Scratched?

Shawn T · September 9, 2004

I own an 03 Sierra 2500HD d/a that is Dark Carbon Metallic (dark charcoal, almost black). I brushed a sagebrush while Elk hunting and scratched the clearcoat. I tried to remove it with Maguires and it made a mess. The scratches are still there and there is swirl marks all over in the clearcoat. I've heard that you cant buff a dark color. Is this true? What can I do? I do not want to have to repaint it. Can I get them buffed out? It is only real noticeable when the sun is hitting it just right.

TimTim · September 9, 2004

A good rule of thumb is if you can't "catch" the scratch with your fingernail it can be buffed out. Take it to a detail shop and get thier opinion. All colors can be buffed with the same results as long as the person behind the buffer knows what they are doing. If it does need painted that color is a good match (with PPG).

bigdogs · September 9, 2004

A good rule of thumb is if you can't "catch" the scratch with your fingernail it can be buffed out. Take it to a detail shop and get thier opinion.

That is what the body shop told me too with mine (scratched in the back of the bed near the 4x4 sticker. Unfortunately they said mine needed to be re-sprayed at a cost of like $500 so I put some touch up on and will get it done later...

Heavy B · September 10, 2004

You can buff dark colors with no problem. I have a 2002 ZR2 that is black I just buffed it this last weekend. Turned out fine, looks like new again. I grew up in the autobody business so I know how to do it. The rule about a finger nail catching the scratch is pretty accurate. If the scratch is just in the clear coat you can just put touch up clear coat in the scratch and then buff it. If the scratch goes into the paint and or primer then you need to use touch up paint and primer and rebuild the paint in the scratched area. After you get done buffing you cannot tell there was a scratch. Good luck getting the scratch fixed. Eric

TimTim · September 10, 2004

$500 sounds reasonable. To repair it correctly all the parts attached to that panel would need to be removed (flare, tail lamp assy, rear bumper...etc) and your decal would need replaced.

Plus quality materials are very $$$$$$

bigdogs · September 10, 2004

For the hell of it I went to get another estimate at an independant body shop and it was basically the same price so I know the dealer was not just overpriced. It is just some little scratches so I can live with them for the time being... The flare has some scratches on it too and that was not part of the estimate as those are like $200 by themselves. .

TXD · September 10, 2004

ive got scratches all over my truck from working my ranch and helping on some buddies ranches as well. if you aint got scratches on it you aint workin hard enough. gives it character. . .shows that you actually use it as a truck.

apache sierra · September 12, 2004

ive got scratches all over my truck from working my ranch and helping on some buddies ranches as well. if you aint got scratches on it you aint workin hard enough. gives it character. . .shows that you actually use it as a truck.

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Thats true, but still the first couple of scratches . But I guess thats what a truck is for is to use it for work and play so it will get dinged eventually.

Mighty HD · September 12, 2004

Like an idiot, I took my new 04 carbon metallic truck out to Mutual Mine (Florida), trails are tight and narrow.

I got a few scratches down the drivers side. I took a good polish and gently rubbed the scratches out by hand, they did come out. From there I polished the whole truck, then followed with a coat of Meguiars pro. yellow wax.

You'd never know it was ever scratched.

The key to having a dark vehicle is having CLEAN stuff to not get swirl marks.

I use 5 different towels for my truck and car, both are dark. I wash them each time through 3 loads of laundry, by themselves. Once they're done, dry them by themselves with a few fabric softner sheets. Then when they're dry, I put them in a big bag and seal them up so no dirt can get onto the towels.

I use a new sponge each time I wash whichever vehicle ($1 each I buy them by the case @ walmart), I start @ the roof and work my way down. I'll do the hood first, then the roof, then start on the top half of the sides, then make a second round and get the bottom half of the sides, and finally wash the wheel wells, tires and rims.

Cant beat it. I've had a black car since 98 and the paint looks brand new with minimal marks, It's deep black and very glossy.

Good luck.

Shawn T · September 12, 2004

ive got scratches all over my truck from working my ranch and helping on some buddies ranches as well. if you aint got scratches on it you aint workin hard enough. gives it character. . .shows that you actually use it as a truck.

