...until you wash you car for the first time.

A few of you know, I just bought my black 06 HHR this last Friday. I finally get a chance to wash it this morning.

Washing it was fine... just noticed a few things here and there i didn't before...

Broke out the clay bar, and geez.... I didn't see these before...

Top of the drivers side rear door is "orange peel", a few spots of it on the rear hatch. bunch of little nicks and scratches in the paint... AND ONE FRIGGIN HARD WATER STREAK THAT I CANNOT GET OUT!!! in the middle of the front passenger door. (any tips?).

Makes me wish i would have asked the dealer... "can I wash the car BEFORE I buy it?!"

Out of all these gripes... the orange peel and the hard water streak bother me the most. Is "orange peel" covered under any warranty? and any tips on getting out a hard water streak before i wax her?

Thanks guys. Hopefully my first pictures will be posted shortly after her waxing.

Sunbound

 

For starters, I would try a very light rubbing/buffing compound on both. You will want to do the whole door so that it all matches. You can get the Mequires at O'Reilly. Go with the ultra fine scratch remover, I can't remember what number it is, and try it by hand first. If that doesn't work then try with a buffer. I have a silver 07 and it has taken all the water spots out of mine that I have found. This should also take care of the orange peel, but you might have to go with a stronger compound and then use the finer stuff to get it right. Be careful though and don't burn through the paint on the corners or the top of the door.

 

How's it run? Still getting great gas mileage? Be happy with that!

 

This product has worked on all of my hard water stains. But, hard water spots on mine are relatively new so your mileage may vary. It will probably take a few applications for it to work.

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...roduct_Count=5

 

I believe "orange peel" is a result of the painting process. Because our cars have a clear coat over the paint, is it still possible to remove orange peel with a rubbing compound??

 

With just rubbing compound? IMHO only light cases of orange peel. Most will require wet sanding first and then buffing.

I've sprayed color on a car and the paint went on pretty dry so it was rough in texture, but three coats of clear later and you couldn't tell. I've fixed orange peel in my paint jobs by wet sanding first and then polish it out.

 

for the water spots take the car to a detailer, they can use an acid that will take it off in about 5 seconds, The place I work will do it for free if its just a small spot. As for the orange peel, most new cars have it, it's just the quality of cars now days, live with it or repaint the whole car is my recommendation.

 

I don't mean just plain rubbing compound, like the little can of Turtle Wax. I'm talking about stuff that the pros use. You might have to wet sand a little first with some really light wet and dry paper, maybe 600 or 800. Then try the buffing compound.

 

welcome to the world of owning a black car.

 

I remember when I washed my 06 for the first time:

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/general-hhr-4/i-got-officially-acquainted-today-12655/


I swore that dealerships use some magical wash/wax/coating that conceals nearly ALL the flaws in a used car...even some new ones.

then of course, our over-the-counter car wash soaps/detail products instantly remove said coatings, revealing all the blemishes, dents, nicks, scratches, orange-peel, etc...

either that, or once we sign and drive, we regain our vision that we lost to "emotional blindness"...a condition that often occurs at dealerships.