First detail after a long winter...not good.

[KentuckySky]

Yesterday was beautiful so I took the opportunity to give my car a good washing. Over the winter I have been running her through the touchless car wash and also giving her a quick "once over" any chance I could. Of course there were the minor road wear chips, etc. But here is what I found that I just don't know what to do about. Can someone give me some advice?

1. My 3-M film is starting to peel AND it is turning white. I guess from all the rock hits? I thought it would be more durable but it looks like I'm going to need to remove it and put some new on.

2. My chrome wheels have rust on them. HELP! What should I do? I've been putting Gary's polish on them every chance I get throughout the winter but it didn't spare them from the winter salt?

3. I haven't painted my brake calipers because they were a nice silvery color and went well with the midnight blue. Now they are BLACK. How do I wash them and get this stuff off? Same for the exhaust but I feel comfortable just putting regular spray cleaner on them and scrubbing.

Thanks for any advice that you can give.

[mbeardsley]

The 3M film should have a 5 year warrantee on it (assuming that it's really 3M stuff from a certified installer).

If it's peeling and/or discoloring, you should get it replaced for free.

[Sunny Ragtop]

Agree, make sure you actually have the "3M" and not some copy cat. Mine has 24,000 miles on it and color is as new. Got a little black trash under a few of the edges. Took it by my original installer and in just 10 minutes with an exacto knife all the black edges were gone..and it was FREE

[Celt03]

The black dust on the calipers is probably just brake dust.
Spray them with 409 or Simple Green and you may need to scrub 'em.

As far as the wheels - I would go to the dealership and ask the question of WTF? is this. This should NOT have happened.

[jesselyons2002]

If your chrome rims have rust on them. You might need to go over the spot with #0000 steel wool and a chrome metal polish. Then follow up with least aggresive method like a foam applicator or terry cloth towel with the chrome metal polish to remove marring you get with steel wool.

Also for the brake caliper. Try spraying it with a full strength all purpose cleaner and wire brush to remove the dirt and grime. Then try metal polish to bring the shine up. Don't forget to tape and protect the brake lines and rubber pieces.

[KentuckySky]

Thanks for the replies. As for the 3M, I bought that bulk stuff off of ebay and cut the patterns myself. It looked great over the summer but it didn't hold up under winter conditions. Guess that's what I get for trying to go cheap. Good news is that I still have plenty of it left so I'll just peel off the old and keep putting on fresh until I run out then, have it professionaly done.

Wasn't sure if the cleaners would hurt the breaks or not. Gonna try it this weekend.

Everyone be safe, I'm out for the gourgeous weekend weather!

[JRinKY]

The wheels are chrome plated aluminum, so the rust is almost certainly from the tophats of the brake rotors. Have you tried scrubbing them with a brush ? A stiff nylon brush and some 409 or Simple Green may get them clean.

After that, paint the rotor tophats. Or have them painted. Mine are slightly rusted, and I will probably paint them this spring.

I think that polishing chrome wheels regularly is a mistake, as it seems to be too agressive, and I have seen the plating literally get polished away. I wash mine the same as the car, with a soapy sponge, then I wipe some NanoWax on for a little protection. I don't spray it on, as it is not good to get it onto the swept surface of the rotor.

[Excelsior]

Solution: Stop driving it in the winter.

[jesselyons2002]

Originally Posted by JRinKY

The wheels are chrome plated aluminum, so the rust is almost certainly from the tophats of the brake rotors. Have you tried scrubbing them with a brush ? A stiff nylon brush and some 409 or Simple Green may get them clean.

After that, paint the rotor tophats. Or have them painted. Mine are slightly rusted, and I will probably paint them this spring.

I think that polishing chrome wheels regularly is a mistake, as it seems to be too agressive, and I have seen the plating literally get polished away. I wash mine the same as the car, with a soapy sponge, then I wipe some NanoWax on for a little protection. I don't spray it on, as it is not good to get it onto the swept surface of the rotor.

You can polish you wheels weekly. Most chrome metal polish you get from the store are mild. Also you could spray your spray wax onto you applicator, more then the surface your spraying on.

[JRinKY]

jesselyons2002 : You can polish you wheels weekly. Most chrome metal polish you get from the store are mild. Also you could spray your spray wax onto you applicator, more then the surface your spraying on.

A mild abrasive is still an abrasive, and works by removing material. After 18 months and 30,000 miles my wheels are as shiny as the day I bought the car, and have never been polished. If you don't need it, why use it ?

I do spray the wax on the applicator. It doen't take very much.

[KentuckySky]

Originally Posted by JRinKY

The wheels are chrome plated aluminum, so the rust is almost certainly from the tophats of the brake rotors. Have you tried scrubbing them with a brush ? A stiff nylon brush and some 409 or Simple Green may get them clean.

After that, paint the rotor tophats. Or have them painted. Mine are slightly rusted, and I will probably paint them this spring.

I never thought about that...The weather did not turn out quite as nice as I thought it would this weekend so I didn't get a chance to mess with it. I bet your right though.

Thanks for everyone's advice...oh except you Excelsior, have you lost your mind? Stop driving my Sky for 6-months? No way could I do that! I'm just not as strong as some folks are.