Back towards the end of January, I purchased an '09 HHR out of North Carolina. We have had a pretty harsh winter here in WV. Recently I washed my car and found that the rear fender area looks like it has been sand blasted down to bare metal. My HHR does not have the " running boards ". I had failed to notice that the passenger side, the side with most of the damage, was missing the clear plastic paint protector. However when I checked the driver's side I found that the 1/8" or so strip, below the plastic protector, was also down to bare metal. I realize these area's will require repainting, but how can I keep this from happening again? I can't afford to repaint my car every few months, or even every year. I really don't like the look of the " running boards ", and really don't want to spend the $1000 dollars it looks like it would take to install them, to install something I'm not really crazy about anyway. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

 

The only real solution to keeping the rear fenders/doors from getting stone and grit blasted are running boards or mud flaps.

Since you're in the "no boards" camp give this thread on mud flaps a read.

Juust click the link below....

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/appearance-modifications-discussions-6/best-mud-flaps-30228/

 

Sounds like you need some new Paint Protection Film or PPF.

Post your issue at the link with a few pics and someone will set you straight.
http://www.tintdude.com/forum/index....ear-bra-forum/

 

Good point Fox Hat, after he gets the fenders sprayed he'll be needing new PPF regardless of the mudflaps.

The GM pn is 25791044 for the Left Rear Fender/Door

And the GM pn is 25791042 for the Right Rear Fender/Door

 

could go old school and get the area sprayed with truck bed liner or roll it on , it can be tinted close to your color or left black, I have had this done to my old pickup on the rocker panel area to prevent road rash!!

 

If I was to give in and go with the running boards, do I still need to invest in the PPF? What about the splash guards / mud flaps?

 

From the factory if you have running boards the ppf is not required. The slash guards are optional but I would recommend them.

 

My 2 cents, is get the mud flaps at the very least.. IMO the boards look great buy they are not for everyone.. You can get a cheap set of flaps for around 30$ or the HHR ones like I have for around 60$.. And as mentioned have them put the paint protector on after repaint

 

How about spray on color dip in clear spayed on only in the areas that you need . You can do it your self right before winter peel it off in the spring and then in the fall before winter do it again ??????