Cleaning door jams

I use a waterless wash product for cleaning door sills- maybe Spray and Wipe would be a good choice. If you clean the hinge itself do you regrease it for the customer?
 
Thanks for all the answers but let me just say this. My jams are in great shape, I've always kept them that way. I think that QEW or one of the waterless products will be best for me. I was really trying to *work them into the wash* routine without soaking the inside of the car. To me it just seems there just isn't a right time. If they are all waxed up and when you go to wash the car and they are dusty you should probably do them just prior to wash. ie carefully with a soapy wet cloth then when you wet down the car pay attention to getting lots of water in the door seams to rinse out the soap. Then when you dry the car you won't worry about wiping dirt across the surface. Excuse my rant please.
 
I just spray some properly diluted APC. let it Dwell for a minute or so. If It's a wholesale detail I just hit the damn thing with my Karcher pressure washer. If it's for a retail client I spend a little more time and wipe with an old MF. I usually finish them with a quick wipe down of OCW.
 
klnyc said:
Man, I ran into a snag on the door jams too. How do you guys clean those door hinges(esp on the driverside, you see all those connector attached to the door) ? You just spray w/ APC or QEW into them? :idea

I wouldn't recomend cleaning these. They have grease there for a reason, its to lubricate the hinges. So unless your going to relube it could cause squeeking problems. :2thumbs:
 
well when I took my new Audi in for the first scheduled maintenace they lubirated the hinges alright. In addition to every inch of sheet metal that the holds the hinges.



Now I've got grease spots on the rockers and dirt and dust trapped in and around the hinges.



I can see long hours of using detailing swaps with some diluted APC to get those areas clean.



Pisses me off every time I look at em
 
I did talk to the Service Manager and he ran some spiel about lubricating the hinges was part of the scheduled maintenace so they have to do it. To which I inquirered "does that mean lubricating the panels too".



They seem so ambivalent on the matter and kept saying no one else ever complained that I decided if I force them to clean it matters will only get worse (like they would use some harsh degreaser w/shop rags)



Next full detail session I',m going to mask off the interior with some plastic between the pillars and rockers. spray the hing areas down with a "gentle APC" (which I'm still looking for) and wash everything down w/my PW.



I saw over on Audiworld that there is a small hole somewhere in the hinge assembley where you insert a nozzle and spray in the grease (white lithium from the looks of it)



Needless to say on the next scheduled maintenace there will be a big sign on the dash telling them to step back from using any grease on the body of my whip
 
MorBid- Yeah, my Audi dealer did that too, got sticky lube on things that didn't need lubricated. I had a talk with both the service manager and the tech who works on my cars and I remind them at every service that there are things *not* to do- lubing hinges/latches, washing the car, putting one of those static-cling stickers on the windshield, touching things that don't need touched, etc. I write it on the work order if they haven't already typed it on there.



They don't really "have" to do anything, they just say that because it's easier than talking with the tech and/or remembering to treat your car "special". Heh heh, in my case, the only thing they have to do is keep me happy ;) For warranty concerns, they can simply verify that the work has been done (by you).
 
Accumulator:



Do they listen to you when you give 'em your list of "not to do's"?



I don't want to bust ne1's balls I'm so anal about my A4 that I detail the mufflers and undercarraige.



If they try that lub sh*t again I'm calling AoA cuz I'm under warranty too.



There's only one Audi Dealership so it's like they know I can't go anywhere else for scheduled maintenance/warranty service
 
The Jeep dealership had a mechanic that used enough grease on my door latches and hinges to lube a fleet of cars.



The next time it went in for service, I told the service manager to tell the mechanic not to overlube the hinges. Of course, they were oozing with white lithium grease.



A phone call to a former neighbor who works in the warranty department of the Daimler Chrysler zone office( high enough in the company to get 2 company cars) got the situation resolved. I haven't had a problem since.
 
MorBid said:
Accumulator:



Do they listen to you when you give 'em your list of "not to do's"?



I don't want to bust ne1's balls I'm so anal about my A4 that I detail the mufflers and undercarraige...



