformed after application.

Action 

• Remove the residue then apply primer first, then new amount of substance and repaint.

Code 63 - Corrosion, smooth surfaces 

Cause 

• mechanical damage to the panel (stone chips)
• moisture and water drops on clean panel before painting
• fingermarks on clean panel

Action 

• Stone chips which have not developed creeping corrosion should be dealt with as recommended in the vehicle instruction manual. If damage is extensive or if due to moisture, water or marks originating from the manufacturing process before paintspraying, sand down to the panel and rebuild the paintwork from scratch.
• Some customers believe stone chips caused by studded tires are due to defective paintwork. A useful rule when inspecting and discussing with customers is to compare the vehicle headlights, windshield etc. with paint on the surfaces where there is a risk of stone chip damage.

Code 64 - Corrosion at seams 

Cause 

• Sub-standard welding, defective welding agent, gap in weld allowing moisture to penetrate and defective adhesive.

Action 

• Sand-blast and repaint the seam. Once paint is dry, treat seam with rustproofing agent.
• Treat inside of seam with penetrating rustproofing liquid.

Code 64 - Creeping corrosion 

Cause 

• Creeping or filiform corrosion occurs when the paint surface is missing for various reasons, e.g cracked panel or stone chips and continues to spread if the panel is not pre-treated to prevent this.

Action 

• Sand down to panel in corroded area and repaint.

Code 80 - Color defect, blotches in paint 

Solid and Metallic

Cause 

• Old paint
• Paint inadequately stirred
• Paint too long in paintsprayer
• Incorrect amount of hardener
• Incorrect viscosity or thinning
• Incorrect air pressure
• Mixing different brands

Metallic too dark

Cause 

• Metallic undercoat sprayed too wet

Metallic too light

Cause 

• Metallic undercoat sprayed too dry

Action 

• Sand off top coat and repaint. Use wet sandpaper P600.
• Match shade carefully by spray tests.

Code 81 - Paint runs, drops 

Cause 

• Paint viscosity too low
• Topcoat too thick in places
• Drying time between sprayings too short

Metallic paint:

Action 

• Remove paint edge carefully with a razor blade. Sand area lightly with P 1200 sandpaper and polish. If this does not work, sand down and paint entire surface.

Non-metallic paint:

Action 

• Remove paint run carefully with a razor blade. Sand down with P 1200 sandpaper and polish.

Code 82 - Impurities in paint 

Cause 

• Dirt particles in air in spray box (dirty intake filter).
• Inappropriate working clothes (linen).
• Poor cleaning.
• Dirt in paint.
• Poorly cleaned paint filter.
• Old paint.
• Contaminated spray air.

Action 

• Trapped particles that are unacceptable to the customer should be sanded and polished. Repaint only if sanding and polishing have little effect and repainting can ensure the eradication of the dirt.

Code 83 - Orange peel surface, matt paint 

Cause 

• Thinner evaporated too quickly
• Incorrect viscosity (too thick)
• Air humidity in spray box too high
• Incorrect spray pressure
• Paint coat too thick
• Difference in temperature between paint and surface
• Uneven drying

Action 

• Sand down the topcoat until the orange peel effect is removed using P 400 or P 600 sandpaper and polish up with polishing paste and repolish.

Repaint if this does not work.

Code 84 - Paint coat too thin 

Cause 

• Inadequate spraying

Action 

• Note that thin paint is acceptable on certain internal surfaces such as the engine compartment and trunk (boot) and inside the car on surfaces covered by upholstery and seats. On external surfaces, sand down with P 400 or P 600 sandpaper and repaint.

Code 85 - Spray mist, masking faults, visible paint seams. Other visible signs of repair e.g brush retouching 

Cause 

• Masking not applied properly (poor masking).
• Spray pressure too high.
• The paint repairs or brush retouching carried out during production have not produced a satisfactory result for some reason.

(Polishing repairs) 

Action 

• Either polish alone or sand down and then polish. Do not polish over edges.

(Paint repairs) 

Action 

• Only remove color fog by sanding if polishing does not give the required result. Sand down to matt and reapply topcoat.
• Surfaces can be touched up at the actual spot or by limited repainting of the area.

Code 86 - Sanding scratches to the panel or primer coat 

Cause 

• Sanding edges, holes, scratches, circular marks or lumps.

Action 

• Minor sanding marks can be removed by wet sanding with P 1000-1200 sandpaper and polishing. Only in the case of extensive scratching should the damaged area be sanded, filled and painted.

Code 87 - Scratches to paintwork 

Cause 

• Scratching by sharp objects, polishing marks or cleaning scratches.

Action 

• Treat minor scratches with polishing paste and polish.
• Sand down deeper scratches using 1200 sandpaper, polish with polishing paste and shine up with polish.
• Scratches down to the primer coat should be filled in with paint and polished. Respraying may be necessary.

Code 88 - Cracking 

Cause 

• Paintwork too thick
• Low oven temperature
• With metallic paints, ultra-violet(UV) radiation (especially in hot climates)

Action 

• Sand down to primer coat (P 320) and rebuild topcoat.

Code 89 - Blistering 

Cause 

• Sweat on hands
• Hard water
• Surface not properly cleaned

Action 

• Sand down to primer coat (P 320) and rebuild topcoat.

Code 90 - Craters in paint ("fish eyes") 

Cause 

• Silicon in environment or paint
• Oil or water in spray air
• Thinning too fast
• Incorrect thinning
• Wrong oven temperature.
• Paint viscosity too thick.
• Evaporation time before firing too short. Should be 10-15 minutes.
• Excessive application at high temperatures.

Action 

• Sand down to the panel and repaint surface.

If craters are only in topcoat, there is no need to sand down to the panel.

Code 91 - Flaking paint, edge peeling or stone chips 

Cause 

• Poor cleaning
• Poor bonding
• Wrong paint used
• Other mechanical causes, e.g. stone chips
• Mechanical causes after the vehicle is passed by factory quality control, e.g. in transit.
• Paint coat too thick, e.g. after touching up.

Action 

• Sand down and rebuild a new coat of paint.

  Check adhesion of topcoat by applying tape to paint surface and pulling away suddenly.

  If topcoat sticks to tape, sand down to primer coat (P 230), rebuild topcoat.

• Apply paint with touch-up brush or repair spraying.

Code 92 - Atmospheric effects on paint (Oil, bird droppings etc.) 

(Industrial emissions/ acid spots) 

Cause 

• Aggressive chemical substances such as limestone, cement, rust and acid vapor in conjunction with moisture, mainly affect horizontal surfaces, e.g. bird droppings, oil, soot, degreasing agents etc.

(Bird droppings) 

Cause 

• Droppings, especially from seabirds, corrode painted surfaces.

Action 

• Minor changes in color can be remedied by sanding with P 1200 sandpaper and polishing. For extensive areas of staining, sand down and rebuild paintwork. Spray primer coat on areas which are sanded through.
• Clean immediately when discovered, if serious, respraying is required.

Code 93 - Mechanical impact on paint (spark shower) 

(Industrial emissions, flying rust, spark shower from train etc.) 

Cause 

• Rusty iron dust particles on paint (horizontal surfaces). Spark showers from railway, street car, trolley-bus contact leads and train brakes etc.

Action 

• Clean with 3% oxalic acid and then wash down with plenty of water. Polishing may be necessary for heavy damage. If particles are embedded deep in paint, paint repairs will be necessary.