Scratches after washing your car
Question:
Hi Kevin,
Your web site is fabulous – I googled “car washing” and your site was in the top three that came up. I have just spent 40 minutes reading through your various pages – great information.
Here is my question. I have a 2005 Fire Red Mustang, that just got its first wash after a few months of winter driving (I know, very bad to wait so long!). It is a lovely spring day in Vancouver and so I washed all the grime off my car. Some of the black tar like grime was very stubborn, and so I used the abrasive side of one of those two sided dish washing sponges to give them a good scrub. Not so clever as I discovered after I dried the car, now I can see whitish scuff like hazing in the paint where I did this.
I am hoping that all I did was scrub off the wax. I intend to leave the car in the garage over night to completely dry, and then wax it tomorrow – do you think this will remove those nasty scrub marks?
I hope I haven’t ruined my paint.
Thanks for your help.
Sandy
Answer:
Sandy,
You probably scratched the clear coat, which can be fixed. I would take it to a body shop and have them look at it, as it’s not an easy job for the beginner. They will probably use a cutting compound to smooth out the scratches, and then polish it to bring back the shine. I would not tackle the job yourself, as you may break through to the base color, then the only way to get the shine back, would be to respray the clear coat.
Good Luck,
Kevin
Posted: 5th May 2006 | Author: Kevin Schappell | Category: Body, Car Care
Diagnosing Car Problems…
Below is a letter I received the other day about wasted parts and labor, and it highlights the problem with some auto repair shops out there that simply replace parts blindly without diagnosing the real problem.
Email:
I recently had a problem with my 94 Dodge van. This is a high mileage vehicle (160,000), but I have had it since new, and have taken care of it,i.e. oil changed every 3,000 miles, regular tuneups, brakes, tires, etc. It is my work vehicle so it has to be reliable.
It developed a very rough “miss” after 30 mph. I took it in to a mechanic (a well known chain) and they proceeded to drop the fuel tank and install a new fuel pump and clean the fuel system. There was no change. They then tuned it up. There was no change. They then sent it out to have the transmission looked at. There was no change. They then changed the spark plug wires, no change.
After $1,650.00 they said two cylinders were bad and they said it might need an overhaul.
At that point I figured someone else should experiment on my van. I took it to another large repair shop and they diagnosed the problem as a bad fuel injector and the others were dirty. $550 more and it is running fine.
In your opinion should the first repair shop spotted this in the first place and should I have to pay for the work even though they did not fix anything? They van has been regularly tuned up and I don’t think the fuel pump had anything to do with the problem.
I would really appreciate your opinion.
Thank you.
Tom K.
My Response:
Tom,
Yes, they should have found the problem right away. In today’s age of computer diagnostics, there is little excuse for blindly replacing parts.
Unfortunetly, you do not have much recourse with the first shop, as I am assuming you paid for the work already. Most if not all of the parts that were replaced, could have been worn and causing the problem, so I don’t think your case would stand up in court. The shop should have inspected and cleaned the injectors, as they clearly thought it was a fuel issue.(they replaced the fuel pump)
Your story is typical of many national chain stores. Many of their employees are undertrained, or just don’t care, and would rather just replace parts, than diagnose the actual problem. In the future, insist that the shop stands by their diagnosis, and you will not have to pay for the labor if the part does not fix the problem. Notice, I did not say you should not pay for the parts, just the labor. Make sure you ask plenty of questions before the shop works on your car, ask for the old parts that are being replaced, and don’t pay the bill before you take a test drive to confirm the problems are fixed. It really upsets me, to hear stories like yours, unfortunetly, I hear them all too often.
Take Care,
Kevin Schappell
Posted: 20th March 2006 | Author: Kevin Schappell | Category: Car Care
Where do you buy your gas?
I have been asked many times if it matters where you buy your gasoline. My answer is always this… Stick with a major brand of gasoline, and try to buy your gasoline in an area where there are a lot of gas stations. Why? well if you buy your gasoline in a populated area with many gas stations in the same area, it creates competition, and you are more likely to get a lower price per gallon.
By sticking with a name brand gasoline, you are assured you are getting a quality product with a company to stand behind it. Most major brands of gasolines have a lot of detergents in their gasoline which help your car run cleaner. You will also want to run some fuel injector cleaner through your tank, every month or so, depending on how many miles you drive.
Kevin
Posted: 24th January 2006 | Author: Kevin Schappell | Category: Car Care, Fuel
Is your car ready for the cold?
Your cars cooling system is vulnerable to the cold temperatures in the winter months. Proper maintenance of your cars cooling system can prevent freeze-ups and corrosion problems.
The coolant in your car’s engine is a mixture of water and anti-freeze, a chemical to prevent freezing. Straight water is the best liquid to remove heat from your engine, but will freeze below 32 degrees F, so antifreeze is necessary. Before each winter season you should have your coolant checked by a mechanic for PH and freezing point. It’s a simple test which can be done in a few minutes and can save you repair bills and hassles down the road. You can buy a tester at your local parts store and test the coolant yourself, but you will need to be careful to check the levels when the engine is cold. If the PH or freezing point is off, it’s time to change coolant. A certified mechanic will have the proper equipment to flush and refill your coolant system and properly dispose of the old coolant.
Posted: 19th January 2006 | Author: Kevin Schappell | Category: Car Care
Winter Driving Tips
Not many people enjoy driving in the ice and snow, but there
are a few things to decrease your stress levels and make your drive much safer.
- Inspect your tires: New tires will give you the traction
you will need for the winter months. Make sure you check
the air pressures also. In colder months, the air
contracts and you can lose air pressure in your tires,
with just a drop in temperature.
- Carry a bag of salt or ice melt in the trunk: If you
have a rear wheel drive car, this will also add some
weight for traction. Salt can also be used to melt snow
and aid in traction if you become stuck.
- Take it easy: Some people with 4-wheel drive vehicles
think they can go faster…. well 4-wheel drive does not
help you stop any faster on ice or snow !
- When you start to slide: Steer the direction you want
the front of the car to go. Be careful not to over
correct. I often recommend drivers find an empty parking
lot and practice sliding the car to get an idea how it
feels. Make sure you can safely practice and get
permission to use the parking lot.
- Leave plenty of room: Always think ahead and leave
plenty of room to stop if something should go wrong.
Anticipate what other drivers may do before they do it,
and have an emergency exit from the situation.
- Stay home: If the weather is too bad, don’t risk going
out. Stay home and cuddle up with your
wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend and be glad you are
not out there on the road.
Safe Travels,
Kevin Schappell
Posted: 19th January 2006 | Author: Kevin Schappell | Category: Car Care
