painting interior console, what went wrong?

You should not be using vinyl prep on the console - just the rubbing alcohol. My guess is the vinyl prep is reacting with the plastic and causing your issues.

For the console (not the arm rest - that you should use vinyl prep on - I recommend removing it from the console, the paint you use for it and the console are two different paints), you should clean it with soap and water using a mild scotchbrite pad, make sure to dry it (it MUST be dry), clean it with rubbing alcohol (be quick, don't go crazy - the goal is to remove any final wax or grease) then spray it with lacquer dye in the color that you want (NOT vinyl dye). I also *highly* recommend that you wear gloves, like the nitrile ones. You do not want to be touching your just-cleaned parts with your bare fingers, you will transfer oil back on and cause the paint to react funny.

Use these instructions (they are for a Fox, but still apply):

[video=youtube;OvyiK57uzuo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvyiK57uzuo[/video]

This was me painting a tan console to white:

Before:




During:




And After:




Also, I'm not sure what paint you used, but you should you be using lacquer dye for the plastic pieces, and vinyl dye for the vinyl pieces. I purchased my paint from Late Model Restoration.

 

Any sort of wax/grease or containamaints will do that.

I painted my focus' console. I used a wax remover and an adhesive spray my local paint store recommended. The adhesive allows the paint to bond better and will greatly improve durability to prevent cracking and flaking.

 

is the light marks scuffs from your seat? or has the console never been put back in yet? how are you getting these marks? by rubbing with a rag or something? to me it doesn't look like the paints rubbing off as much as its just getting scuffed up. oif thats the case i'd do a couple coats of low luster clear after prep and paint. sem sells it

 

Sure thing, dude.

For PLASTIC, you must use lacquer paint. LMR sells it, look through their selection of colors here: LMR Lacquer Interior Paint

For VINYL, you must use vinyl paint. LMR also sells it, look through their selection of colors here: LMR Vinyl Interior Paint

I ordered my paint from LMR. If you don't want to get it from LMR for some reason, it's a SEM product, so I assume if you know the paint code of the color LMR sells, you can buy it anywhere that sells SEM paint (I don't know if LMR has it custom mixed up for them or not).

The armrest cover, ebrake boot and shifter boot are from Redline Goods (guy's name is Mike, he's a nice guy and great to work with, he made me some custom door handle boots). The covers in the pic are black alcantara with white stitching.

 

Whats your location? Some autoparts stores may carry SEM dye. I went to Auto Body Specialties in Sioux Falls, SD. That type of store in your area would be similar...

 

I've seen some NAPA's in my area carry some SEM dye. I don't remember if AutoZone or those types carry it.

 

There's a sherwin automotive place you could call. I just googled automotive paint and look for what pops up. Call around and ask at this point.....

A finishmaster in OKC too.....

 

I wouldn't think so

 

The places I recommend are automotive paint stores

 

[h=1]Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes[/h]416 Hudiburg Cir Ste C
Oklahoma City, OK 73108

[h=1]FinishMaster, Inc.[/h]429 NW 7th St
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

I would call both locations first and ask. Waterloo is the other side, I'm in the nw corner and back in SoDak a lot. Lol. I know some people from that area though.