Hey guys. Just started doing the little modification stuff to my '07 HHR LS. I've never really did these type of mods myself. I want to be a DIY type of guy, just haven't had much practice.
I started with having the front windows tinted & across the top of the windshield.I tried using cling tint in my house & it came out horribly so I paid the pro to do it.
I painted the front & rear bow ties myself.

They came out kinda rough but not bad for my first time.Edges are messed up a bit.
Then I blacked out my tail lights using VHT Nite Shades. I used Dupi -color Prep spray but it made the lens foggy & I couldn't get it to go away. I decided to go ahead & finish it anyways.
It looked like cracked or foggy on one.so I checked them installed & here is what I got.

What should I do?

 

did you sand them down first? if so, what grade or paper did you use?
you may have burned them with the sand paper if you went too rough or applied too much pressure..that crackling happend on mine too..also might be weather related

 

for your bowtie, i would remove it from the vehicle so you can properly sand it down and paint it well..without worrying about overspray

 

if you want to redo the tailights, i would get paint thinner on them asap...start over....

and you could smoke the side markers next

 

I used 600 grit to remove the stock clear coat & I used 2000grit when I used the compound to finish. The other three were same process.

 

The side markers are blacked out & I'm putting clear coat on them now.

 

move from 600 - 800-1000, make sure you dont wait too long in between paint coats..by those pictures you have, it looks cold outside, maybe try painting them inside where is warm...just make sure when you re-do them, dont sand too much or you will burn them

 

When i painted the bow ties it was cold, so i let them dry longer. Everything else has been in my back porch room. I waited 20min between black coats & 45min between the 3 coats of clear. I am impressed with how well stock lights shine through the nite shades. I was a bit worried at first since I've never used the stuff.

 

Most paint requires temps around 60/70f to set right, Prep of the parts to be painted is Pri 1, if not preped right it will show on finished work,, you also learn by your mistakes :) Ill be doing sopme mods myself soon and Im sure I will mess up a few things in the procwss :) good thing is we have this site and all these people to help :)
Good luck

 

20mins i think is too long, i waited 10mins but it depends on weather , i did mine in the summer and it was hot out...i then sprayed clear coat on them 1 or 2 days later..and ya prep is everything