3 Step Waxing

[Big_Red]

So, I finally waxed the Vibe over the weekend. I did the full 3 step process by Mother's (pre-wax, sealer and wax)...washed the car followed by the three steps and washed again to get all the wax dust off the car. Did the tires with Mcguiar Endurance...and I tell you it looked better than new. Now I only have to go out and buy touch up paint because people keep hitting their door into mine, causing some nasty scratches...

[ArcsVibe]

Do you have any before and after pics?

[Big_Red]

No...didn't even think about taking picture before and after.

[dennisdrive]

Hi there ; I got a new 2004 salsa pontiac vibe with power package ,sports package and steel exhaust tip just 1 month back .And just 2 weeks back some dork parked very close to the vibe and left 3 minor scratches on the fiber plastic of the right front door .The paint got chipped ;so i went the dealer Foster's Pontiac and asked them abt the touch paint and they ordered for me paint 12346558 code 44U and the guy at the service centre offered to do it for me .He applied a single coat but it didnt at all match infact it is darker so i was wondering if the paint is correct .I hope you could advise since you have the same salsa red vibe and i was also wondering what you use for waxing the exterior and for cleaning the interior .This is the first car i got here in canada and i am clueless coz when i go to Walmart auto section there are so many different types .Pls help .

[Stang2Vibe]

Touch up paint rarely matches real well. With metallic paints, it is all but impossible because you can't accurately match the amount of metalflake that flowed from the spray gun when it was painted originally. Also, when paint comes from different lots, it is bound to be tinted slightly differently. When a body shop repaints part of a car, the painter has to tint the new paint manually to match the old paint.Waxes are generally a matter of the purpose for which you are waxing and your personal preferences. I generally advise people to stick with Mother's or Meguiar's waxes for preserving their daily driver.Interior cleaning depends on the surface. I like to use Armor-All wipes for the dash and plastic parts and Blue Coral Dri-Clean for the carpets and seats.

[dennisdrive]

yes the colour doesnt match ;any suggestions ;i did a touch up and now it is a bit over ;I CAN FEEL THE EXTRA PAINT WHEN I RUN MY HAND OVER IT .Can i use polishing compund or rubbing compound to blend it with the surrounding area .Is there no way i can get the colour of the touch paint to match the original paint .Pls advise .

[Stang2Vibe]

There is no way that I know of to make the touch up paint match better. It is usually good advice for people to ask the body shop to give them some of the leftover paint to save for touch ups if they ever have repairs done. The best advice I can give if you really want professional results at a bargain price would be to search your yellow pages for a paint chip repair facility in your area. It is much cheaper to go that route than to go to a body shop and have the whole body panel repainted--which is usually the only remedy that they will offer.As for compounding the areas you already touched up, polishing compound will not work to even out the repaired area because it is too fine. Rubbing compound will work, particularly with a buffer, but it will probably wear out the original paint around the repair. It's hard to say if rubbing it out by hand will work and not cause more harm than good without seeing it. If there isn't a whole lot of excess touch up paint, it will work. But the rubbing compund will dull the clearcoat around the area and it will have to be buffed out with polishing compound and an electric buffer.

[ragingfish]

Get this.

[Stang2Vibe]

hmm...never saw that before. Thanks for posting Mike.

[dennisdrive]

I went looking around in walmart and also in canadian tire ;couldnt fine it ; need suggestions