Clear Coat on yellow mp3?
 

I was just curious as to whether or not the yellow MP3s come with a clear coat.
I know that the yellow p5s do not....

I did a search but didn't come across the answer to this.

Thanks

Re: Clear Coat on yellow mp3?
 

Where do you come up with the assumption that the Vivid Yellow P5 does not have a clear-coat? I posted a reply to a thread about this subject with a letter from Mazda stating that the VY P5 DOES have a clear-coat. I assume the MP3 also has a clear-coat. Email or write to Mazda and ask them.

Here is the thread I posted... http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/sho...5&pagenumber=2

I can remember that this has been talked about, but I'm not sure if there was ever a definite answer.

Some say they have clear coat, and that was verified by MNA.

Others say they have paint come off when they use wax on their Pros.

I'm not sure anybody knows for sure!

IIRC, others say that it's just the side mirrors that don't have a clear coat on them.

Easiest way to check is to use a pre-wax cleaner (ie. Mother's step 1 in their ultimate system or Meguiar's step 1 in their Deep crystal system, or etc.) and see if there is any paint on your applicator.

Well, I have waxed my car. I think there isnt a clear-coat on the mirrors and panels. The only time I have paint on the applicator, is when I rub really hard. Is this normal for all cars? The clear-coat layer isnt very thick...

In Canada, there is NO CLEAR COAT on the yellow p5s. Several of us have called Mazda canada. They claim that in general no yellow cars have clear coat.

I have nothing better to do at work, and my curiosity got the best of me so I am wondering about the MP3s. :D

(I don't even own a yellow p5...lol)

Im sure the US P5 bodys are the same as CN. I know that the yelllow and red use to not have a clear-coat. Like I said, Mazda USA said it has a clear-coat... are they lying to me?? I hope not...

Mnky....

I tried calling that 1-800# on the letter they sent you, but it hangs up on me and tells me to call mazda canada.

Called Maz Can, and again they said NO clear coat but the yellows come with an extra layer of paint....(lol)

I almost positive if you called mazda usa and asked them, they would now tell you there is no clear coat on the yellow p5s. If you do call....can you ask about the mp3s as well????

Monkey...
IF you rub hard enough and there is a clear coat, the only way that you will get paint on your applicators/towel is if you rubbed right thru the clear and into your paint.

That would NOT be good as you would have destroyed the clear coat in that area.

Hmm... I will try to call tommorow. Ill ask about the MP3 also.

What do you do to a paintjob if it doesnt have a clearcoat? I would like to have some extra protection, if I dont have a clearcoat. Anyone know???

You can get an aftermarket clear coat applied, BUT there must be a reason that Mazda didn't do it, so I'm not sure that I would go applying a clear coat.

I wouldn't worry too much man...just make sure you're washing and waxing regularly and you'll be ok! :D

clear coat or not to clear coat?
 

i have a yellow p5 and beecause of some serious paint problems with my car i went through it all with mazda. there is NO clear coat on the yellow p5s, either in canada or u.s. or japan for that matter. they are all made at the same plant on the same line with only minor differences between destination countries. i don't believe mazda lied to you, i think it is more ignorance than deceit. as for an extra layer of paint, well that's the first i've heard of it. i tend to doubt that 'cuz the paint is ridiculously thin. i would think that if the paint on the yellow mp3 has the same code as the p5 then it does not have clear.

i used to get a fair amount of paint coming off when i waxed my car. in order to protect it i used mothers 3 stage system. when using the pre-wax cleaner a small amount came off on the rag but after that nothing else did (and it was not oxidation). i would also recommend using a wax that has NO abrasives at all. some waxes including certain mothers products are so called"cleaner" waxes. don't use this. just use pure carnuba wax and you won't have a problem. it shines up nice too. in order to protect the finish only use water when you wash your car. the dirt will slide right off the wax. after use mothers showtime detailing spray over the whole car and it takes off any residue. makes it like you just waxed your car. i've only put 3 coats of wax on my car all summer and it looks really good. (except for those damn swirl marks)


hope that helps.

The point of a pre-wax cleaner is to remove oxidation and crap that accumulates over time. No amount of washing will remove some crud, so to get a clean surface, a pre-wax cleaner should be used along with a good claying.

But like I've said before, pre-wax cleaner and claying are 2 things that are done like once or twice a year. Other than that, I'm using a good glaze/sealer and a "pure" carnauba wax.

If you want to stay away from cleaner waxes, make sure you stay away from Nu-finish too as it is a cleaner wax.

Re: clear coat or not to clear coat?
 

Why didnt you tell us what the serious paint problems were?

Well, in Canada the P5 yellow is called Sunburst Yellow, in the US, it's Vivid Yellow. Not sure if it's the same paint code ... my P5 is red... I've read that a definitive test for clearcoat is to take some very fine sandpaper and lightly rub a well hidden part of the car . If you see white on the sandpaper, that's clearcoat coming off (white because it turned to powder). If you see the car color on the sandpaper... well you get the idea. I have not had the nerve to try this test. Maybe a well hidden area like under the hatch or hood would not have clearcoat in any case, so the test would be meaningless?

mazda told me "yes". but my mirrors and panels don't seem to have it.

