The dealer put my car through a car wash, need advice.

U

Undepelo

New member
So I took my car (white 05 WRX STi) for warranty work and the dam dealership put my car through a carwash. :bawling: Sure enough I have a ton of swirl marks! Plus there’s a spot on the door that looks like someone used a rag full of dirt and a thumb that left a small area with a lot of swirls. :hairpull I had never used carwashes unless they are touchless and not often. I’m not event going to fight with the dealership because they will say they didn’t do it, bla, bla so I’m not wasting my time.

I’ve never polished a car before so I’m afraid of doing that and damaging or removing the clear coat. I also don’t want to take it to a “pro� who will remove the swirls and 90% of the clear coat in the process. As you can see I seem to have bad luck with services so I’m paranoid of someone else doing things for me in general. :grrr

Anyone have any ideas on how to tackle this impossible situation? I was thinking maybe I should learn how to polish using my beater car (91 white CRX) and then tackle the swirls? :buffing: Any off the shelf products for noobs out there I should use? I don’t need to eliminate the swirls 100%, just make the car look better without reducing the clear coat thickness too much.

Thanks for any advice!



-Angel
 
well, just yesturday I finnaly tackled all the swirls on my car (which looked like it probably had been run through a swirl-o-matic and improperly detailed by some moron dealer with a rotory). I used poorboy's SSR2.5 with a porter cable and it worked great. From what I know of 2.5, it's only a medium abrasive, so it wont take off too much clear coat. If you're looking for over the counter stuff, I doubt you'll have much luck.
 
I also don’t want to take it to a “pro� who will remove the swirls and 90% of the clear coat in the process.
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I can't really recommend products that wouldn't require purchasing a PC but I would like to comment on that statement. If there's a reputable detailer in your area they won't remove 90% of your cc. Some removal will be necessary to get the swirls out but not much. Ask around at work or some friends you may find someone that's either a pro or an enthusiast that does good work in your area.
 
Undepelo said:
So I took my car (white 05 WRX STi) for warranty work and the dam dealership put my car through a carwash. :bawling: Sure enough I have a ton of swirl marks! Plus there’s a spot on the door that looks like someone used a rag full of dirt and a thumb that left a small area with a lot of swirls. :hairpull I had never used carwashes unless they are touchless and not often. I’m not event going to fight with the dealership because they will say they didn’t do it, bla, bla so I’m not wasting my time.

I’ve never polished a car before so I’m afraid of doing that and damaging or removing the clear coat. I also don’t want to take it to a “pro� who will remove the swirls and 90% of the clear coat in the process. As you can see I seem to have bad luck with services so I’m paranoid of someone else doing things for me in general. :grrr

Anyone have any ideas on how to tackle this impossible situation? I was thinking maybe I should learn how to polish using my beater car (91 white CRX) and then tackle the swirls? :buffing: Any off the shelf products for noobs out there I should use? I don’t need to eliminate the swirls 100%, just make the car look better without reducing the clear coat thickness too much.

Thanks for any advice!



-Angel
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First of all... you won't lose 90% of your clearcoat, unless you attack the paintwork with a really harsh compund like the old Turle Wax orange rubbing compound and an old wool cutting pad on a rotary with no clue how to use one ! The secret to polishing is using the least abrasive product, and checking for progress to see if the swirls are eliminated. If so, carry on and then use a wax or sealent to lock in the shine. If the swirls remain, you go to the next level of abrasiveness, remove the swirls, step down to the polish then wax or sealant to lock in the shine.



I suggest you read the downloadable Autopia Guide to detailing found on the home page... great information there. You can do it yourself. If you decide to take it to a pro... ask them what kind of polisher, productsamnd techniques they use. Ask to see a vehicle they are working on, orr check one that they have already done and waiting to be picked up



PS: I have signs that I made up and had laminated that say "do NOT wash!" in English and Spanish.



Whenever any of my vehicles go to the dealership for warranty work, I make sure I place them on the dash so they are visible from the outside and also place one on the driver's side window, so there is no way they will miss it. I also emphatically tell the service writer that the vehicle is not to be washed under any circumstances. If you really know your vehicle's paintwork, you will be able to tell if they washed it !
 
