Removing wax from two-tone cladding?

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:34 pm

quote:Except I asked them for their advice. Maybe try another dealer, then? See what they say? It would be worth a shot. Worst they can say is no.

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:35 pm

Hi Kari,For a second I thought your pic was my car! Nice color!! Good advice, nothing to lose by going and trying another dealer....

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 10:01 pm

Thanks I love my Neptune. :DI did get to thinking...is the TSB ONLY for the bottom and rear wheel cladding or does it count whatever is "discolored" and that's just what is usually discolored?Did you wax ALL of it...bumpers and all?

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 10:12 pm

quote:I did get to thinking...is the TSB ONLY for the bottom and rear wheel cladding or does it count whatever is "discolored" and that's just what is usually discolored?I believe it is only below the doors, and the rear wheel wheels. It does not include either bumper.quote:Did you wax ALL of it...bumpers and all?Oh yes.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 10:34 pm

Did you ever try goo gone, or just take my review? I am often wrong.

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 1:56 am

hmmm...will it not eventually wear off?

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 3:35 pm

quote:Did you ever try goo gone, or just take my review? I am often wrong.Yeah, it didn't work

Reynoma · Post by **Reynoma** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 11:06 pm

quote:hmmm...will it not eventually wear off?I had done something similar to my wife's (then girlfriend's) Ford Tempo. Wax all over the door handles and molding. It NEVER came off - even after years.Fish - I'm really sorry to hear about this wax thing. First the oil stain and now this. I hope you find a solution!

MrRich · Post by **MrRich** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 5:10 am

The last chance!Vim Cream Cleanser.Be careful if you try it,test it on a small surface!Good luck! Descriptions Deep Down Clean The unique creamy formula of Vim cleans really deep down to bring your surfaces back to life. Usage Squirt directly onto surface or damp sponge Rub gently Rinse and wipe clean Note: Special care may be required when using Vim on delicate painted enamel, aluminum and other soft surfaces Vim contains a gentle abrasive Always test on a "hidden' area before use. On aged and worn sinks and tubs, test on small area before use

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ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 2:47 pm

Intriguing...Do you have a web link by chance?

MrRich · Post by **MrRich** » Sun Sep 28, 2003 9:03 am

Ok!I tried today and it is working!And here is a pic from the bottle.Sorry about the quality!

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ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Sun Sep 28, 2003 3:27 pm

No wonder I didn't recognize the product.After extensive research, I've learned that it is a product of Unilever Canada, and is not available in the states.Will have to find something else close to it...but thanks for the info!

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Sun Sep 28, 2003 9:54 pm

Try this web siteNot intended as any endorsement of the cleaner or the referenced web site.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 12:47 am

Is that oxi-gel or cream cleaner?

MrRich · Post by **MrRich** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 4:14 am

It is the cream cleaner!

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 6:32 am

Thanks!

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 1:18 am

Mike, this may seem so simplisticly dumb, but it might help. Did you try to contact the manufacturer of the wax and explain your dilemma to them? If they made the stuff, surely they have a way to get it off.As for taking the car to another dealer and telling them you don't know what's wrong---that won't work. They aren't THAT dumb. It's pretty obvious when you see a car with plasic cladding that was waxed all over. And for the Prep-Sol I mentioned earlier. It is used in body shops to do a final prep of the surface before painting. If there is wax present anywhere on a surface to be painted, it will fisheye real bad when the paint starts to cure. So every last bit of wax, grease, oil, etc. has to be taken off of the surface. Prep-Sol is made by DuPont and is similar to paint thinner, but won't strip off or dull the paint. Something like it also is used before applying pinstripes and adhesive decals to cars so they stick better. It is very safe to use on painted surfaces, I have used it on my own cars before. You wouldn't need to use much of it, as it cuts right through wax on contact, but I believe it is pretty expensive. I don't know how much it costs because I have never bought it, we use it at work and it just gets added on to the company account when we purchase body supplies. We have about a gallon of it in the fire-proof cabinet at work. I doubt that auto parts stores would carry it, we get it from a body shop supply store.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 1:47 am

quote:Standard Car Wash...........FAILED Mother's Back To Black......FAILED WD-40............................FAILED Dishwashing Detergent......FAILED Goo Gone........................FAILED Peanut Butter...................FAILED Looking on line for a source of Prep-Sol, mostly found references to paint stores or automotive paint suppliers, such as "...Prep-Sol, which you can get from a paint store" No help there.A number of the sites were talking about preparing surfaces prior to painting or applying pinstripes, and such, and more than a few said to clean the surface with rubbing alcohol or prepsol. Did you try rubbing alcohol? If nothing else, it will dry quickly and you should know pretty much right away if it will be a long term fix or not, since a lot of the stuff you've tried looked like ti worked, but failed weeks later.

