Can Someone Explain the Paint Problem?

[KennyWill]

Hey,

New since November owner of my first Volvo: 2001 V70 XC.
Can someone explain the nature of the exterior paint problem? Ext. the finish has several "blotches" as if an outer layer vaporized - Not unlike when one is sanding wood and you sand away the varnish in one area.

Cheers

[jreed]

Could this be the thin layer of clear coat coming off in some areas of the paint? I'm no expert on car painting, but some cars have a transparent layer called the "clear coat" applied over the pigment layer. As the paint ages, sometimes the clear coat wears off or loses adhesion to the pigment layer.
If you can take a photo of the problem area and post it here, it would be helpful for providing better advice.

[RickHaleParker]

the finish has several "blotches" as if an outer layer vaporized

Ultraviolet Radiation damage from sunlight. The same stuff that burns your skin if you fall asleep outdoors without protection.
One could say your car has sunburn. Automotive finishes are Ultraviolet resistance but not Ultraviolet proof. Eventually the nuclear fusion reactor in the sky will achieve victory .

[patcal]

Does it look like this?

[Clemens]

clearcoat peeling. no cure known other than repaint.
the sad thing is usually it starts on the hood or trunklid and then spreads across the whole car within a few years.

[BlackBart]

In Pat's case, can you carefully sand off the clear without digging into the color layer, and re-clear it? Does the color layer want to be baby smooth, or have some tooth in it for the clear to adhere to?

[jreed]

I haven't watched this DIY clear coat repair video yet (it was recently posted) but the creator is experienced and knowledgeable:

[manovlov]

Hy Guy,

It's time to pick up our Volvo History Book. Here's everything you want to know about Volvo rainbow colors. The link brings you to Volvo.org.uk. Thanks to them for this great job !


"Colour logo

The paint colour code identifies the original paint color of the body. The code is found on the vehicle identification plate usually located under the bonnet. The same colour code was used on different Volvo models. For example the dark blue code 96 was used on the Volvo 120 and 140 Series. Of course both are exactly the same colour. Also note that particular colour codes may have more than one colour name for marketing purposes.

Some cars will have -1, -2 or -3 in the paint code, such as 100-1. The -1, -2, -3 refer to a different shade of the colour. -1 being a lighter shade and -3 being a darker shade.

Volvo originally used a 140° Enamel paint, mostly Glasurit or Herberts.

For the repair-market there was an 80° Enamel air-drying paint available.

Volvo's paint codes were changed from December 1988. Both solvent and water based paints are now used on cars. In order to easily identity extra digits have been introduced which indicate if the paint is solvent or water based or has another quality

Exmple: 850 has the paint code 189-21. The first three digits (189 in this case) is for Volvo's colour code 189 Polar White

The fourth digit stands for:
1 = BASF (Glasurit)
2 = Herberts (STANDOX)
3 = Beckers
4 = IDAC/Dupont
5 = Sikkens
6, 7, and 9 = not used
8 = IVI

The fifth digit stands for:
1 = solvent based
2 = water based Metallic/Pearl + Varnish
3 = water based Solid + Varnish
4 = solvent based Solid + Varnish
5 = solvent based Pearl shine + Varnish*
6 = water based Solid/Metallic/Pearl + 2 component Varnish
7 = water based Solid/Metallic/Pearl + powder Varnish
8, 9 = not used

*Because of the transparent pearl coat this concept includes a solid colour which is applied under the pearl coat".

https://www.volvoclub.org.uk/paint_colour_codes.shtml