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Factory paint run under the clearcoat???
Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 5:36 pm
by DWenz
It's the weirdest thing. You cannot feel it. And you can only see it in extremely bright sunlight from just the right angle. I just recently noticed this after having the car a year.
Looks like the factory paint ran and was clearcoated over.
Let me know what you think.
Suzuki says it's damage and isn't responsible. The car was bought new by me and never damaged... there anyway....
Re: Factory paint run under the clearcoat???
Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 2:23 am
by murcod
It's a dent from someone pushing your bonnet shut instead of dropping it to close it.
My Kizashi has a similar dent - thanks to Suzuki! I didn't notice it until after I took delivery.
Re: Factory paint run under the clearcoat???
Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 12:58 pm
by DWenz
I agree it LOOKS like a dent but there's no disruption in the metal whatsoever. The surface is as smooth as the rest of the car.
And if it is I'm even more pissed. Only my local Suzuki guys and I have ever had any reason to open/close it. And I know I didn't push down on it.
I would think you should feel something.

Re: Factory paint run under the clearcoat???
Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 1:27 pm
by murcod
You can't feel mine either. It only takes the slightest indentation for it to show up in a reflection off a panel.
Re: Factory paint run under the clearcoat???
Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 4:33 pm
by KuroNekko
If it really bothers you, try consulting with a paintless dent removal professional. If the area can be accessed from under the hood, it can be perfected (assuming it's a dent, not a paint issue).
The process involves massaging out the dent and then leveling it down from both sides. This way, imperfections you can't feel but can see are leveled. Really good pros do amazing work. I had a ding literally disappear with this process. I need to get another ding done soon too.
Re: Factory paint run under the clearcoat???
Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 9:00 pm
by Speed_Racer
It's hard to tell from the lighting, but what if it's not a dent but a crease?
Someone pushes too hard on the clamshell hood to close it and the sheetmetal pops in for a moment (you know that sound hah) then when the person lets go it pops back to its original position. But there's still a crease in the metal from it?
Re: Factory paint run under the clearcoat???
Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 9:23 pm
by SamirD
murcod wrote:It's a dent from someone pushing your bonnet shut instead of dropping it to close it.
I never drop the hood on my japanese cars. You simply let it down, push it to click once, and then gentle push it again. There's never any need to use enough force to bend any metal for sure.
But it does look more like a crease than a run.
Re: Factory paint run under the clearcoat???
Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 9:46 pm
by KuroNekko
I personally prefer the dropping method as it reduces the risk of damaging the hood as Murcod described and some latches don't work well with the push down method. I drop it from roughly 20 centimeters from the closed position. I also have a hood deflector so that makes dropping easier than pushing closed as pushing can damage the deflector.
I've only owned Japanese cars and this is the way I prefer.
Re: Factory paint run under the clearcoat???
Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 3:24 am
by murcod
SamirD - go check your bonnet in the sunlight like in the pictures above. I'd be most surprised if you haven't got similar dents- they're very hard to spot.
I think you'll find in the owner's manual it will tell you to drop it. You even need to be careful closing the boot (trunk) lid these days, body panel metal just isn't as thick as it used to be back 20-30yrs ago!
Have a read of this!
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php ... d60bd17c57
Edit: from the owner's manual
To close the engine hood:
1) Lift the hood up slightly and remove the
prop rod from the hole (5). Put the prop
rod back to the holding clip (4).
2) Lower the hood close to the bumper,
then let it drop down. Make sure the
hood is securely latched after closing.
Re: Factory paint run under the clearcoat???
Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 7:46 am
by bootymac
Wow, learn something new everyday