Well, considering that the last car I polished was a 2002 CR-V that has been through those automated car washes and never been waxed, the sonus hand polishing kit has given me good results. (22 bucks for the SFX1, SFX 3 and a hand applicator is fairly inexpensive). The swirls are less visible, and I layered with AIO and SG afterwards. The SFX 1 was fairly mild when done by hand too...didnt even NEED SFX 3 but used it anyways for uber-smoothness. The car looks better than I could remember when we first got the car.



EDIT: I did all this by hand...around 10 hrs of work? First time doing it too.
 
Gonzo0903 said:
... PS: I have signs that I made up and had laminated that say "do NOT wash!" in English and Spanish.



Whenever any of my vehicles go to the dealership for warranty work, I make sure I place them on the dash so they are visible from the outside and also place one on the driver's side window, so there is no way they will miss it. I also emphatically tell the service writer that the vehicle is not to be washed under any circumstances. If you really know your vehicle's paintwork, you will be able to tell if they washed it !
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Thank YOU!!!! I work for a dealership and if more people would do this, it would eliminate 99% of the problems! Great idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
firstly take pics of the damage, return to the dealer and get them to acknowledge the damage. Then get it repaired, invoiced and take the bill to them for refunding.... making sure to also have the after shots too
 
Pittssteelers said:
Thank YOU!!!! I work for a dealership and if more people would do this, it would eliminate 99% of the problems! Great idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I disagree...Why don't the service agent ask if the customer wants the vehicle washed rather than assume. True, the sign is a good idea but the dealership should also do their part.
 
I don't know how a professional industry/business as a whole (dealerships) can continue to do stuff like this, but they do!



I detailed a black AMG the other day...customer took vehicle in to dealership for work, and they washed despite him telling them not to - so three days later I detailed again, payed for by the dealership. I think next time he's gonna put a sign up like mentioned here, as there's only so much clear to work with.
 
Pittssteelers said:
Thank YOU!!!! I work for a dealership and if more people would do this, it would eliminate 99% of the problems! Great idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...





Actually, 99% of the problems would be eliminated if someone would teach the lot personnel how to properly wash and dry a car!



At the local Jeep dealership, I watched the "lot man" wash a metallic black Grand Cherokee with a grimy wash mitt that he dropped on the ground at least three times while I was there getting touch up paint for my wife's Grand Cherokee. He was moving the mitt in circular motions and washing the vehicle in full sun, so the "soap" (palmolive dish detergent!) was pratically drying on the finsh before he rinsed it!
 
runnerbl said:
I disagree...Why don't the service agent ask if the customer wants the vehicle washed rather than assume.
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The reason they don't ask is because almost everybody wants their car washed for 'free'. They don't think of the fact that detailing Enthusiasts, like ourselves, have very high standards for how a car should be washed. Most people just want their cars clean and don't even notice the swirls.
 
I just wash my car before going and make sure the service advisor writes down "NO WASH".



Usually they see my car and remark "Well you don't need a wash." I also explain to them that I am a little "particular" about my car.
 
yeah I dont think that its the dealer not asking the customer, but rather the dealership improperly training the kids in the back how to wash a car, lack of providing suitable equipment/product, and lack of care!
 
In your situation without a PC I would try to hand polish with Autglyms Super Resin polish then seal with AG Extra Gloss Protection or possibly Four Star UPP which give's a fantastic shine on white,then re-evalute and post on here,pics might help you get more pricise advice.
 
I doubt that white will get any improvement by hand. (swirl remover)



To the OP, if you want to come my house I will remove the swirls for you. I won't charge you full price. Let me know if interested.
 
tdekany said:
I doubt that white will get any improvement by hand. (swirl remover)



To the OP, if you want to come my house I will remove the swirls for you. I won't charge you full price. Let me know if interested.
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Humm, I'll PM you in a minute....
 
Well, we took care of that very nice car today. You'll be surprized what I had to use to make it look somewhat better. Pictures should be posted soon by the owner. It was a pleasure to do work for a real nice guy. I can't wait to see the pictures.
 
runnerbl said:
I disagree...Why don't the service agent ask if the customer wants the vehicle washed rather than assume. True, the sign is a good idea but the dealership should also do their part.
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Because alot of dealership HAVE to do this. I know that 5 star Chrysler Dealerships are mandated to do this or it goes against their review and can add to them losing teir 5 star rating.



Also, it is my experience that most Service writters don't give a rats @ss about the car after the repair is made. They get paid for the mechanical service.



Peace...
 
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