Re: Should I repaint my car?

On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:28:16 -0600, "DemoDisk" <packrat@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
wrote:

>Hm. I've never seen advice here about paint issues, but it would be
>nice.
>
>I have the same problem with my old Sentra -- its pale bronze finish has
>frosted-looking patches on the trunk and hood. Some guy told me that
>will happen with a lot of metallic paints. But I can scrape it with a
>fingernail and it's bronze underneath.
>
>What's the truth?

Hard to say without seeing it - but it sounds like the clear coat has
died. Modern metallic paints have a base layer (or two) with color and
metallic and then a clear coat on top to protect the lower layers. If
the clear goes bad, you will get the effect you mentioned. 

Unfortunately there's rarely any fix other than repainting. You can
try poli****ng with a suitable compound but if it's at the point where
it comes off with a fingernail, it's probably hosed.