Paint Correction in San Diego | Feliz Auto Detail

What's Included

Pre-wash decontamination rinse to remove loose dirt and debris
Iron fallout remover applied to dissolve embedded brake dust and rail dust
Clay bar treatment to extract surface-level contaminants from the clear coat
Paint depth gauge readings taken before any machine work begins
Single-stage or multi-stage machine polish using a dual-action or rotary polisher (determined by paint condition)
Swirl mark, water spot, and light scratch removal from all exterior painted panels
Oxidation correction on faded or chalky paint surfaces
Panel wipe-down with IPA solution to remove polishing oils and reveal true results
Final inspection under LED lighting to confirm correction levels achieved
Paint sealant or wax applied as a finishing protective layer

The Process

1

Paint Inspection

We start with a full walk-around under bright lighting to assess swirl marks, scratches, oxidation, and paint thickness. This tells us exactly what correction level your vehicle needs before we touch anything.

2

Wash & Decontamination

The vehicle gets a thorough hand wash, followed by iron fallout treatment and a full clay bar pass. You can't correct paint that still has contaminants sitting on it — this step makes sure we're working with a clean surface.

3

Paint Depth Readings

We use a paint thickness gauge to measure clear coat depth across every panel. This protects your car — we never cut into paint that can't handle it safely.

4

Machine Polishing

Depending on the damage, we use a dual-action or rotary polisher with the right combination of pads and compounds. Heavily marred paint gets a compounding pass first, followed by a finishing polish to bring the gloss back up.

5

Panel Wipe & Inspection

Every corrected panel gets wiped down with an IPA solution to strip residual polishing oils. Then we reinspect under LED lighting and a swirl finder light — what you see is the actual result, not polish filling in defects.

6

Protection Applied

Once correction is confirmed, we apply a paint sealant or wax to lock in the finish and give your clear coat a layer of protection before you drive away.

Is This Right For You?

Paint correction is the right call if your truck, SUV, or sedan has visible swirl marks from automatic car washes, light scratches, faded clear coat, or water spots that won't wash off. It's also a smart first step before applying ceramic coating — there's no point sealing in defects.

Common Questions About Paint Correction

How long does paint correction take?

Most vehicles take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours depending on panel count, paint condition, and how many correction stages are needed. Larger trucks and SUVs with heavily damaged paint will sit at the longer end. We'll give you a time estimate after we inspect the car.

Will paint correction remove all scratches?

Paint correction removes defects that live in the clear coat — swirl marks, light scratches, water spots, and oxidation. If a scratch has gone through the clear coat and into the base coat or primer, no amount of polishing will make it disappear. We'll flag anything like that during the inspection so there are no surprises.

Is paint correction worth it before a ceramic coating?

Yes — and it's actually necessary. Ceramic coating locks in whatever's on your paint before it cures. If you coat over swirls and scratches, you're sealing them in permanently. Correcting first means the coating is amplifying clean, clear paint instead of trapping defects.

How do I know what stage of paint correction I need?

That's what the inspection is for. We assess your paint condition before quoting anything. Some vehicles only need a single-stage polish, others need a compound cut followed by a refining polish. We won't recommend more than your paint actually needs.

Do you come to my location in San Diego?

Yes — Feliz Auto Detail is fully mobile. We bring our own equipment, power, and water to your driveway or parking spot. We serve San Diego and surrounding areas including Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Escondido, Oceanside, El Cajon, and more.

Areas We Serve

Carlsbad Chula Vista Coronado Del Mar El Cajon Encinitas Escondido Imperial Beach La Mesa Lemon Grove National City Oceanside Poway San Diego San Marcos Santee Solana Beach Vista

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