Would a 97 Cavalier have a clear coat or atleast enough to do a bit of very light wetsanding in a few spots.

It does have clear from the factory, everything was shot with a bascoat/clearcoat. Is there enough clear to cut it a bit? That's something I couldn't tell you over the internet, need to actually see.
Most likely, as long as the clear is stil "clear", then yes, you have some room to remove a bit. If it's getting a very dull, almost white haze to it, like I see on many earlier third gens, then probably not.
Remember too, if you wetsand, it's gonna need a good buffing to bring the shine back out again.

I basicly removed my molding and afterwards there is kind of a small raised line where the top and bottom edges of the molding was. I cannot wash/scrub/goo gone it away and assume its something that will need to be wetsanded out. I do have rubbing compound I would obviously be using afterwards.

You ill find the door was probably repainted. That line is because they didnt remove the molding before repainting.

Unfortunately its a very common thing with lazy bodyshops. Only way to get rid of it from my efforts has been a repaint.

I was kinda thinkin that but its not really THAT old of a car...no history of accidents. Paint is not in a condition where it looks like it may have been redone.

It was..Hell my 02 has already been redone. It happens alot and doesn't always get reported or recorded.

Im sure if you got down in a way that showed the surface of the paint it would have a little orange peel look to the paint. That is a sure sign its been redone.

If it was a freak and was redone at the factory which I cant see them doing it this way it still will have to be repainted. But you can try and wetsand it out but I think you'll end up making a bigger mess then the line.

I bet if its a 97 it could of been repainted. You never know, someone might of replaced the door for whatever reason and just got it repainted.

Did you try clay bar?


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer

Steve B wrote:I basicly removed my molding and afterwards there is kind of a small raised line where the top and bottom edges of the molding was. I cannot wash/scrub/goo gone it away and assume its something that will need to be wetsanded out. I do have rubbing compound I would obviously be using afterwards.

Yea sounds like it was repainted with the moldings on. You could wet sand the area a bit and try to taper off the edge a bit...it might hide it a little, though only way to really fix it is a respray.