THEY LIED TO ME! j/k

hehe, i live in hawaii. salt-air galore. i keep washing and waxing every so often and make sure my paint is all good. :)

As the owner of a Vivid Yellow Miata, my understanding of the paint is that it is clearcoated, but there's a catch: it's actually a tinted clearcoat that's mixed in with the paint; not one that's applied seperately. It's one step paint as opposed to two step (base and clear).
There have been a few VY Miata owners who have reported this to me via their body shops. I would say that this makes more sense than anything. I've put a bunch of polish coats on my Miata (Zaino), and not once have I had paint lift off. Perhaps some batches didn't take to the mixed tint so well? Speculation, of course, but it makes sense...

actually, that does make sense...

do all the other colors of p5's come with a clear coat?

Interesting! If this is true, then Mazda USA didnt lie. :D I love the 02 VY Miata Special Edition. I saw one the other day at the dealership. Is your VY the Special Edition? Does anyone know if the wheels on the Special Edition would fit on the P5? Do you have any other pics of your car?

so, do the yellow MP3's come with a clear coat? somehow i think this turned into a discussion of "does the yellow p5 have a clear coat" :dunno:

I have a yellow MP3 and two months ago I took it to the shop for minor bumper fixing. I have asked the paint specialist and he told me my car is clear coated (and they clear coated my bumper/fender/hood for the repairs... and it looks no different from the rest of the car). As far as seperate clear coat or blended clear coat with paint, I don't know.... my Vivid Yellow code is HZ ... so I don't know if that is the same as the Protege 5 yellow code.... looks the same.... I would think they are the same.....laters.

my touch up paint is HZ. so the two cars DO have clear coat! :squint:

Can one of you quickly call Mazda USA and ask?? Does the yellow p5 have clearcoat? (YES/NO) Does the MP3 have a clearcoat. (YES/NO)

That would end the discussion..lol

I would call, but it hangs up on me and tells me to call MAzda Canada everytime.

Mazda Canada contact information:

I can not think why any car today would not be clear coated in the first place? Two Mazda dealerships in town have told me that yellow P5s on their lots right now are clear coated for sure (and they have never heard about any of their cars not being clear coated). My car is clear coated. I don't see how Mazda USA is going to change my mind either way... because if they tell me the cars are not clear coated then I would just assume I was speaking to the wrong person on the other end of the line.

Didn't mnkyboy ALREADY mentioned earlier, in this same thread, that Mazda USA told him that they do have clear coating? The only problem is that since Mazda changes modifications of each models they roll out (improvements)... it could have been true that some yellow Proteges did not have clear coat in the early phase... then later on Mazda decided to add clear coat to later production vehicles. I'm only assuming, so I don't know for sure.

But, just think about what they did to the MP3 folks with the stereo system... earlier productions received the z919 and later productions was replaced with the z828 Kenwood head unit.

If I have time next week I'll try to give them a ring. Hopefully, someone else here will beat me to it and post the answer here. But, I would hate to get a different answer from what mnkyboy posted earlier....

I would hate to hear a different answer also, but if the yellow doesnt have a clearcoat, I would love to see what the recommend to prolong the life of the paint (since a clearcoat helps the paint last longer!).

IIRC, the reason certain colours of paints were not clear coated was because when the clear coat began to age and deteriorate, it gained a yellow/orange tint to it. This would cause certain colours (ie. red and yellow) to look very bad.

I'm fairly certain that newer clear coats are not like this and can be applied to yellows and reds with no problems.

I think the confusing issue with all of this is that some people with yellow paint are saying that paint is coming off on their towels when they apply products like a pre-wax cleaner. This should NOT happen unless there is no clear coat.

so no one wants to do protege5girl that favor? ;) i live in hawaii so my time zone is waaaaay off.

I've had several Vivid Yellow Miata owners tell me about the clear mixed in with the paint, and it is a viable theory on that color. Calling Mazda probably won't be of any help; you're going to get a customer care rep who may or may not give you the correct answer after talking with someone who may or may not actually know.
FWIW, the car that the paint is applied to is irrelevant; the paint is all the same. Also, you will not be able to see a difference on a clearcoated car vs a non-clearcoated car when it's brand new. It will take years of UV bombardment and environmental punishment to the paint to reveal that, and even then you may not see it. I've had a few VY Miata owners talk to Mazda and get "official" word that it's not clearcoated, and a few get "official" word that it is. Of course, if the theory that the tinted clearcoat is mixed into the base coat is indeed true, then that accounts for the varying information. Further, if some of those batches of paint didn't mix quite right with the tinted clear, that explains why some people are pulling paint off of their cars when polishing. In addition to that, when polishing under my hood and/or trunk, and in the doorjambs, I do not pull paint. If the car were clearcoated seperately, only the exterior portions would have the clearcoat applied; it is not sprayed under hood, in the engine bay, doorjambs, or under the trunk. The fact that I don't pull paint when polishing these areas lends further credence to the theory of the paint being mixed with a clearcoat, rather than a 2 step process.

