Bug/Hood Shields: How To Clean?

crobinso

crobinso

The Grand Marquis Man
I'm thinking about getting a bug shield (shown at this URL) - or not. But I wonder, how do professional auto detailers clean these shields, and how do you clean the surrounding areas? It seems like an awfully difficult task.



Charles
 
How do those bug shields help protect your car from the bugs? The bugs and birds have the rest of the car to get splattered on or poop on.
 
MikeWinLDS said:
How do those bug shields help protect your car from the bugs? The bugs and birds have the rest of the car to get splattered on or poop on.
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That's a good question, Mike. But it is off-topic.:nono



Charles
 
Some of the shields on that link you stated say they are easy to remove and put back on or whatever with no drilling or tape or fasteners. Why not just take it off when you are washing, polishing, waxing, whatever?
 
MikeWinLDS said:
Some of the shields on that link you stated say they are easy to remove and put back on. Why not just take it off when you are washing, polishing, waxing, whatever?
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See? You've educated me! I didn't know they were removable. I thought they were screwed or glued permanently into place. Obviously, I've never had one before.



Charles
 
Just click on the product to see a more detailed description? :confused:





The very first one I looked at was at the very top on the right. Clicked on the link to check out more information about it, and it said:
  • * At the top of the hood curve we've added a reinforced bug deflector to create a swirling wind action that will divert most bugs, dirt and debris away from the windshield.
  • * Unlike hard plastic bug deflectors, our Deflector-Protector can be removed in minutes and stored in the trunk or behind the seat in a pickup.
  • * There are no holes to drill or hardware to attach, it installs quickly and easily using an envelope design and tightening strap under the hood to hold it securely in place.
Click to expand...
And then some others said it was easy to install and DIY, some with no drilling, no tape, no fasteners, whatever. If it's easy to put together, I would imagine it would be easy to take apart.
 
MikeWinLDS said:
it said:And then some others said it was easy to install and DIY, some with no drilling, no tape, no fasteners, whatever. If it's easy to put together, I would imagine it would be easy to take apart.
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Very good - for that product. But I'd like to hear from others who've had to deal with permanently attached shields.



Charles
 
~One manâ€â„¢s opinion / observations~



Car Front Mask (auto bras) cause a tremendous amount of paint damage as they trap dust and grit, and vibrate in the wind. It's no different than rubbing your paint with sandpaper. They also cause uneven fading because the paint under the bra is not exposed to the sun.



~Hope this helps~



Knowledge unshared is experience wasted [each one / teach one]

justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ JonM
 
I recently did a Forester with a smoked acrylic factory (well, dealer-installed accessory) bug deflector. I had to remove it to get to the paint at the leading edge of the hood. Pretty simple operation; I just had to remove 4 Phillips screws and unhook a couple of plastic tabs and it was off. Good thing too, as it seems no one had cleaned under it since the dealer had put it on several years prior.



Edit: Oops, I cleaned the deflector with regular car wash detergent and polished it with an old bottle of Meg's pastic cleaner, followed by some cleaner wax (the owner wasn't that fussy).
 
92MX83 said:
I recently did a Forester with a smoked acrylic factory (well, dealer-installed accessory) bug deflector. I had to remove it to get to the paint at the leading edge of the hood. Pretty simple operation; I just had to remove 4 Phillips screws and unhook a couple of plastic tabs and it was off. Good thing too, as it seems no one had cleaned under it since the dealer had put it on several years prior.
Click to expand...
THANK YOU. I suspected that, if not completely removed, a screwed-on shield would leave a neglected area. I couldn't imagine using a toothbrush or other tool to clean out such an area.



Charles
 
I use one on my Grand Cherokee. Mine screws on with phillip screws. I only use it when I have to travel on the interstate. Otherwise, I leave it off.



I wash mine with car wash soap. I will occasionally polish it with Megs PlastX.
 
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