Paint Murano grill after bubbles

[vrod21]

Hey, I'm new here. Thought I would post this. I recently had issued with the wife's Murano and bubbles in the grill paint. Nissan told me I was SOL. New grill is $100+ and paint was $13. Let me know if you like it.

Check out the bubbles

First remove the clips from the air intake and lift it out from this part of the air box.



Next remove two molding pieces to the right and left of the intake. four clips hold each one on. Right side is a mirror image.

Then remove the clips holding the top of the grill on.

There are six clips holding the bottom of the grill on. They suck to get off. You have to snake your arm in behind the grill and pinch them. At the same time you have to gently pull the grill out.

Ok, now it is off. time to take the Nissan emblem off.

To take the emblem off use a Philips screw driver and remove two screws.

Time to sand and remove the chrome plating. Use an exact-o-knife to peel away the plating. Be prepared for this to take several hours. Sorry no pics to frustrated!

Now on with the painting. I stated off with Krylon spray paint made to bond to plastic. Three coats.

Then I finished with three coats of high glossy enamel paint.

Almost done. Then attached the Nissan emblem.

Re-attach the grill and all the parts in reverse order.

Decided to go more glossy the next day. Pulled it out again, bought some dark blue engine enamel and "nite shades" (for blacking out tale lights). A whole can of engine enamel and three coats of Nite Shades later I had this. I'm pretty happy.

Let me know what you think. Do at your own risk!


Modified by vrod21 at 9:31 PM 3/5/2010

[audtatious]

I had a similar problem with the engine cover Nissan logo on my 2k2 Maxima but it happened before the warranty expired so they covered it. Very weird. Looks like you did a nice job on the repair/replacement.

Welcome to NICO

[vrod21]

update

Decided to go more glossy the next day. Pulled it out again, bought some dark blue engine enamel and "nite shades" (for blacking out tale lights). A whole can of engine enamel and three coats of Nite Shades later I had this. I'm pretty happy.

[audtatious]

Looks MUCH better than the flat black

[Desert Rat]

Nice work.

Got some crustys to clean off your battery tie down.

[lino]

Welcome to Nico . I can't believe how bad your grill wast. You did a beautiful job cleaning it up though. Well done and thanks for sharing the pics .

[Elton Noway]

I recently had issued with the wife's Murano and bubbles in the grill paint. Nissan told me I was SOL. New grill is $100+ and paint was $13.

Nice job on the refinish! But... I have to ask. Were you the original owner? In other words did you buy this Murano brand new and the dealer wouldn't stand behind it? If so, was it because your car was out of warranty?

In searching (Googling) the web I was surprised to find so many people complaining about the bubbling/peeling of their Nissan chrome grills (Maximass, Altimas, Muranos) As it turns out its not the chrome but the clear coat over the chrome that eventually blisters and peels. Some grills were replaced under warranty. Those outside warranty successfully removed the peeling clearcoat with a pressure washer (carwash pressure wand) while others used paint stripper. Seems once you get all the clear off there is still a nice chrome finish underneath.

A quote from another forum: "Like a lot of Nissans, the clearcoat (which is actually gray) on the front grill began peeling and looked terrible."

One of many threads I discovered:http://forums.maxima.org/6th-g....html
Modified by Elton Noway at 4:00 PM 4/6/2010

[vrod21]

Nice job on the refinish! But... I have to ask. Were you the original owner? In other words did you buy this Murano brand new and the dealer wouldn't stand behind it? If so, was it because your car was out of warranty?

In searching (Googling) the web I was surprised to find so many people complaining about the bubbling/peeling of their Nissan chrome grills (Maximass, Altimas, Muranos) As it turns out its not the chrome but the clear coat over the chrome that eventually blisters and peels. Some grills were replaced under warranty. Those outside warranty successfully removed the peeling clearcoat with a pressure washer (carwash pressure wand) while others used paint stripper. Seems once you get all the clear off there is still a nice chrome finish underneath.

A quote from another forum: "Like a lot of Nissans, the clearcoat (which is actually gray) on the front grill began peeling and looked terrible."

One of many threads I discovered:http://forums.maxima.org/6th-g....html

Modified by Elton Noway at 4:00 PM 4/6/2010

Hey, I'm glad you like it. To answer your question: I am the second owner. Bought it back in 07 when it had 33,000 miles. It only has 44,000 now. It is out of warranty. The dealer I took it to for a recall advised me the bubbles were not covered under the warranty because they were caused by Magnesium Chloride not being cleaned off the car (BS). Mag Chloride is put on the streets after a snow storm here in CO.

It was not a clear coat issue on my Murano. I know this because as I was cutting the chrome off I could see the chrome plating separating from the plastic of the grill. True with each of the bubbles. I'll admit I did not research much on what caused the bubbles but I have seen it on several Murano's in CO. It seems to be and 03,04,05 defect.