EMERGENCY HELP NEEDED!!! BATTERY ACID ON BONNET

[GlasgowRangers]

I need help URGENTLY. Just noticed I have a large drop of what I suspect is battery acid. I cannot think of any other substance that can cause corrosion like this. What should I do? Do I have to neautralise the acid or what?

I don't know if this was malice or not but it looks VERY strange as there is only one small drop with a circumferance of 2cms. I am trying to think of any possible explanations. The car was parked in the open air this morning.

Will a bonnet respary fix this? This car is my pride and joy and I am heartbroken.

PLEASE ADVISE GUYS ASAP.

 

[Khufu]

i guess the damage is done by now. If you could dilute it using water without causing it to spread over the rest of the bonnet. Could it have been brake fluid? It can damage the paintwork too. I'm afraid it will need to be resprayed anyhow.

 

[VRStu]

I would mop the worst of it up with a paper towel or similar and then throw a large bucket of water on it followed by a very thorough hosing down of the front end.

As above it's gonna need painting I would think.

 

[NHN]

you could get a good job done by a paint magician as it will be much less than a full spray, you might be lucky dependent on colour of course that it blends very well, but 2cm isnt exactly small but thats the cheapest & initially best bet fella.

 

[GlasgowRangers]

This is very strange. As I said before it is only one small blob but has completely ruined the bonnet. It will need a complete respray. Can anybody advise me what the negative aspects of a respray are? I mean, why are people so keen to avoid having respraying done? Cheers.

 

[VRStu]

Normally due to colour match and the obvious possibility of a poor quality job.

Other than than, as long as it's done properly should be ok.

 

[GlasgowRangers]

If it's done by the Audi garage can I expect to get it looking like new again? The car is only 8 months old so I don't think the colour will be a problem. Please give me confidence...I want to hear from guys who have had bonnet resprays done.

 

[S3 Big Andy]

If it's brake fluid it's probably time for a new bonnet. It soaks into the metal and new paint won't stick. For the sake of £100 or so I'd get a new bonnet and have that sprayed, rather than paying for the existing bonnet to be painted and then having to fork out again anyway.

Agree with Mitch, the other way buy yourself a nice carbon fibre bonnet!!

The trouble with paint is the batches are always different but Audi should be able to sort the right pantone colour for yours!

 

[GlasgowRangers]

I have lost my no-claims so I'm just going to do this through the insurance. I will tell them I want a new bonnet and respray. Think they'll wear it?

 

[NHN]

Blending is the issue anyway, but yours is black so I cant see it being a major issue tbh, my mate does paint fixes & seeing what he does is ****** good, I mean on a black its gonna be so much easier tbh, but if you're worried about it binding to the bonnet, then a good paint fixer knowing if was brake fluid of course will basically sand down into the metal work & make it course so the primer can bind properly, then sand & primer probably number of times to get same even finish as rest of bonnet to build it up aswell, then paint, not being funny but these ideas of new bonnets, respraying are not exactly cheap, easily £200+ for bonnet then respray, audi will quote you shedloads more & most garages will say you have to do the wings & front to blend the paint in, just follow my original suggestion fella as its very cheap this way, it is after all black & you're not even sure it is brake fluid no???

Anyway if the fixer sands it down & makes it coarse then brake fluid would be gone anyway, they can make it look good as new, I've seen it done & then if you're not happy then get resprayed but if there are fixers locally then get them in mate.

 

[boggym]

Try challenging Audi before you accept to pay for it yourself, it may be a paint defect from the factory. I've heard of others that have had problems and Audi have resprayed the panels under warranty.

 

[NHN]

I have lost my no-claims so I'm just going to do this through the insurance. I will tell them I want a new bonnet and respray. Think they'll wear it?

Nah they'd look stupid walking around with an A3 bonnet strapped to them & the black might not match the rest of there clothes

 

[Khufu]

Nah they'd look stupid walking around with an A3 bonnet strapped to them & the black might not match the rest of there clothes

 

[DaveS3Turbo]

O dear hehehe.

I had to have a new bonnet once on my 2.0T A3 after a ridge tile went straight through on a windy day. A BIG hole straight through to the engine bay.

Options as I see it.

New bonnet / re-spray = Most costly - time & effort.
Re-Spray Bonnet
Or get someone to sand down the area and re-finish. I woukd go for the latter because paint matching isn't a problem. My girlfriend dinted / gouged the passenger door + the ridgetile. This was on both a Misano red A3 & Solor Orange S3.

David

 

[NHN]

hey at this time in the morning you do better, lol I thought it was pretty quick witted but alas guess everyones out on the **** tonight to appreciate my good humousssss