4 Door Exterior Checklist

Concours.John

Auto Detail & Restoration
Here is an exterior checklist I created for when someone helps out. I tried to follow a circular rotation through out. It was made in Word. It should complement the Interior checklist I posted in "any interest in checklists" thread. I find I'm constantly revising but here is the first draft.

4 Door Exterior Checklist


Driver Front Fender, Wheel Well (wheels/tires to be checked at end)
____ Front of wheel well,
____ Top of wheel well
____ Back of wheel well, Mud flaps
____ Any suspension, and frame
____ Across bottom edge rear of fender
____ Across fender lip
____ Across bottom edge front of fender
____ Up fender to fascia seam and or bumper edge and behind if non molded bumper
____ Up sides of headlamp or parking lamp to fender edge
____ Across top edge of fender and inside edge
____ Down fender to door edge including inside flange
____ Around top and bottom any molding, side markers or emblems
____ Around edges of any pinstripe, decals or protective film

Driver Windscreen, Front Door, and Glass
____ From mid point across cowl, trim and seal
____ Windscreen wiper/arm, around and inside/around squirter nozzle if located here
____ Up pillar to windscreen, trim and seal
____ Across top windscreen, trim and seal
____ Outside windscreen glass
____ Driver door glass outside surface
____ Clockwise, seal and trim around glass, between seal and glass- front, top, rear, and bottom
____ Mirror-outside case, around any lights, around mounting seam, inside housing, mirror face
____ Between pillar and front edge of door
____ Across door to roof edge
____ Down rear edge of door
____ Across bottom of door to rocker
____ Up front edge of door to fender
____ Around door handle including key insert
____ Around top and bottom any molding, or emblems
____ Around edges of any pinstripe, decals or protective film

Driver Rear Door and Glass
____ Driver rear door glass outside surface
____ Clockwise, seal and trim around glass, between seal and glass- front, top, rear, and bottom
____ Across door to roof edge
____ Down rear edge of door
____ Across bottom of door to rocker
____ Up front edge of door
____ Around door handle
____ Around top and bottom any molding
____ Around edges of any pinstripe, decals or protective film



Driver Rear Quarter Panel (formatted for SUV’s and sedans)
____ Driver rear qtr. glass outside surface (if applies)
____ Clockwise, seal and trim around glass, between seal and glass- front, top, rear, and bottom (if applies)
____ Front of wheel well
____ Top of wheel well
____ Back of wheel well, Mud flaps
____ Any suspension, and frame
____ Right to left across bottom edge rear of qtr. panel
____ Across wheel well lip
____ Across bottom edge front of qtr. panel
____ Up front edge to door
SUVS
____ Across top edge to roof
____ Down qtr. rear edge to fascia seam and or bumper edge and behind if non molded bumper
____ Around any park lams and tail lights
____ Edges and inside gas door (if located here)
____ Around top and bottom any molding, side markers or emblems
____ Around edges of any pinstripe, decals or protective film

SEDANS
____ Across top edge to roof
____ From mid point across top edge back glass, trim and seal
____ Down pillar, back glass, trim and seal
____ Across bottom back glass, trim and seal
____ Across qtr. panel to trunk edge
____ Down qtr. rear edge to fascia seam and or bumper edge and behind if non molded bumper
____ Around any park lamps and tail lights
____ Edges and inside gas door (if located here)
____ Around top and bottom any molding, side markers or emblems
____ Around edges of any pinstripe, decals or protective film