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 6:08 am

Wait a minute...I think I've caught on to something here. I have a theory. We are being scammed. Maybe all these products Mike tried have actually worked and he just keeps re-waxing the cladding every 2 weeks to make it look like they have failed? Anyone else getting this feeling? Shame on you, Mike, shame, shame, shame...j/k

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 6:10 am

The great never-ending waxed cladding scandal...mhm.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 7:16 am

quote:A number of the sites were talking about preparing surfaces prior to painting or applying pinstripes, and such, and more than a few said to clean the surface with rubbing alcohol or prepsol. Did you try rubbing alcohol?No, that's a good idea! Worth a shot!

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Tue Oct 07, 2003 1:42 am

Well has the rubbing alcohol worked? My curiosity is now piqued.

Sub-Vibe-R · Post by **Sub-Vibe-R** » Tue Oct 07, 2003 2:13 am

It could be a totally dumb idea, but as regualer wax stick so well on the cladding, anyone though about black wax???

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 1:09 am

ragingfish, any update on this saga?

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 11:22 am

quote:It could be a totally dumb idea, but as regualer wax stick so well on the cladding, anyone though about black wax???I've never heard of black wax. Black shoe polish, but not black wax. And I would never recommend using any type of shoe polish on a car. Besides, the cladding is a grey color, not black.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 2:33 pm

quote:Well has the rubbing alcohol worked? My curiosity is now piqued.quote:ragingfish, any update on this saga?Sorry guys, haven't been checking in nearly as often lately!I totally forgot about the rubbing alcohol idea. I've set aside tomorrow as my car care day (been well over 2 months since I gave her the attention she so desperately needs) so I will be sure to try that!I have tried power washing it. My neighbor lent us his power washer to do the brick walkways, and I figured (removed), give it a shot. Well, it didn't work. I didn't expect it to. MrRich also suggested Vim cream cleaner, a fine Canadian product. While I have it in hand (courtesy of Ms. AtWork), I have yet to try that. Two products I can give a go tomorrow.So as it stands now, here is the scorecard:Standard Car Wash...........FAILED Mother's Back To Black......FAILED WD-40............................FAILED Dishwashing Detergent......FAILED Goo Gone........................FAILED Peanut Butter...................FAILED Power Washer...................FAILED Vim Cream Cleanser.........RESULTS PENDINGRubbing Alcohol...............RESULTS PENDING

Craigmri · Post by **Craigmri** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 8:05 pm

I'm convinced that after all that wax removal attempts that its not actually wax causing the white streaking. I'm not a chemist and I dont play one on TV either but I suspect the wax perhaps stained or stripped off a coating on the plastic?????? With all the products tried there is no more wax left I can guarantee it! As for a solution? Have all the plastic removed, treated with prep-sol then painted to match car at a professional body shop. It'll look like a brand new car.Just a suggestion that will be a fix-all instead of a band aid.Craig'04

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 11:37 pm

Craig:Keep in mind I'm a two-tone, not a monotone. Having the cladding painted is not something I want to do. But yes, I know for a fact it is wax, because I'm the idiot who waxed it.

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 12:37 am

The wax you are seeing is not so much the stuff that is right on top of the surface. If you look up close at the two-tone cladding, you will see that it is not smooth, but rather rough and has lots of grooves all over it. The wax fills into those grooves somewhat as well as adhering to the plastic. The wax in the grooves is what is really difficult to remove. He needs to get hold of a product that will eat away the wax without harming the plastic cladding. That is what we are all trying to help him with.Also, you can't paint over wax or any wax residue. The paint won't stick to the surface and will just fisheye everywhere and look horrible. The prep-sol is a solvent used to clean all impurities, including wax and the oils from your hands, off of the surface to be painted. If it cleaned all the wax off, then the problem would be solved. He wouldn't have to go on to the next step and paint it then.BTW--Mike, did the dealer ever give you any suggestions for a solution?

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 1:00 am

quote:BTW--Mike, did the dealer ever give you any suggestions for a solution?He recommended dish soap, since we all know that strips wax off paint. Unfortunately, it didn't work for the plastic.

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 2:23 am

Did you ever get back to them and tell them it didn't work? Along with everything else?

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 4:10 am

Nah. He said that was all he could think of trying. No reason to go bck to them.

Sub-Vibe-R · Post by **Sub-Vibe-R** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 4:19 am

Tultle wax make wax for different car colorI help removing little scratch and rock chip.

