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Help Just received my 2010 Challenger RT, but has a surface sctatch that I saw at home located on the flat black RT stripe. I thought I would rub in wax and remove it. It worked about 75%, but now the stripe has a gloss the size of a baseball there. Would like to fix it without going back to dealer since I live in cold and snowy Iowa and don"t want to wait till spring. Any ideas? Craig
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Re: What have I done this time?
Pure wax won't remove a scratch so I'm guessing some type of cleaner or polish was used. I'm also guessing this stripe is paint. If the polish brought out the gloss on the paint why not simply use it on the rest of the vehicle?
You _don't_ (read that again) want the dealership to polish your paint! -
Re: What have I done this time?
Hey craig, Welcome to MOL
Is it a decal that your talking about, and can you get a couple pic of the gloss on the stripe so we can get an idea and see what's needed to fix or help this problem.''USE THE LEAST AGGRESSIVE PRODUCT TO GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT''
You Don't Know What You Can Do Until You Try '' TECHNIQUE IS EVERYTHING''
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Re: What have I done this time?
That vinyl stripe doesn't really lend itself to the polishing out of scratches like paint does. Your wax application most likely did nothing more than mask the appearance of the scratch, along with adding some gloss to the finish. Pick up some M39 Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner and lightly go over the entire stripe with it and a foam wax applicator pad. That will clean the wax off and even out the color without adding more gloss to the finish. The scratch will most likely still be noticeable and most likely the only way to fix it is to replace the vinyl.
Better to check with the dealer now rather than wait several months to have them change it. If you are reasonably sure that the damage occurred prior to you taking delivery of the car, it should be a warranty replacement item. But if you don't bring it up to the dealer for several months it will be much too easy for them to simply assume you did something to it accidentally, or that it was even simple exposure to road hazards. A phone call to the service manager would be a good start - he just might be willing to document it with you and replace the stripe in the near future rather than right now.Michael Stoops
Senior Global Product & Training Specialist | Meguiar's Inc.
Remember, this hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need therapy.
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Re: What have I done this time?
x2 on Michael's post, you're just seeing the gloss left behind by the wax and it's nothing to worry about.
If you want to try out a product that you already have in your home, use some Dawn soap (in water
) or some isoprophyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Both of these should remove the wax no problem and be perfectly safe for the paint and vinyl.
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Re: What have I done this time?
Craig,
Congratulations on the new Challenger RT! What engine option did you get and did you go with the 6 speed stick?
If the stripe has a scratch and you picked it up that way then the dealer is responsible for the repair and you need to hold them to it!BobbyG
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Re: What have I done this time?
well it'd help if you tell what wax it is you used....
many consumer waxes these days have cleaner which would take out scratches and contamination and smooth out the paint making it shiny..... usually thats what ppl want on their paint....unless its flat because flat paint is flat bc its rough on microscopic level... when smoothed out by paint cleaners... its not flat anymore.... become shiny....
well if your black strip really is painted on then you can always polish out the whole strip to have a uniform shine on it.... maybe...Comment
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Re: What have I done this time?
The stripe is a decal. I did'nt notice it till setting in the garage. I will contact my dealer but would like to seem less foolish if the shine was off the flat black decal before calling. This is the 5.7 with slap stick, only because my wife insisted. Better than not having a Challenger at all! I am impressed that so many of you have responded to help. Will send results before long. Now I will sleep better! CraigComment
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Re: What have I done this time?
I just can't help but wonder, is it a SCRATCH or a SCUFF? I'm leaning towards a scuff on the decal.
ColinA common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
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Re: What have I done this time?
A picture of the surface scratch would help to come up with a solution to the problem !Comment
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Re: What have I done this time?
Back after trying all ideas you'all gave me. I appreciate trying to help me, but never got any results. I called the dealer and they will replace the rear RT stripe without even checking it out. At least we gave it a shot. I would have sent a picture, but not saavy enough yet to get it done. Plum crazy looks great with the flat black srtipe witch is available i white.Comment
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Re: What have I done this time?
My suggestion exactly. Craig, this is a new car and the decision you made is the right one. Most of the stripes I've seen through the years are applied or taped on and if they become damaged there's little else you can do to fix them.Originally posted by craig syl View Post
Good Decision!!BobbyGComment
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