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Have you found when scuffing a new Honda/Acura OEM bumper cover that sometimes the coating appears to be as hard as iron? As part of the I-CAR Repairability Technical Support (RTS) OEM linking pin activity, we are helping to connect the collision repair industry to the vehicle makers. With this in mind, we reached out to Honda/Acura for guidance.
Per our contact at Honda, "Some of our bumper covers are sprayed with a light coat of black basecoat that becomes very hard. This was to keep them from becoming scratched during shipping. There are also some shiny grey bumper covers that are actually a full wet coat of urethane basecoat."
Our contact went on to clarify, "The shiny grey bumpers come from Japan. In Japan all bumpers are painted from the factory so instead of skipping this step for export, they just paint them all grey. Prep procedure for all bumpers is to clean thoroughly, scuff with grey Scotch-Brite, re-clean, and seal before painting."
They went on to state, "Shops should not expect the surface to look completely deglossed as the durability of the basecoats will resist scratching. If they are clean and abraded, the chemical bond of the sealer should grip tightly."
What happens should you accidently sand through the basecoat and now notice that the bumper cover is peeling? Our contact was able to provide additional guidance, "If it is peeling as you mentioned, I would suggest replacing the bumper cover."
It’s important to note that these preparation steps are not the rule, but are the exception. Most of the bumper covers for Honda/Acura vehicles can be prepped and painted following the paint manufacturer's standard operating procedure (SOP). Prepping these bumper covers correctly the first time will save a lot of frustration and help to provide a complete, safe, and quality repair.
For additional Honda/Acura information, check out the following pages:
Honda OEM Information
Acura OEM Information
Additional I-CAR Collision Repair News you may find helpful:
- Collision Information Website Access: Honda/Acura
- How Does the I-CAR OEM Linking Pin Process Work?
- Step-By-Step: Accessing Honda And Acura Repair Information
Related I-CAR Courses
Article validated in 2024