MrRich · Post by **MrRich** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 5:33 am

Ragingfish!Did you get some Vim what I told you?It did an exellent job for me!All my door handles were totally white after waxing.But the Vim took off everything.You should try it.And how I told you,I can send a couple of bottles if you want it!

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 5:49 am

quote:Ragingfish!Did you get some Vim what I told you?It did an exellent job for me!All my door handles were totally white after waxing.But the Vim took off everything.You should try it.And how I told you,I can send a couple of bottles if you want it! The lovely Juliana (AtWork) brought me a couple of bottles from Canada when she came to the Matrix meet in NY. But I have not had an opportunity to actually give it a shot. I'll let you know how I fare!

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 6:37 am

Yeah, not only that, I realized today I never paid you for it.

Sub-Vibe-R · Post by **Sub-Vibe-R** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 6:48 am

Mike!!! You should be ashamed!

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 6:49 am

quote:Mike!!! You should be ashamed!I forgot dammit!It's ok, she just needs to get her Canadian (removed) down here again and I'll take her to AC for some fun in return.

Craigmri · Post by **Craigmri** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 9:02 am

Guys,You mean to tell me if I applied the following products to the plastic that there would still be wax on it?Standard Car Wash...........FAILED Mother's Back To Black......FAILED WD-40............................FAILED Dishwashing Detergent......FAILED Goo Gone........................FAILED Peanut Butter...................FAILED Power Washer...................FAILED all the above techniques should strip ordinary wax(maybe not the power washer). WD-40 and Goo-gone can strip tarr and gum so wax would be a piece of cake.I still say that although wax caused the problem its not residual wax that your seeing. I think its staining. Someone needs to have a DNA test done on their cladding. Maybe we can send someone's Vibe to that crimelab TV show for analysis.

byounger · Post by **byounger** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 9:13 am

Will liquid Silicone cause the material to crack over time?

MrRich · Post by **MrRich** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 10:14 am

quote:The lovely Juliana (AtWork) brought me a couple of bottles from Canada when she came to the Matrix meet in NY. But I have not had an opportunity to actually give it a shot. I'll let you know how I fare!LOL!You just kidding right?

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 1:53 pm

quote:Guys,You mean to tell me if I applied the following products to the plastic that there would still be wax on it?Standard Car Wash...........FAILED Mother's Back To Black......FAILED WD-40............................FAILED Dishwashing Detergent......FAILED Goo Gone........................FAILED Peanut Butter...................FAILED Power Washer...................FAILED No, I mean to tell you none of those worked for me.

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 5:23 am

i have the best way to avoid getting wax on my cladding, as a matter of fact, i have never gotten wax on my cladding.i don't wax my car! yep, steady yourselves, i wash my car about once a month and say "Screw the wax, i won't be surfing on my car anytime soon"

Craigmri · Post by **Craigmri** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 5:38 am

No Wax?.....That's Vibe Abuse! Vibe security personnel being dispatched immedietly.

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 5:40 am

>you'll never take me alive you sons a b****es!!!

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 1:37 pm

quote:Will liquid Silicone cause the material to crack over time?No, this should not affect the integrity of the plastic cladding.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:00 am

Mike, I know you have more important Vibe worries lately, but today I noticed that I still had some evil wax on my precious cladding, and decided to not invoke the wrath of nature. I tried some hand cleaner (a kind without pumice) and rubbed it on the dry cladding with a paper towel, then hosed it off. Initial resutls are very promising!

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:12 am

Keep me posted joatmon...though I'm (hopefully) gonna have the guy at the body shop take off the wax for me when I get the car fixed...he said he has a chemical that will take care of it. I suspect he refers to Prep-Sol that has been mentioned here before...

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 5:45 pm

Hard to say, Mike. Body shops are full of amazing products for cars. They usually aren't sold to the general public because many of them can reduce your I.Q. to about 14 and cause your children to be born with 3 arms and only 1 eye. Oh, and they cause cancer of just about every part of the body too. Some of the warning labels on those things can be a bit funny. Like you catch a wiff of some of them and can't help but wonder who in the hell would even TRY drinking it? Let alone pouring it in your eyes or bathing with it.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Fri Nov 07, 2003 5:09 am

quote:Like you catch a wiff of some of them and can't help but wonder who in the hell would even TRY drinking it? Let alone pouring it in your eyes or bathing with it.I always wondered, for example, when smelling something such as bleach, how they even NEED to put a warning on there not to drink the stuff...Makes you wonder about kids today. Anyway, will keep y'all posted...I'm still waiting for the rebuild parts to come in...