[Noizemaker]

So yeah. Downside number one to a daily driven Elise... people have zero respect.

Got home tonight and found a half-dollar sized chunk of cracked and spiderwebbed paint on the left side of the back hatch. Looks like someone was pissed and used my car as a stand while they opened their car by throwing their crap on it. (it was a bad day at work with layoffs, etc... lots of people carrying crap out of their offices today. ****ty situation.) Only thing I can think, 'cause it wasn't there yesterday and there's no damage on the underside of the hatch, so I didn't do it with anything in the trunk.

So anyhow. I'm not paying to repaint the hatch right now. If the paint crack collects moisture or dirt it'll become REALLY evident though and I want to head that off at the pass. Any idea how I can keep the paint in one place until I can get it fixed?

 

[SweetDaddyD]

Put a big racing gumball over it?

 

[Demonized]

Post a picture.

 

[RacyTracy]

I was thinking maybe a 3" square piece of Starshield over it.

 

[Noizemaker]

Post a picture.

Oh, i will. Waiting for my slr battery to charge, my cameraphone couldn't figure out what to focus on.

Starshield/vinyl/something sounds like my best bet, didn't really want to call attention to it but c'est la vie.

 

[Noizemaker]

I dunno what's up with it, if I didn't know better i'd say it came up from the bottom, but there's no paint damage there so it's gotta be from above!

 

[Dragon]

You could find a cool sticker to put over it to hide it, but even if it is left exposed I don't think you'll have any problems.

 

[Vampyre]

That is too bad someone did that to your car...

 

[DeanG]

I have a sticker over a similar star shaped crack on my M100. It has held up pretty well for 9 years.

 

[Vishus_1]

You could find a cool sticker to put over it to hide it, but even if it is left exposed I don't think you'll have any problems.

I disagree. Correct me if I am wrong but it looks as if the center is chipped or at least the clear is? If so, and it isn't sealed air will get under there and cause it to spread and flake in time. Particularly with water. The only real solution is respray. I think you may temporarily stunt it with something like a clear bra or star shield - but if removed, may take the paint underneath with it. :sad:

 

[Dragon]

I disagree. Correct me if I am wrong but it looks as if the center is chipped or at least the clear is? If so, and it isn't sealed air will get under there and cause it to spread and flake in time. Particularly with water. The only real solution is respray. I think you may temporarily stunt it with something like a clear bra or star shield - but if removed, may take the paint underneath with it. :sad:

When I posted the pic's weren't showing up, but even then it's fiberglass just like 90% of all small boats and canoes around the world. However after seeing the pics there is a good chance some paint will probably chip off that area the first time you hit it with a power washer or snag it with a sponge when washing the car. I would suggest just getting a touch up paint tube with the little brush and fixing it up as best you can. You could always touch paint it to fill in the cracks etc, sand just that area smooth and then do a stripe kit over it as well.

 

[Noizemaker]

I disagree. Correct me if I am wrong but it looks as if the center is chipped or at least the clear is? If so, and it isn't sealed air will get under there and cause it to spread and flake in time. Particularly with water. The only real solution is respray. I think you may temporarily stunt it with something like a clear bra or star shield - but if removed, may take the paint underneath with it. :sad:

Yep. that's exactly my concern. The center is chipped and ever so slightly lifted. I know carwash and sponge will crack it. I figure clearbra and remove when it's time to respray should do me.

 

[Valenz]

From your second picture it would appear to me that there's a small subsurface eruption just to the lower right of the main defect. That's usually caused by small (solvent) molecule infiltration into the plastic. Is there a chance that a chemical was spilled or placed on the lid? If so the plastic below the paint is probably seriously damaged. I wish I could see it in person to have a better look. Any chance you can get a high-res macro photo at about a 45 degree angle to the surface with a tight focus on the defect?

 

[Noizemaker]

I'll try. The only lens I have is a 50mm though. I'll grab batteries and the macro ring for my old S1 IS though and have at it.