You bet they listen! I have to say that my Audi dealer (Stoddard Imported Cars, Willoughby, OH) is really great. I dunno just how well *your* Audi dealer will listen to you, well, at least the first time. They probably don't want irate calls to Audi customer satisfaction reps though, so I'd be optimistic ;)



Our other vehicles get serviced at other shops/dealerships, some of which include Audi franchises, and I've had to "educate" them about how to treat my vehicles. Especially the minivan, they initially didn't get that I treat it like a showcar. Heh heh, I *did* have to be, uhm, assertive ;) but they got the message and I didn't have to be rude or anything. But nobody but Stoddard works on my Audis, and only certain employees there are allowed to touch my cars.



Stuff like this lube issue is simple really, they don't have to do certain things, so working on *your* car is easier. The stuff they *do* have to do should be done properly. Not much to argue about. Plus, once you point out how nice you keep it (as if you should have to!) maybe they'll appreciate it and you a bit more. People of a certain type won't think of you as a PIA, they'll appreciate that you care about your stuff, and these are the sort of people you want working on your car anyhow.
 
Thanks for the reply Accumulator, I'm going to be "assertive" and "eduacate" them on how to treat my car too (which I paid good money (read alot) for and take very (read very) good care of.



I just hope I don't get "schooled" :)
 
Accumulator said:
I had a talk with both the service manager and the tech who works on my cars and I remind them at every service that there are things *not* to do- lubing hinges/latches, washing the car, putting one of those static-cling stickers on the windshield, touching things that don't need touched, etc. I write it on the work order if they haven't already typed it on there.



When I bring my cars in for service I give them two lists. What "to do" and what "NOT to do". The seats and center console are covered in towels and plastic. I also have an old set of floormats that I've used to replace the expensive custom ones when I bring the car in. At first they were taken back by all this but I say "Better to avoid a problem then have to fix one." Things "not to do" include NOT washing/vacuuming it. I tell them "I don't care HOW dirty it is after you've worked on it just give it back and I'll take it from there". I've also told them not to do anything extra. Don't lube the hinges or check the air pressure, put any stickers on the car, etc, etc.



As soon as a service person sees an immaculately detailed car and a list of instructions that puts into their mind that they'd better take good, good care of this car. I think that you often get beter service as a result. They probably think I'm a kook but at least they aren't messing with my car the wrong way.



When my one car was under warranty it went to the dealership a few times over 4 years and they treated it decently. Most times I was there waiting for the car while it was being worked on and I think that helped. I had the same tech work on it all the time and he treated it very well. Now I take it to my regular garage and they deal with high end cars all the time so they are used to handling cars with kid gloves. I've been dealing with them for years. One of the mechanics joke that they put gloves on while working on my car so they don't get it dirty. :LOLOL



A good long term relationship with your mechanic is a very positive thing when it comes to being catered to. ;)



My other car is still under warranty and the few times it's been to the dealership they've taken good care of it. No complaints. It's less coddled than my Garage Queen due to the fact that it's subjected to the kids but I still have the list of things "not to do" and towels on the seats. :LOLOL



Fortunately neither car has ever been to the dealer for anything major. I've never had the "scheduled maintenance" done on either cars at a dealership so no problems with the door jambs or grease.
 
Jinba ittai said:
When I bring my cars in for service I give them two lists. What "to do" and what "NOT to do". The seats and center console are covered in towels and plastic. I also have an old set of floormats that I've used to replace the expensive custom ones when I bring the car in. At first they were taken back by all this but I say "Better to avoid a problem then have to fix one." Things "not to do" include NOT washing/vacuuming it. I tell them "I don't care HOW dirty it is after you've worked on it just give it back and I'll take it from there". I've also told them not to do anything extra. Don't lube the hinges or check the air pressure, put any stickers on the car, etc, etc.



As soon as a service person sees an immaculately detailed car and a list of instructions that puts into their mind that they'd better take good, good care of this car. I think that you often get beter service as a result. They probably think I'm a kook but at least they aren't messing with my car the wrong way.



