Help with heavy water spot damage

[WhiteLX]

My fiancee`s car has not been cared for as it should. The car is a 2006 Toyota Corrola. The townhouse`s sprinkler system has been beating up the paint for the last year. Its sad because the car is only 1 year old and looks horrible. So its time to do something about it.



I have a Makita rotary and a PC 7424. I`m not sure what I am going to need to do to repair this kind of heavy water spot damage. I don`t even know if it is repairable, but I would like to at least make it look a little better. I am used to working with paint in good condition, never anything this bad.



After the wark is done, what can i do to prevent this from reoccurring? She likes to park in this spot because it is right in front of the front door to our townhouse and she tends to get home very late. Our driveway is a long walk from the front door so she feels safer parking up front.



On to the pictures...



http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/158/5327/195429.jpg



http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/158/5327/195430.jpg

[imported_Gears]

Oh. I hate sprinklers. On the cars I`ve done the spots were on top of the clear and did not etch the paint. I tried clay first and had no luck. Vinager didn`t seem to help much either.

Using a PC with SSR 2 on an orange pad did remove the marks.

Keep in mind that yours look a lot worse then the ones I did.

Park far away from the sprinklers, walking is good for you.

[stiffdogg06]

Wash the car and then take the pictures to show the actual etching.



After that, use the PC on the least aggressive method and work your way up to the Makita. You may get lucky and get most of it out using of the 2 methods.



Some might be so deep it may require wet sanding. Some marks you may just have to live with.

[Macruz19]

After you wash the car, and you still see a lot of water spots, try using an All in One product with a white pad. If not try a step up like using an orange cutting pad, and try a least aggressive polish like Zaino Z-PC, or Menzerna Intensive Polish.



That`s what I use for waterspots, and they do the trick. Good luck.

[WhiteLX]

Those pictures were taken just after washing the car.

[Ern]

Those pictures were taken just after washing the car.





:nervous2: :nervous2: :soscared:

[Eliot Ness]

Those pictures were taken just after washing the car.:soscared: Yikes! That looks some heavy mineral deposits. You might need to use something like CLR to help dissolve them:



Buy CLR Cal / Rust / Lime Remover Online at drugstore.com (http://www.drugstore.com/qxp81915_333181_sespider/clr/cal__rust__lime_remover.htm)



I`ve never had to use it but I have read where it is safe to use on paint. I think I first read a tip about it here by member turbomangt in the following thread:



http://autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/44513-stubborn-water-spots.html?highlight=clr



I would only do a small section and then wash and rinse to be safe. I think I`d try something already mentioned first like distilled white vinegar or an AIO type cleaner.



For the future you can try a durable wax or sealant like Zaino, Ultima, Collinite, etc., but the only real solution is to stay away from those sprinklers. If she insists on parking by them try rinsing it off the next morning with some distilled water in a garden sprayer....... kind of a hassle though.

[the other pc]

Where in So Cal are you? If you’re near OC you could bring the car to an open garage session at Meguiar’s or ShowCarDetailing and at least do a test spot. You’d know for sure what you’re up against.



The only way to keep it from happening again is to find a better parking spot. You could just re-park it for her after she gets home so she doesn`t have to walk.





PC.

[WhiteLX]

Where in So Cal are you? If you’re near OC you could bring the car to an open garage session at Meguiar’s or ShowCarDetailing and at least do a test spot. You’d know for sure what you’re up against.



The only way to keep it from happening again is to find a better parking spot. You could just re-park it for her after she gets home so she doesn`t have to walk.





PC.

I am in Upland so OC isn`t too far of a drive. Does it cost anything or do I just show up? Where can I find more information?



Thanks!



Should I soak a small sponge with white vinegar or CLR and test a small section? Just rinse very well afterwards?

[rancid82]

oh man....i have never seen such bad water marks on a car. I think I`d break out the rotary for this one and see if it will come out with a medium abrasive polish...if not bring out the more aggressive polishes. You may want to try Meg`s #83 and see if it helps out or not.



Yeah, do a small test spot before you do a large section. I`d do it on a small section right below the doors.



Good luck with the car.

[the other pc]

The sessions at Meguiar’s and ShowCarDetailing are free. You just need to sign up on their respective web forums and post a “please sign me up� message on the announcement thread for a given event.



Meguiar`s (http://meguiarsonline.com/) does their open garage sessions on Thursday nights (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/16/ShowForum.aspx) and structured classes on Saturdays (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/14/ShowForum.aspx). Richard at ShowCarDetailing (http://www.showcardetailing.com/) does his open garage sessions on Saturdays (http://www.showcardetailing.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=95), about once a month.



When trying a vinegar rinse you need to give the solution a little dwell time. Most guys seem to mix their vinegar 50/50 with distilled water and load it in a sprayer. Spray some on and let it sit a bit then rinse and see how it goes. It will probably take multiple applications. Commercial Lime removers are much more concentrated. I wouldn`t use one myself but if you do you’ll need to experiment with it.



I would clay it after the acid rinse too.



Even when you get the deposits off there’s a good chance you’ll find that the minerals have etched the paint. In that case you’ll need to buff it with some sort of abrasive, hopefully only a mild one but you won’t know until you’ve played with it.





PC.