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Shawn T · September 12, 2004

ive got scratches all over my truck from working my ranch and helping on some buddies ranches as well. if you aint got scratches on it you aint workin hard enough. gives it character. . .shows that you actually use it as a truck.

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Shawn T · September 12, 2004

ive got scratches all over my truck from working my ranch and helping on some buddies ranches as well. if you aint got scratches on it you aint workin hard enough. gives it character. . .shows that you actually use it as a truck.

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Didn't I just say that I was elk hunting? I certainly use the hell out of my truck. On the other hand I like to take care of everything that I own. If you can pay 48 grand for a truck and not care to keep it looking new then I think that you either have no sense of value or you just have more money than you know what to do with. When you trade or sell your truck let me know what you got for it then we will see who has character(or brains).

Shawn T · September 12, 2004

Like an idiot, I took my new 04 carbon metallic truck out to Mutual Mine (Florida), trails are tight and narrow.

I got a few scratches down the drivers side. I took a good polish and gently rubbed the scratches out by hand, they did come out. From there I polished the whole truck, then followed with a coat of Meguiars pro. yellow wax.

You'd never know it was ever scratched.

The key to having a dark vehicle is having CLEAN stuff to not get swirl marks.

I use 5 different towels for my truck and car, both are dark. I wash them each time through 3 loads of laundry, by themselves. Once they're done, dry them by themselves with a few fabric softner sheets. Then when they're dry, I put them in a big bag and seal them up so no dirt can get onto the towels.

I use a new sponge each time I wash whichever vehicle ($1 each I buy them by the case @ walmart), I start @ the roof and work my way down. I'll do the hood first, then the roof, then start on the top half of the sides, then make a second round and get the bottom half of the sides, and finally wash the wheel wells, tires and rims.

Cant beat it. I've had a black car since 98 and the paint looks brand new with minimal marks, It's deep black and very glossy.

Good luck.

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Thanks MIGHTYHD. I previously owned a black truck also. It was in top shape when I let it go. Valuable advice, I will be sure to keep it in mind after the next hunting trip(or before). Thanks again

apache sierra · September 12, 2004

ive got scratches all over my truck from working my ranch and helping on some buddies ranches as well. if you aint got scratches on it you aint workin hard enough. gives it character. . .shows that you actually use it as a truck.

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Didn't I just say that I was elk hunting? I certainly use the hell out of my truck. On the other hand I like to take care of everything that I own. If you can pay 48 grand for a truck and not care to keep it looking new then I think that you either have no sense of value or you just have more money than you know what to do with. When you trade or sell your truck let me know what you got for it then we will see who has character(or brains).

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I usually keep my trucks so long that when I go to trade it in its one of those push pull or drag sales,and the salseman goes "THEY STILL ALLOW THAT THING ON THE ROAD" But really I do keep them about 10 years or so and they do get used. So the scratches and dents don't really matter much. I guess if I traded every couple of years it probably would tho. Just my 2cents

TimTim · September 14, 2004

Like an idiot, I took my new 04 carbon metallic truck out to Mutual Mine (Florida), trails are tight and narrow.

I got a few scratches down the drivers side. I took a good polish and gently rubbed the scratches out by hand, they did come out. From there I polished the whole truck, then followed with a coat of Meguiars pro. yellow wax.

You'd never know it was ever scratched.

The key to having a dark vehicle is having CLEAN stuff to not get swirl marks.

I use 5 different towels for my truck and car, both are dark. I wash them each time through 3 loads of laundry, by themselves. Once they're done, dry them by themselves with a few fabric softner sheets. Then when they're dry, I put them in a big bag and seal them up so no dirt can get onto the towels.

I use a new sponge each time I wash whichever vehicle ($1 each I buy them by the case @ walmart), I start @ the roof and work my way down. I'll do the hood first, then the roof, then start on the top half of the sides, then make a second round and get the bottom half of the sides, and finally wash the wheel wells, tires and rims.

Cant beat it. I've had a black car since 98 and the paint looks brand new with minimal marks, It's deep black and very glossy.

Good luck.

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Thats the best way to keep the scratches to a minimum. I use 3M Imperial hand glaze followed by Mothers or Harley pure carnuba paste wax. This combo fills alot of those "swirls".