Mnkyboy: my car is not an SE. The yellow on the SE is called Blazing Yellow, and it is a Mica. It is darker and more of a mustard color than Vivid Yellow is. There is also a Titanium color for the SE as well. My car is an internet order only special. There was a limited time promotion that Mazda offered, in which you could order a Miata via the internet and get two special paint colors if you wished: Lazer Blue Mica and Vivid Yellow. My car is one of 239 Vivid Yellow Miatas produced. It is, at this point, the only turbocharged one. Pictures of my car can be found here, and pics of my turbo installation can be seen here. You may check out a digitally altered pic of my car here. To answer your question about wheels: Miatas use 4 lug wheels and P5s use 5, so no, the wheels will not work.

Interesting info. Nice digitally altered pic :D, but the albums "do not exist" according to the link you posted. :(

Mazda North America
 

Just got off the phone about an hour ago with Mazda USA rep.

Called Mazda up @ 1-800-222-5500. Asked the lady about clear coat situation for the yellow Mazda Protege5 and yellow Mazda Protege MP3.

She could not get hold of the people who could answer that question for her so asked that I leave my name and number with her so she could give me a confirmed answer by the end of the day.

10 minutes later she calls me back and tells me that the Mazda Protege5 and MP3 are identified as having clear coats on them.

If you STILL want to see if you get the same answer just call the above number and ask again.

The rep who spoke to me was, Michelle @ x1140. Just don't pick the same rep I spoke to or you'll just get the same answer.

Hope this helps, laters.

Doh! Sorry bout that; fixed the links.

Re: Mazda North America
 

Have you waxed your car yet? When I waxed mine, I saw some light yellow on the applicator I was using. This only happen when I was giving it a good rubbing. Is this normal?

Thanks Mnky!

Nice pics, what kind of car is the red one with white wheels? I can barely see it in one of the pics.

Check out our banner: www.lvmoc.net All the way on the left. I eat, breathe, sleep, and live em.

Back on topic: I've never had any paint come off during application or removal from anywhere on my car. You guys/gals with the Vivids: do you know your build dates? Mine was 10/01/01; maybe the date (and the corresponding batch of paint) has something to do with it?

date
 

i don't know the exact date my car was produced but it was early may 2001. i picked it up july 19, 2001.

someone asked what my "serious paint problems" were. well in a nutshell my paint was melting off my front fascia. turns out there was no hardener or something to that effect. it was so bad that it was not repairable and they had to get me a whole new fascia and then paint it here.

i would really like some kind of definative answer from mazda. maybe if we organized a group letter from all the yelow owners we could get a response from someone fairly high up.
in my case there is no disputing the FACT that my car has no clear coat. the rep, dealer, and paint shop and i have all seen for ourselves that there is no clear. the issue in this case is wether or not it is SUPPOSED to have clear from the factory.

Re: date
 

I think from the calls that have been made to Mazda, it's evident that there is supposed to be a clear coat. I don't know how they'd miss putting clear coat on your car....that would definitely be a gross oversight :eek:

Re: Re: date
 

Actually, sir, there is conflicting information from Mazda, which is the problem. I've had one VY Miata owner report to me of her paint being stained when she drove through something. After a long and drawn out affair with the body shop and the dealership, her complaint was escalated way up within Mazda, to which she received "official word" that VY is not clearcoated. Another addition to the confusion, for sure.

Do not assume anything. If the paint is supposed to be clearcoated, why are so many VY owners, regardless of the car in question, reporting that they're pulling paint? Why are others (like me) not? There has to be a common denominator that we can't see. It's not as simple as "they missed it"; these cars are produced and painted on an assembly line. Missing one is impossible. I once again point to the theory of tinted clearcoat mixed in with the paint, and some people being the result of poor mixing, resulting in a "bad batch". It explains a lot, and would coincide with roswel's experience.

Edit: Here is a lengthy discussion on the topic, with conflicting info from Mazda.

Ok, sir, I'm just going by what's been said thus far. 2 people on this board have called Mazda NA and have been told that the yellow is supposed to have a clear coat. People have asked at dealerships (for whatever that is worth) and have been told the same.

Now I know that you don't think the customer service people at Mazda NA can help, but IIRC, when somebody called, the service rep referred to a tech and the tech told them that the yellow did indeed have a clear coat.

In my previous post, I said, "I don't know how they'd miss putting clear coat on your car....that would definitely be a gross oversight ," implying that I was thinking that it would be extremely difficult for a car to be missed during the application of clear coat. BTW, nothing's impossible on an assembly line....look at all the people that are missing a single heat shield bolt off of their engine.

Anyway, I'm not too sure about this mixing of clear coat and base coat. The purpose of clear coat is to protect the base coat, right? By mixing them, what is gained? What is lost? If mixing them is such a good idea, why not do that to all paints?

I'm not trying to fight you on this....If a car is supposed to have a clear coat, then paint should not be coming off on towels. And you're right...it doesn't make sense as to why some people are having this occur while others are not.