Rear of Vehicle (formatted for SUV’s and sedans)
SUV’S
____ Around left tail light
____ Rear glass outside surface
____ Clockwise, seal and trim around glass, between seal and glass- front, top, rear, and bottom
____ Check glass recess if two part door
____ Wiper and arm
____ Around right tail light
____ Around and behind mounted spare (if applies)
____ Around top and bottom any molding, handles, key holes including key insert, or emblems
____ License plate recess, plate, trim, or covers and between
____ Back up camera and lights
____ From right, across bottom edge of door
____ Up left edge of door
____ Across top edge to roof, spoiler (if applies) and third brake light
____ Down Right edge
____ Around hinges if exposed
____ Left to right (bumper), across top
____ Down right side
____ Right to left (bumper, across bottom
____ Up left side
____ Check trailer hitch and recess if applies
____ Any lights, molding, recesses or covers in bumper fascia including park sensors
____ Around edges of any pinstripe, decals or protective film
____ Exhaust tips
SEDANS
____ Around antenna and mount if applies
____ Around left tail light
____ Left to right across bottom edge of deck lid
____ Around right tail light
____ Around top and bottom any molding, handles, key holes including key insert, or emblems
____ License plate recess, plate, trim, or covers and between
____ Back up camera and lights
____ Left to right (bumper), across top
____ Down right side
____ Right to left (bumper, across bottom)
____ Up left side
____ Any lights, molding, recesses or covers in bumper fascia including park sensors
____ Around edges of any pinstripe, decals or protective film
____ Exhaust tips and recess

Passenger Rear Quarter Panel (formatted for SUV’s and sedans)
____ Passenger rear qtr. glass outside surface (if applies)
____ Clockwise, seal and trim around glass, between seal and glass- front, top, rear, and bottom (if applies)
____ Front of wheel well
____ Top of wheel well
____ Back of wheel well, Mud flaps
____ Any suspension, and frame
____ Right to left across bottom edge rear of qtr. panel
____ Across wheel well lip
____ Across bottom edge front of qtr. panel
____ Up front edge to door
SUVS
____ Across top edge to roof
____ Down qtr. rear edge to fascia seam and or bumper edge and behind if non molded bumper
____ Around any park lams and tail lights
____ Edges and inside gas door (if located here)
____ Around top and bottom any molding, side markers or emblems
____ Around edges of any pinstripe, decals or protective film

SEDANS
____ Across top edge to roof
____ From mid point across top edge back glass, trim and seal
____ Down pillar, back glass, trim and seal
____ Across bottom back glass, trim and seal
____ Across qtr. panel to trunk edge
____ Antenna and mount if applies
____ Down qtr. rear edge to fascia seam and or bumper edge and behind if non molded bumper
____ Around any park lamps and tail lights
____ Edges and inside gas door (if located here)
____ Around top and bottom any molding, side markers or emblems
____ Around edges of any pinstripe, decals or protective film

Passenger Rear Door and Glass
____ Passenger rear door glass outside surface
____ Clockwise, seal and trim around glass, between seal and glass- front, top, rear, and bottom
____ Across door to roof edge
____ Down rear edge of door
____ Across bottom of door to rocker
____ Up front edge of door
____ Around door handle
____ Around top and bottom any molding
____ Around edges of any pinstripe, decals or protective film

Passenger Windscreen, Front Door, and Glass
____ From mid point across cowl, trim and seal
____ Windscreen wiper/arm, around and inside/around squirter nozzle if located here
____ Up pillar to windscreen, trim and seal
____ Across top windscreen, trim and seal
____ Outside windscreen glass
____ Driver door glass outside surface
____ Clockwise, seal and trim around glass, between seal and glass- front, top, rear, and bottom
____ Mirror-outside case, around any lights, around mounting seam, inside housing, mirror face
____ Between pillar and front edge of door
____ Across door to roof edge
____ Down rear edge of door
____ Across bottom of door to rocker
____ Up front edge of door to fender
____ Around door handle including key insert
____ Around top and bottom any molding, or emblems
____ Around edges of any pinstripe, decals or protective film

Passenger Front Fender, Wheel Well
____ Front of wheel well,
____ Top of wheel well
____ Back of wheel well, Mud flaps
____ Any suspension, and frame
____ Across bottom edge rear of fender
____ Across fender lip
____ Across bottom edge front of fender
____ Up fender to fascia seam and or bumper edge and behind if non molded bumper
____ Up sides of headlamp or parking lamp to fender edge
____ Across top edge of fender and inside edge
____ Antenna and mount if applies
____ Down fender to door edge including inside flange
____ Around top and bottom any molding, side markers or emblems
____ Around edges of any pinstripe, decals or protective film


