Bugs not coming off front end.

[Fredrick_NP]

My mom's Vibe is from back when they first came out, and I don't think the front end really ever had a good scrub.Now the bugs aren't coming off. After regular auto soap didn't work I tried dish soap and even windex in a small spot. It does NOTHING. It's almost like they fused with the paint. Anyone know of something powerfull enough to get them off, and not hurt the paint?I heard that sometimes it's impossible to get them off, and you have to buy a new front fascia. If that is the case, how much does a new one cost? Whatever it is I doubt she will buy one as it's just not worth it... but I'd still like to know.Here are some pictures. The picture of the left side has gone un cleaned. As you can see there is little difference (save for a a few spots) between it and the cleaned (many times) right side.Also in real life it doesn't look nearly as bad as it does in the last picture. I just used that to show just how much is on. The first two are closet to what it looks lik in real life.

[bogey523]

Sorry to hear about your bug problems. I have used a spray on bug & tar remover that I got at Walmart and it worked real well on both. So maybe try that. I know that I had some stubborn bug guts on my vibe last time I washed and tried a clay bar system and it seemed to work pretty well. The other thing that works (and don't laugh), is a pot scrubber that my grandma makes from netting. They work perfectly on bugs and don't scratch the paint. She makes them to sell at craft shows and they are in popular demand at family functions, because everyone wants them to clean their cars or their pots, lol! So maybe try a different type sponge? Hopefully this helps... I'm sure one of the pros on this board might have a better solution, but these have worked for me.

[AKLGT]

use 3M adhesive remover and a clay bar. both seem to work well. try the clay bar first.

[Merzbow]

Mine looks like that. Alot of it are chips from rocks on mine but they look like bugs. GM just slacked off on the paint on these cars unfortunately.

[Digger]

LOL My grandma made those to. I still have a few left. She is too old to make them now. They go through a life cycle of kitchen then to what ever you need to clean. I use a good cleaner wax on mine. We also have the green spray at work. ( do not know what it is called) get it at the auto parts store. It also works well.

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow »GM just slacked off on the paint on these cars unfortunately.More like NUMMI/Toyota really, it's their hardware and assembly techniques that gets us into this mess. lol!That front bumper looks just like mine did! I couldn't get the bugs out, they were permanently part of the front end after a while. The paint job on the bumper on mine was really, really poor, somebody at NUMMI should have been ashamed of themselves! lol! I didn't have much luck trying to get mine cleaned up, if something wasn't eaten into the paint, there was paint missing. heh! I tried many different bug & tar removers, can't recall which ones were the best though.The bug & tar remover stuff I like the best at the moment is the Turtle Wax foam stuff. Smells all lemony fresh and stuff.

[tnpartsguy]

Actually, this is the exact reason I got rid of mine; the paint on the front bumper was so thin the bugs actually went though it, etched the plastic UNDER the paint, then started leeching back out, thus the paint stain. Nothing will remove it. The only 'cure' is to take the fascia down to bare plastic, reprime and repaint it with enough paint and clearcoat to actually repel the bug juice. I'll bet the front of the hood and roof are similarly stained due to thin paint on them as well. GM will not warranty this, btw, or if they do, you got a better area Service Rep than I did.

[NSimkins]

Quote, originally posted by bogey523 »The other thing that works (and don't laugh), is a pot scrubber that my grandma makes from netting. I won't laugh, because I use the same thing. I find that this works the best even compared to the bug/tar remover, plus it is safer on the paint. I thought I had scrubbed all the bugs I could off the front-end, but the netting worked wonders, far better than I expected.Try some of the suggestions in this thread and let us know, something should work, I would hope. I can post a pic of the netting I use if needed.

[kcorona]

Same experience here -- I've got the permanent bugs too. Nothing I've tried has worked, and now I fear trying much more will just take the paint off. Get the Vibe bra and cover 'em up.

[VforVIBE]

Try living in FL in Love bug season, those things ruin the paint and they are every where.Quote, originally posted by kcorona »Same experience here -- I've got the permanent bugs too. Nothing I've tried has worked, and now I fear trying much more will just take the paint off. Get the Vibe bra and cover 'em up. The bra scrachs the paint, unless you get the BlueCrush has.

[kcorona]

I haven't found the bra to scratch the paint. You just gotta take it off and clean it every so often so dirt & water doesn't get trapped under it for too long - - that's what causes scratches.Regardless, the bra is the lesser of two evils IMO, esp. if you do much highway driving.

[KrazyB]

I don't know what kind of auto soap you have tried but the meguiers nxt car wash all ways seems to get the bugs off for me, you may have to scrub it a few times but it should work. Could you scrap it off with your finger nail if not they may be chips. Also make sure you use a microfiber washing mit so you done scratch the paint.

[northvibe]

I got all my bugs off using a clay bar kit, worked AWESOME. It was from Mothers California gold clar bar kit, like $16 and you'll prolly have enough to clay bar and wash/wax the car 3-4 times.

[Toasted7]

The clay bar should work great on the bugs. Another suggestion: I always use a dryer sheet on mine when I am cleaning it up. Just make sure you soak the area with water where the bugs are and just scrub lightly over the surface. As long as you keep the area wet, the bugs should come right off. Don't scrub too hard and do not let the residue dry on the car, spray it off right away. That has always worked for me.

[NewNeptune]

Those don't look like bugs at all to me, but rather rock chips. I haven't seen a car around here in AZ that doesn't have them (if they've been on the road for awhile). There's not much you can do when a rock smacks your bumper at 75 MPH. You should see what the dusty air does to windshields here. They become pitted very quickly. The factory windshield was awful after three months.