How to Paint a Vehicle When the Paint Is Peeling Off

Peeling paint on your car occurs when the clear coat is damaged by UV rays or other environmental factors. The clear coat dries out and begins to peel and flake. Spraying paint directly over the peeling paint won't take care of the problem since the underlying paint will continue to peel, taking the new paint with it. With the right preparation, peeling paint can be completely removed, and your car can be ready for a new lasting paint job.

Instructions

1

Sand the car's peeling paint and surface with 220-grit sandpaper on a dual-action sander. Keep the sander flat against the car without gouging the surface. Sand the existing layers of paint and primer until the surface is smooth.

2

Place masking paper and tape over all areas that you won't paint. Cover the wheels, tires, windshield, windows, trim, door handles, key holes, lights, grille and bumpers.

3

Wipe the entire car with wax and grease remover and a microfiber towel. This removes all grease from fingerprints and wax from old cleaning products that could harm the new paint. The remover evaporates minutes after you apply it, and you don't need to clean it off.

4

Spray the car with two coats of primer. Hold the spray gun 12 inches from the car's surface. Begin at the top of the car and work towards the bottom. Move left and right and overlap each stroke slightly for more even coverage. Wait 20 minutes after the first coat before spraying the second coat. Let the second coat dry for 1 hour.

5

Spray the car with a total of five coats of paint, using the same spraying techniques used with the primer. Wait 10 minutes between each coat. Let the final coat dry for a full day before handling the surface.