# Older GEM clear coat failure - temporary (?) fix

**URL:** <https://community.electricforum.com/t/older-gem-clear-coat-failure-temporary-fix/29523>\
**Category:** GEM Forum\
**Created:** [August 5, 2025, 1:06am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/older-gem-clear-coat-failure-temporary-fix/29523 "2025-08-05T01:06:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sunol](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/sunol/32/16102_2.png) [@sunol](https://community.electricforum.com/u/sunol)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 1:06am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/older-gem-clear-coat-failure-temporary-fix/29523/1 "2025-08-05T01:06:30Z")

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Like many other owners, the clear coat on the hood of my 2001 GEM has started to fail. Seems like they all fail at the top of the hood.

I peeled off some of it while considering a wrap or buying a new hood and starting over. Then I started thinking maybe a ceramic trim restorer would help?

I decided to try the Cerakote Ceramic Trim Coat Restoration Kit. $17 at Home Depot and took about 5 minutes.

Before and after results below. Perfect? No. Looks pretty good from a few feet away though and no longer stands out as an issue driving down the road. We will see how it lasts. It would look better if I stripped the rest of the clear coat and did ceramic on the entire hood, but I could also just keep treating it as it fails. A hack for sure, but a hack nonetheless.

 ![IMG_5780](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/electricforum/original/3X/c/b/cb26f5c4ac991f093d1ee357f664d52c4f4ae4f1.jpeg)

 ![IMG_5781](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/electricforum/original/3X/a/f/afb52896330d9cb5fc37b619081c937487101993.jpeg)

 ![IMG_5783](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/electricforum/original/3X/c/3/c33456e0c5e5afaeaa85fede00cfcba9d865d7bf.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AssyRequired](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/assyrequired/32/7621_2.png) [@AssyRequired](https://community.electricforum.com/u/AssyRequired)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 12:51pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/older-gem-clear-coat-failure-temporary-fix/29523/2 "2025-08-05T12:51:04Z")

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Looks pretty good, but I wonder if you didn’t complicate your project later when you decide to paint over all this.

Hopefully, the new paint will not have an issue/reaction with the cera coating?  
When it comes time, scuff, prep, and test a small area first and see what happens.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sunol](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/sunol/32/16102_2.png) [@sunol](https://community.electricforum.com/u/sunol)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 1:17pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/older-gem-clear-coat-failure-temporary-fix/29523/3 "2025-08-05T13:17:37Z")

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Yeah, agree on the potential new paint complications. Likely looking at a new hood if/when the time comes.