Blistering paintwork

cla5h · Post by **cla5h** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:10 pm

At christmas I noticed a couple of small areas on the top surface of the rear clam that had blistered, and the paint peeled off.

My boot has always leaked badly, and I've never worked out from where. Last winter I took all the carpets out so I could keep on top of the puddle, but I hadn't bothered this winter.
What I suspect is that the mositure had soaked into the fabric of the clam, so intended to seal every possible leak-point around the boot. In the meantime, I took carpets out again and I've been sponging the water out every day.

However, today I noticed many more of these blistered areas, and they're much worse - runs of them in some areas.
They weren't there yesterday, and the car was covered in ice today, suggesting the mositure must be ingrained in the clam, and is expanding in the cold.

Has anyone experienced this; anything I can do in the meantime to stop it worsening.
The paintwork is pretty much fecked now as it's not going to take much for it to peel off.

Stevoraith · Post by **Stevoraith** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:46 pm

This happens all the time on VX220 clams. As far as I recall, moisture gets into the clam during the manufacturing process and when it's cold it expands and causes bubbles under the paint.

VX's come with a 6 year paint warranty and loads of people have had clams replaced under the warranty, Lazy Donkey is one such punter.

cla5h · Post by **cla5h** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:31 am

Hmmm - dunno if the Lotus paintwork is covered by a similar warranty, but I'll look into it.

Caveat Lector · Post by **Caveat Lector** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:36 pm

Mine is in MMC right now getting some remedial work done on some micro blistering on the front clam just under the headlights, and on the rear clam at the wheel arch (It's not two years old yet). It had to have the same thing done in pretty much the same place on the front clam last January before I picked it up.

Bill told me the same thing about moisture in the clam under the paintwork.

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:07 am

did you check that the rain water pipe exit is still connected? They can easily come loose and although you may get some condensation in the rear clam my 111r was outisde for the first 2 years of ownership and i never had any of the probs your describing.

Problem with the paintwork is it is sh*t. Peugeot paints from the 80's were better applied!

Blaque · Post by **Blaque** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:25 pm

My previous Elises had large blisters around the lights, rear arches and a rash in front of the boot lid. The new Elise I thought was free from this, until I washed it after the last freeze, and found that the pax door now has shingles

Have heared but not confirmed, that titanium storm (both cars this colour) is the worst for this.

cla5h · Post by **cla5h** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:00 pm

So, I'm not alone. Car's over 5 yerars old and this is only just happening now - probably first time it's been left outside in really freezing weather - last winter was mild, and previous owner kept it locked up.

Inside of the boot looks like a really old mouldy damp house.

Where is this mythical boot drain pipe - I've oft heard it mentioned but never found it (so presumably it isn't there.)
Where should it go from, and where does it run to, i.e. how does it get the water to the outside?