stress cracks around bootlid/rear lights

[carl_w]

Anyone know what's happening here? I've got some long stress cracks that have appeared in the paintwork, starting at the corner of the boot opening and some going 4-6 inches across the back of the car! They seem to have appeared by themselves, althoug it's possible I've clonked the back with some golf clubs or the garage door.




Is this a respray, chips away or fibreglass repair job? What's caused it?

[Extra 300 Driver]

Looking at the overspray on the sealant I would say the car has had work in the past. Do you know if it has?

[se6b]

Very hard to tell from your photos but it may well be glassfibre stress crazing. Usually caused by slamming your boot too hard on a regular basis...but can occur no matter how careful you are given time. Glassfibre (yeah yeah composite fibre, call it what you like) is a strange material. Its not unheard of to hit a car at the front and get impact damage at the rear. The body can also retain water from the inside in bad cases resulting in bubbles mysteriously appearing. Welcome to the strange world of glassfibre.

Not too hard to grind out and repair cracks like that though.

[carl_w]

Yes, a bit of research on here showed it had been rear-ended in the past, hence the new-style rear lights even though it's a '98.

I've had it for 2.5 years now, and this suddenly appeared in the last week

[plasticman]

Those cracks look like new cracks not old ones that have reappeared due to a bad repair . It is more likely somebody has driven into your car at Tescos or somewhere . I doubt somebody driving into the front of your car did that damage ! David

[keithyboy]

Very similar thing happened to my V8S. After 5 years or so of ownership (and some spirited driving ) Some stress cracking suddenly appeared on the n/s rear wing. After initially thinking it was something to do with having the car sideways a few times at a Ride Drive airfield event I concluded that in fact I'd probably been nudged in a car park somewhere.