Hood area – Hood open, orientation: facing engine
STARTING FRONT-LEFT (AS VIEWED) UNDERSIDE HOOD
____ Passenger front corner left to right underside, edge, and lip; between any seals
____ Around latch and spring
____ Across underside, edge, and lip to driver front corner; between any seals
____ Bottom of grill, underside of louvers if applies
____ Down driver underside, edge, and lip to hinge
____ Hinge and around
____ Across back right to left underside, edge, and lip
____ Hinge and around
____ Up passenger underside, edge, and lip
HOOD RECESS STARTING PASSENGER SIDE CORE SUPPORT CORNER
____ Up passenger side fender to hood recess
____ Across left to right cowl and between any seals
____ Down driver side fender to hood recess
____ Across core support left to right and between any seals
____ Hood latch and spring recess
____ Around passenger headlight assembly to hood and between any seals
____ Across grill recess or hood recess
____ Around driver headlight assembly to hood and between any seals
CLOSE HOOD
____ Around any emblems or badges
____ Along edge of any decals or protective film
____ Squirter nozzles around and inside if located here
____ Around and in any ductwork or louvers
____ Along any edge trim if applies

Front of vehicle and bumper
____ Around passenger headlight assembly
GRILL MUST CHECK ALL ANGLES
____ Check any opening surface from bottom looking up
____ Check any opening surface from top looking down
____ Check any opening surface from left looking right
____ Check any opening surface from right looking left
____ Check trim and edges around mounting and insert
____ Around driver headlight assembly
BUMPER
____ Up passenger side edge also where wheel well liner meets
____ Across top and between seams
____ Passenger headlight washer cover and edges if applies
____ Across top middle and between seams
____ Driver headlight washer cover and edges if applies
____ Across to driver side edge and between seams
____ Down driver side edge also where wheel well liner meets
____ Across bottom edge to passenger side
____ Passenger side marker if applies
____ Any ductwork or trim around passenger side
____ Fog lamps and trim passenger side
____ Tow hook recess and cover if applies
____ Center duct and louvers, any trim around
____ License plate recess, plate, trim or covers and between
____ Tow hook recess and cover if applies
____ Fog lamps and trim driver side
____ Any ductwork or trim around driver side
____ Driver side marker if applies
____ Any molding top and bottom including inserts top and bottom
____ Any park sensors
____ Between spoiler and bumper if applies
____ Around edges of any pinstripe, decals or protective film

Roof (applies to SUV and sedan)
SEDANS
____ Run sunroof(s) back check jamb(s) and edges both sides
____ Close sunroof(s) driver side felt edges and seal (front, side, back)
____ Driver drip rail
____ Antenna base and mount if applies
____ sunroof(s) passenger side felt edges and seal (front, side, back)
____ Passenger drip rail
SUVS
____ Run sunroof(s) back check jamb(s) and edges
____ Close sunroof(s) driver side felt edges and seal (front, side, back)
____ All rubber ribs or ridges facing towards driver side (front edges also)
____ Leading edges of roof rack components
____ All roof rack components facing towards driver side (top and bottom edge)
____ Movable rails secure?
____ Driver drip rail
____ Trailing edges of roof rack components
____ Antenna base and mount if applies
____ Around rear spoiler or light (if applies)
____ sunroof(s) passenger side felt edges and seal (front, side, back)
____ All rubber ribs or ridges facing towards passenger side (front edges also)
____ Leading edges of roof rack components
____ All roof rack components facing towards passenger side (top and bottom edge)
____ Movable rails secure?
____ Passenger drip rail

