What to do?

[jaminb]

So I just purchased a 2005 Toyota Corolla, a light silvery blue colour.

The body paint work is in quite good condition, except for a few small areas, mainly around the door handles there is like fine scratching above the handles, not sure what from, I guess its just a well used part of the car, its very fine though.

Anyway, when I brought the car it didn't have any polishing or waxing done to it and I would like to do it myself. So what products can you recommend?

Should I just apply some Scratch X to the small areas of scratching and then what could I use all over the car after I wash it?

and then what could I use to wax it?

regards

[greg0303]

Re: What to do?

Welcome to Meguiar's Online !!!


ScratchX with foam applicator pad should work on those areas around door handles. You may need to re-apply it if after first application there are still visible scratches.

For the rest of the vehicle there are two ways to go:

- if it's a daily driver you could use a cleaner wax (all in one product), which offers cleaning, polishing and waxing in 1 step;
your products would be (from least to most aggressive): A12 Cleaner Wax, ColorX, M06 Cleaner Wax, M66 Quick Detailer, D151 Paint Reconditioning Cream and you could still put a coat of a finishing wax on top of cleaner wax for extra protection;

- prepare the surface with a cleaner polish, like SwirlX or Ultimate Polish, and then apply a finishing wax, either synthetic Next Tech Wax 2.0, Ultimate Wax, M21 Synthetic Sealant, or natural (carnauba) Gold Class Carnauba Plus, M26 High Tech Yellow Wax.

I would recommend that you clay your car, after you wash it, for removal of above surface bonded contaminants and better bonding for your wax protection.

[Murr1525]

Re: What to do?

Yeah, I agree.

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. ColorX
4. Wax

would be a general cleaning for all over the car. Going with

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. SwirlX
4. Wax
5. Wax

would give a bit more cleaning ability.

And yes, first using ScratchX under the handles.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: What to do?

The two responses above this one offer excellent advice. The final choice in product really depends on what you want out of the finish. If it's really just to clean up a couple of noticeable spots and then keep the rest of the car looking decent, then ScratchX in those tough spots followed by ColorX on the whole car works very well.

You don't need to go deeply into the 5 Step Paint Care Cycle unless you're looking to really make the finish stand out. Or go even further if that's what you want.

[bottomsup]

Re: What to do?

The two responses above this one offer excellent advice. The final choice in product really depends on what you want out of the finish. If it's really just to clean up a couple of noticeable spots and then keep the rest of the car looking decent, then ScratchX in those tough spots followed by ColorX on the whole car works very well.

You don't need to go deeply into the 5 Step Paint Care Cycle unless you're looking to really make the finish stand out. Or go even further if that's what you want.

I have a similar issue. I have some light spideweb like scratches on the hood of my new car. I noticed it after my first wash. I don't know if caused them or maybe at the dealer and I didn't noticed them. Anyways, I used the new car kit to wash which comes with the UW. So I thought I purchase the UP to remove the scratches.

Can I use the same suggestion of using the UP to correct the problem areas only and apply the UW on the whole car? Or do I need to do the whole car with UP? Help

[Murr1525]

Re: What to do?

Ult. Polish probably wont be strong enough on scratches/swirls by hand.

As far as how much you need to do, it kind of falls into how 'car crazy' you feel like getting.

I would go with the Ultimate Compound for removing swirls by hand (and removing swirls by hand isnt necessarily easy, but thats another topic).

If you wanted to wax everything after that, you could. If you wanted to use the polish over everything, then wax, you could.

[bottomsup]

Re: What to do?

Thanks for your help.

[bottomsup]

Re: What to do?

I've been trying to figure out the cause of these scratches. It could have been me or maybe it came from the dealer like this.

It's a new car less than a month old. I first noticed the scratches after my first wash which was after the first week of getting my car. I purchased the new car kit which includes the wash mit and supreme shine microfiber etc. I used two buckets to rinse my mit. I did use some costco microfiber towels to wipe dry certain areas. These scratches are linear than swirls or holograms.

The dealer did "detail" the car. Is it possible the scratches were there and after I washed it the scratches were revealed?

[Murr1525]

Re: What to do?

Certainly is possible the dealer caused them.

[bottomsup]

Re: What to do?

I will attempt to fix the scratches this weekend (cross my fingers). If I screw up I'm heading down to Irvine and learn from the experts.

[Murr1525]

Re: What to do?

Well, just do a small test spot.

[bottomsup]

Re: What to do?

So I did a test spot of UP on my other car. I was surprised that it has some cutting power. I put good pressure on the area that had some light scratches and did three applications. It actually smoothed out the area and reduced/removed some of the blemish. I'm encouraged by the result.

[Murr1525]

Re: What to do?

Well, if you have to do 3-4 applications of Ult. Polish over the entire car... 1-2 of UC may be the better way, or at least worth a test spot.

[bottomsup]

Re: What to do?

With any of the cleaners or UP, if I want to verify that the scratches are gone do I use ISA to wipe it down? Is it safe on the paint? Do I need to dilute it at all?

[Murr1525]

Re: What to do?

IPA (isopropylalcohol), usually 50:50 I believe.

Yeah, it would be safe.... I mean, you dont want to soak the paint in it overnight.... but a wipe down once in a while is fine.