2002 Fountain Touch Up Paint (3 OEM Colors)

The 2002 Fountain Vibe

Ah, 2002. The year we traded our pagers for flip phones and decided that "Grape" was the pinnacle of sophisticated style. If you were rocking a Fountain back then, you weren't trying to blend in. This was an era of high-impact swagger, defined by those deep, moody tones like the very dark Grape that looked black until the midday sun hit it, or that classic, shimmering Teal. We've focused our attention on the survivors-the colors that actually defined the lineup, from the ever-present Silver Metallic to the boldest shades that made these models stand out at the dock or on the asphalt.

Paint Health Check

Here's the reality from the shop floor: 2002 was the heart of the Peeling Era. By this time, the industry had mastered the depth of the basecoat/clearcoat system, but the chemistry of the bond hadn't quite caught up to the intensity of the sun. The "Peeling Era" means one thing: delamination. On these 2002 models, the clear coat is the weak link. It starts as a tiny silver bubble or a faint, chalky haze, and before you know it, your finish is flaking off in sheets like a bad sunburn after a week in the Keys. Once that clear lifts, the base color underneath has about as much protection as a paper umbrella in a hurricane.

Restoration Tip

If you want to save that factory Teal or Silver, you've got to seal your chips immediately. With paint from this vintage, a single rock chip is an invitation for moisture to get under the clear coat and start the delamination process. Don't let a "small scratch" turn into a "total repaint." Dab on your touch-up color and level it off with a fresh clear layer the moment you spot a hit. You're not just fixing a spot; you're anchoring the rest of the clear coat to the car before it decides to pack its bags and leave.