When my one car was under warranty it went to the dealership a few times over 4 years and they treated it decently. Most times I was there waiting for the car while it was being worked on and I think that helped. I had the same tech work on it all the time and he treated it very well. Now I take it to my regular garage and they deal with high end cars all the time so they are used to handling cars with kid gloves. I've been dealing with them for years. One of the mechanics joke that they put gloves on while working on my car so they don't get it dirty. :LOLOL



A good long term relationship with your mechanic is a very positive thing when it comes to being catered to. ;)



My other car is still under warranty and the few times it's been to the dealership they've taken good care of it. No complaints. It's less coddled than my Garage Queen due to the fact that it's subjected to the kids but I still have the list of things "not to do" and towels on the seats. :LOLOL



Fortunately neither car has ever been to the dealer for anything major. I've never had the "scheduled maintenance" done on either cars at a dealership so no problems with the door jambs or grease.



Why do you guys take your cars to shops that you would actually have to tell them this. A good shop will do this automatically as soon as they see how clean your car is. I work at a quick lube and I know that the guys there automatically treat clean cars with more respect. I especially treat them good and have a tendency to take a little longer, double and quadruple checking everything, my boss usually doesn't like this, but oh well. ;)
 
Pontman43 said:
Why do you guys take your cars to shops that you would actually have to tell them this. A good shop will do this automatically as soon as they see how clean your car is...



You would think so, but no, sometimes they just don't get it. I consider myself lucky that Stoddard at least *listens* to me. I've had dealerships that blatently ignored my "how to treat it" or even appear to simply "mess with me" (previously immaculate WRX, now covered with hard water spots: service guy at Porsche/Audi/Subaru/Mazda dealer shrugged and told me "we didn't wash it; it just got wet when we hosed off the car next to it"). Even had one owner who "stood behind his employees" :rolleyes: and said he just couldn't do business with me. OK, his loss.



I worked at a dealership when I was younger, and know a dealership employees- you wouldn't *believe* the things that go on, even at the high-end of the market.



Jinba ittai said:
One of the mechanics joke that they put gloves on while working on my car so they don't get it dirty.



Actually, they say this *seriously* about my cars- that on other people's cars they wear gloves to keep their hands clean, but on mine it's the other way around.
 
Pontman43 said:
Why do you guys take your cars to shops that you would actually have to tell them this. A good shop will do this automatically as soon as they see how clean your car is.



The shop I take my cars to is a good shop. I've been dealing with them for 15 years. They do excellent work and deal with expensive, high end cars all the time. My cars are probably worth less than the sales tax on many of the cars that are there!



However I never assume anything. That's gotten me into trouble in the past. A good shop will consider it a good thing to wash/clean a customer's car and will do so unless instructed otherwise. Most customers think it's a good thing to have their car washed and cleaned for them! I'm not one of those people and since I'm the oddball it's in everyone's best interest if I effectively communicate my needs to them rather than assuming/hoping that they can read my mind.



Let's face it, Autopians are a distinct minority. We are outside the mainstream of most car owner's thinking and attitude. Even those folks who buy and drive expensive exotic cars will treat them horribly while here we baby and care for our minivans and econoboxes like they're made of gold. It's not something that's commonly seen or experienced by a shop owner. I mean really, how many "ordinary" people notice or care about the grease that's applied to their door hinges and might get on the door jambs? ;)



It's not that these people don't care but they aren't thinking like we are. IMO communication is the best way to bridge any misunderstandings and avoid problems. Like I said, "Better to avoid the problems then have to fix them later." Fortunately my shop is receptive to my needs and while they probably think I'm an eccentric kook they also like the fact that I'm a loyal customer who has referred many people to them and as a result they do bend over backwards to accomodate me. :bigups



Unfortunately I'm convinced that most of the shops out here either don't know or don't care so it's "caveat d'emptor" when it comes to where to bring your car for service.



The majority of the time I work on the car myself. IMO that's really the way to go.
 
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