Rocky 
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Registered: 16th Nov 02
 Location: Bridgend S.Wales Drives : Astra VXR 
User status: Offline 
 
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Hi Guys 
 
Well some things hav flared up on my car sadly he is really good guy that doing my car but things hav just turned up on it and he is redoing everything on free of charge   anyways just for query i like to know why these cracks are coming up on my back bumper and bubbles on boot and front bumper were it has been filled in were the number plate was ??  
 
why and how can it be done prober  
 
Advice is well needed here some pics off what is happening now!! 
 
Cracks and bubbles starting to appear on smooth boot  
  
  
 
Cracking starting to appear were the light used to be on back bumper 
  
 
Cracking starting to appear were numberplate was filled 
  
 
Bubble on the number plate recess 
  
 
All this has appeared 3 weeks been out!!  
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wezjax 
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Registered: 28th Mar 02
 Location: mansfield,notts 
User status: Offline 
 
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cracks are down to the filler sinking. 
bubbles will probably be a paint re-action. 
 
i aint a pro but thats my opinion.
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Rocky 
Member 
 
Registered: 16th Nov 02
 Location: Bridgend S.Wales Drives : Astra VXR 
User status: Offline 
 
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any1 else got advice??
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astravanman 
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Registered: 4th Apr 04
 
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the bubble noramlly come up when the panel hasnt been dried right before paint mate the cracks r just from filler 
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corsa starter 
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Registered: 20th Jan 03
 
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surely the bodyshop have to sort tht???
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Kris TD 
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Registered: 25th Mar 02
 Location: Ware, Hertfordshire 
User status: Offline 
 
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bubbles from where they may not have used a barrier coat. most probably the paint reacting with the primer or  the old paint. 
 
cracking and sinking cos they have used far far too much filler 
 
[Edited on 25-04-2004 by Kris TD]
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R Lee 
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Registered: 15th Aug 03
 
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yowser... that looks scary. i'd take it back to the bodyshop to get it done again.  
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Kris TD 
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Registered: 25th Mar 02
 Location: Ware, Hertfordshire 
User status: Offline 
 
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infact i seem to rememebr seeing in progress pics of this and couldnt believe how much filler was on the boot.
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Colour-Tec Coachworks 
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Registered: 18th Dec 03
 Location: Winners of Max Power Live 2004 - Best Bodywork of 
User status: Offline 
 
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The bubbles are deffo from moisture. I have no doubt of that, the panel has been wet before paint has been applied (maybe not touch wet, it could be that the moisture has seeped into the filler or primer as both of these are porous) 
 
The cracking is basically because the surface in which the filler/fibreglass has been applied has not been "keyed" well enough to hold the filler/fibreglass, therefore any movment or vibration has caused the filler to free its self from the surface. 
I would bet my house that the bumper is plastic?... am i right. The reason i say that is plastic is the most difficult material/composite for filler or fibreglass to stick/grip to. Thats why so many people have probs with cracked arches etc, when they smooth in the standard plastic trim. 
 
The solution to your bubbles problem is pretty simple. The moisture which has been trapped behind the paint is has obviously rose to the surface.. so its basically a case of removing the new paint to allow the panel to dry and allow any trapped solvents from the paint to breath, say 24hrs, then bake the panel just to be 100% that all moisture is out, then simply key the surface and begin apllying the paint again. 
 
The solution to the cracks is quite simple to. Just dig out all the old filler, then have the surface in which the filler is being applied "keyed" properly. Spend more time that you feel you should on this stage and you will reap the rewards of no cracking  . 
 
Hope this helps.
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Rocky 
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Registered: 16th Nov 02
 Location: Bridgend S.Wales Drives : Astra VXR 
User status: Offline 
 
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thxs colour tec for the info anything else i need to know send me u2u  matey step by step if u can   for a nice smooth boot
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AdiSRI 
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Registered: 1st May 02
 Location: Berkshire 
User status: Offline 
 
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u can see the shape of where u fillered on th tailgate, as said beofre and again now, and agreeing with Kris, there is WAY too much filler, if its welded right u shud only need a skim just to finally smooth it out....
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Greg_M 
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Registered: 2nd Sep 03
 Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire 
User status: Offline 
 
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who ever di it used WAY to much filler
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Kris TD 
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Registered: 25th Mar 02
 Location: Ware, Hertfordshire 
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when i did mine i only used filler too fill in the pin holes etc. left from the fibreglass.  loks like the whole boot has been done in filler on there.
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Colour-Tec Coachworks 
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Registered: 18th Dec 03
 Location: Winners of Max Power Live 2004 - Best Bodywork of 
User status: Offline 
 
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There is too much filler, but that isnt the cuase of the problem. Too much filler will only really cause sinkage and make it more likely to crack...
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Greg_M 
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Registered: 2nd Sep 03
 Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire 
User status: Offline 
 
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yeah, moisure comming to surface too, but more filler = more moisture
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Colour-Tec Coachworks 
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Registered: 18th Dec 03
 Location: Winners of Max Power Live 2004 - Best Bodywork of 
User status: Offline 
 
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lol... i suppose. But its still not caused by the filler, the problem is the moisture!
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AdiSRI 
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Registered: 1st May 02
 Location: Berkshire 
User status: Offline 
 
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yes but would u use that much filler?
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Colour-Tec Coachworks 
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Registered: 18th Dec 03
 Location: Winners of Max Power Live 2004 - Best Bodywork of 
User status: Offline 
 
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of course not, but the filler is not causing the problem, yet everyone keeps going on about it   
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AdiSRI 
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Registered: 1st May 02
 Location: Berkshire 
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That filler has defo sunk aswell as the moisture causing the bubbles, u can see the shape of the filled area on the tailgate it has sunk soo much. 
It needs ripping out and doing again properly...
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Colour-Tec Coachworks 
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Registered: 18th Dec 03
 Location: Winners of Max Power Live 2004 - Best Bodywork of 
User status: Offline 
 
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The whole tailgate is filled. The problem on the car is 100% absolutely nothing to do with the filler... only that it has absorbed moisture, hence the bubbles. I would bet my house that if you pierced the bubbles either moisture would pour out or you will find the paint will instantly cracked off as its not stuck to the tailgate
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AdiSRI 
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Registered: 1st May 02
 Location: Berkshire 
User status: Offline 
 
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yes, but if u get all the paint off dry it out and repaint, its still gonna sink. 
It needs metal weded on, then filler skim.
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Rocky 
Member 
 
Registered: 16th Nov 02
 Location: Bridgend S.Wales Drives : Astra VXR 
User status: Offline 
 
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right guys here is the story metal was welded on the boot coz i seen it b4 he dun anything else secondly he had to build up the top coating on the metal so it was all smooth in 1 it wasnt just all filler coz i looked into it b4 it was dun, all i got to find out is how u do it prober like so it wont sink or crack later on even the back bumper as well as the number plate recess on front advice needed on this cheers  
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Kris TD 
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Registered: 25th Mar 02
 Location: Ware, Hertfordshire 
User status: Offline 
 
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build up a couple of layers of fibreglass matt over the metal plate and all joins. then build up with some fibreglass strand filler. then a light skim of body filler.  as for the bumper, cover the hole with fibreglass matting.  have too really key it if its plastic though
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Rocky 
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Registered: 16th Nov 02
 Location: Bridgend S.Wales Drives : Astra VXR 
User status: Offline 
 
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what abt the number plate recess thats been filled on the front bumper as it cracks on that too?? how to repair that without cracking again??
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Rocky 
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Registered: 16th Nov 02
 Location: Bridgend S.Wales Drives : Astra VXR 
User status: Offline 
 
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ttt
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