Wheels and Tires
PASSENGER FRONT
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) tire face and groves clean and dressed
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) wheel lip and face
____ Lug openings (clockwise)
____ Wheel center
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) between spokes and openings circular inspection
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) inside barrel, backside of face
____ Caliper
PASSENGER REAR
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) tire face and groves clean and dressed
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) wheel lip and face
____ Lug openings (clockwise)
____ Wheel center
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) between spokes and openings circular inspection
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) inside barrel, backside of face
____ Caliper
DRIVER REAR
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) tire face and groves clean and dressed
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) wheel lip and face
____ Lug openings (clockwise)
____ Wheel center
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) between spokes and openings circular inspection
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) inside barrel, backside of face
____ Caliper
DRIVER FRONT
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) tire face and groves clean and dressed
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) wheel lip and face
____ Lug openings (clockwise)
____ Wheel center
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) between spokes and openings circular inspection
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) inside barrel, backside of face
____ Caliper

MOVE VEHICLE FORWARD OR BACK 1/2 TIRE ROTATION

DRIVER REAR
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) tire face and groves clean and dressed
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) wheel lip and face
____ Lug openings (clockwise)
____ Wheel center
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) between spokes and openings circular inspection
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) inside barrel, backside of face
____ Caliper
DRIVER FRONT
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) tire face and groves clean and dressed
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) wheel lip and face
____ Lug openings (clockwise)
____ Wheel center
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) between spokes and openings circular inspection
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) inside barrel, backside of face
____ Caliper
PASSENGER FRONT
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) tire face and groves clean and dressed
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) wheel lip and face
____ Lug openings (clockwise)
____ Wheel center
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) between spokes and openings circular inspection
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) inside barrel, backside of face
____ Caliper
PASSENGER REAR
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) tire face and groves clean and dressed
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) wheel lip and face
____ Lug openings (clockwise)
____ Wheel center
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) between spokes and openings circular inspection
____ Starting at valve stem (clockwise) inside barrel, backside of face
____ Caliper

In thoughts or suggestions appreciated. Feel free to copy and paste to Word. I hope it might help someone out.
 
Damn..it don't get much more in depth than that. Great job and thanks for tanking the time to do it. That had to take a while. I think Im gonna print this when I get home :)
 
Damn..it don't get much more in depth than that. Great job and thanks for tanking the time to do it. That had to take a while. I think Im gonna print this when I get home :)

Thank you. It was to help with not having to hover over someone helping on what I expect. I just feel if it will help someone else to post it. It should copy right into word if you move the left margin to 1. Then it will be each line printed as one. I noticed it views different on my phone vrs. Laptop.
 
Thanks for posting !!

Your welcome! Sorry it took so long.

Very nice, this will come in handy! Thanks John!

Your welcome. I will be handing this in addition to my Interior list (already being handed out) to clients along with a before and after disk. I also place my flyer 3 business cards and magnet in an envelope. This action alone has secured clients. I have also gained work through word of mouth of this practice. It not only justifies my price but lets clients know I'm not afraid for them to check my work.

These lists (reposted interior so its easy to find today) can be adapted to create a two door list unless I get the time to create and post one.:D
 
Great checklist for final inspection and quality control. I can only imagine how a customer reacts when they realize how many areas you not only check in the end, but focus on during your process. Today I did the wheels of a Lexus IS for a neighbor while he watched. He was amazed at how long it took for each wheel and how specific I was with my process and tool/chemical choice.

Since you said that you designed this to help when you have someone helping out, it seems a more chronological list would be more helpful to the helper. I guess it all depends on their experience.
 
Great checklist for final inspection and quality control. I can only imagine how a customer reacts when they realize how many areas you not only check in the end, but focus on during your process. Today I did the wheels of a Lexus IS for a neighbor while he watched. He was amazed at how long it took for each wheel and how specific I was with my process and tool/chemical choice.

Since you said that you designed this to help when you have someone helping out, it seems a more chronological list would be more helpful to the helper. I guess it all depends on their experience.

If you read through and follow
It has a flow around the vehicle.:)
And yes it is more designed for someone with basic experience.
 
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