Q: Paint chipping off all over the hood and bumpers

asked by on November 06, 2015

I have lost a lot of paint from my 2008 Chevrolet Impala in the 65,000 miles that I have driven it. I am not happy with that at all! All those chips and dings make this car look way older than it is. I'm sure the value has taken a hit. What will prevent the car from getting more chips taken out of the paint? I am desperate at this point!

The paint on your car is a multiple layer paint process that starts with bare metal cleaning and prep then a primer coat. The primer coat is suppose to stick well to bare metal and also allow the color coat to stick good to it. After the primer, a color coat is applied, then a clear coat is applied to protect the color coat. The clear coat will wear down over time exposing the color coat in areas most prone to wear such as the front of hood or top of hood and above windshield. Once the clear coat is gone then the rain, dirt and other harsh things the environment dishes out, damages the color coat and gets under the remaining clear coat, causing it to separate from the color coat in the form of chips and fading or discolorations. The only fix is to have a paint shop repair the areas and repaint as needed.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I check the engine oil?
Checking the engine oil is essential to maintain safe engine operation and longevity. Bad oil can give your engine problems. To check the oil. Ensure the vehicle is on a level surface and has been sitting for at least 20...
Battery has failed
Hello. It sounds like you may have an electrical issue. If the battery failed recently and this occurred right after then you should check the fuses. When a battery is jumped or replaced the fuses can blow if something was...
Misfires and low oil pressure when stopping. 2002 GMC Savana 2500
Hey there, thanks for writing in about your 2002 GMC Savana. If you are getting misfiring, then you should have a Check Engine Light on. The light should be scanned to get the codes to see what cylinders are misfiring....
Brake piston compressed rather than turning
The rear calipers on this vehicle incorporate the parking brake system. The parking brake system uses a rotating screw inside the caliper that will push the caliper piston out when parking brake lever is rotated on the caliper. When the...
My car cranks but will not start. I try to do fix the car myself. I put new battery, new alternator, and new ignition coils.
Hi there. Check the spark plugs and see if they are worn or burned. If the plugs are good and they have a good spark, then the engine compression could be low causing a no start situation. If the spark...
Turbo replacement costs - quote was $2500 is this an accurate quote from a 2011?
YourMechanic does not provide services to replace turbochargers unfortunately. It does involve removing intake plumbing as well as removing the exhaust manifold from the engine. However from previous experience, $2500 is about the average parts & labor price to replace...
I've replaced everything from tie rods, upper and lower ball joints, the whole cv axle including cv joints and boots, and I'm stil
Hello, thank you for writing in. The noise you are hearing may be a result of a wheel bearing or a shock issue. There are several tests that can be done while the vehicle is parked, and some while it...
Alex Betancourt, a year ago you said the problem was inside my engine's computer, which was under warranty. Did you check the key?
Hi there. I have forwarded your inquiry to our sales and service department, so they can look up your individual appointment and access the mechanics remarks and inspections completed. However, if you had an issue where the car shut off...
Hi , my Acura TSX 2010 has 61000miles when do I have to change timing belt and water pump? Thanks
Hi there. Generally speaking, Acura recommends replacing the timing belt and water pump on their 2.4 liter four-cylinder engines at 80,000 miles. However, among the two, the water pump tends to wear out quicker and show signs of damage. If...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
You You might not always need all of the cargo and passenger space available to you when you buy a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, but it’s nice to know it’s there. This seven-passenger crossover utility vehicle (CUV) has tons of space...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You’re a Painter
If If you’re a painter, and you work for someone else, chances are you don’t care all that much about what you drive, as long as it gets you to and from work reliably. On the other hand, if you...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Personal Assistant
As As a personal assistant, you have a lot of demands placed on your time. Often it’s important that you be able to get around town quickly, running a ton of errands, picking things up here, dropping them off there,...