Anyone know a good forum for paint and rust repair questions? I've been lurking and getting most of my car questions answered around here for so long I don't know where else I would trust to ask questions. I have an issue with my daily driver (2001 Ford Escape) the paint on the roof is cracking and I'm getting rust in the cracks. I'm just trying to figure out the most economical way of making sure it doesn't get worse. I'm not overly concerned about the looks since the car got totaled this summer with hail, over all it doesn't look bad I just don't want it to get worse.

Thanks in advance

 

With bodywork it's pretty standard, I know it's not 'thirdgen related' persay but if you just posted and said "the paint on the roof is cracking and I'm getting rust in the cracks. I'm just trying to figure out the most economical way of making sure it doesn't get worse. I'm not overly concerned about the looks since the car got totaled this summer with hail, over all it doesn't look bad I just don't want it to get worse."

Try hitting it with some wet 1000 grit and then polishing compound, or you could just buff it with the compound alone. Chances are it's just surface stuff and the clearcoat has worn away allowing for oxidation of something in the paint.

 

Thank you for the reply. Yes the clearcoat appears to be mostly gone (my fault I have only waxed it 3 times in the 13 years I've owned the car), but from what it looks like is that the colorcoat is cracking and pealing up in small spots, and it's worse right above the windshield. My thought was to do a light sanding, apply some sort of rust converter/inhibitor (any recommendations? which I need to use on my Camaro anyway!) and then paint with just a black paint of some kind. I was thinking a flat black or some kind of thick paint (the car is blue and since it's tall a not so perfect roof isn't a big deal), does anyone have a recommendation of a rattle can paint that would look reasonable, but doesn't need to be perfect since I can barely see the roof and I'm 6'2"!

 

I've fixed and painted several thousand cars now and I've never ran into anything like what you're describing on that new of a car. Do you know if the roof has ever been repainted? Factory paint shouldn't do that, it sounds like clearcoat failure from a cheap repaint. And even then, its odd that its rusting. EDIT - I know very hot states have problems with factory clear peeling, but I wouldn't think Denver would be that hot, am I right?

POR15 is the only rust stopping product I would recommend to anyone, but you need to get it down to the metal to use it. I don't think you'll find any rust converter product that can put applied over paint (someone correct me if I'm wrong). I hate to say it but there is no easy or cheap fix here. If you paint POR15 or anything else over peeling clearcoat, not only will the new paint not adhere, but when the old clear keeps peeling the new stuff will come off too. Sanding won't help either. If its not its far enough down to take care of the rust then its pointless. My advice is either pay a shop strip it to the metal and repaint it or leave it be.

 

I've used duplicolor and rustoleum rust converters with good results, I wire brush the area, then apply the converter, let it dry, and then wire brush it again and reapply (then sand the final coat).

Not perfect by anymeans, but if it's already totalled and you just want to stop the rust from getting worse then that will do the trick.

 

Here are some pictures of the paint, I'm never seen this with paint either. So I think I will get some POR15(or equal) and get some practice for my Camaro, I will wire brush and sand it a little first. And then get a can of Rustolium for a top coat (I think satin black should look okay). Thanks guys for your input on this.