COLOR SANDING NOT RECOMMENDED BASECOAT/CLEARCOAT VEHICLES

SOME DEALERS AND OWNERS ARE ATTEMPTING TO IMPROVE THE EXTERIOR APPEARANCE OF NEW BASECOAT CLEARCOAT PAINTED VEHICLES BY COMPLETE COLOR SANDING AND POLISHING. COMPLETE COLOR SANDING, REGARDLESS OF A VEHICLES AGE, IS NOT RECOM- MENDED. THE REASON BEING IS THAT COLOR SANDING REDUCES THE CLEARCOAT THICKNESS ALONG WITH THE NECESSARY ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION SCREENING PROTECTION THAT IS REQUIRED TO PREVENT PEELING OF THE CLEARCOAT AND DISCOLORING OF THE BASECOAT. ADEQUATE PROTECTION REQUIRES THAT THE CLEARCOAT THICKNESS BE AT LEAST 1.4 MILS. COLOR SANDING SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THE REMOVAL OF SMALL ISOLATED PAINT DEFECTS SUCH AS DIRT, SCRATCHES, SAGS AND CHEMICAL SPOTTING, PROVIDING THAT THE DEFECT DOES NOT PENETRATE BEYOND THE CLEARCOAT. IF THE BASE- COAT AND/OR PRIMER ARE AFFECTED, REPAINTING IS REQUIRED. REFER TO OLDS TECHNICAL BULLETIN 85-T-19, FOR COMPLETE PROCEDURES REGARDING SANDING, COMPOUNDING AND POLISHING SMALL AREAS IN BASECOAT/CLEARCOAT FINISHES.

General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.