How to Bring Your Car’s Exterior Back to Life

DIY

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Exterior

Nina Russin

August 14, 2017

Nina Russin

August 14, 2017

Sun, wind, and grit can take a toll on your car’s exterior over time. The good news is that much of this damage is repairable if caught in time, and the fixes don’t necessarily involve expensive detailing equipment. Use the following techniques to detail your car’s exterior.

Exterior paint: Excessive exposure to the sun can fade out a paint job—even if you’ve been careful to wash and wax your car regularly. While it’s not possible to repair clear-coat damage without repainting the car, there are several methods of removing the oxidized layer to restore the paint’s original color.

What type of paint surface is on your car? Many older vehicles have single-stage paint that requires different treatment than the multi-stage paint with clear coat on newer vehicles. Meguiar’s Professional Car Show Glaze - opens in new window or tab. is a product designed for classic cars with single-stage paint that is thin and fragile. Used properly, it will remove the layer of oxidation without damaging the layer of paint underneath. For newer cars, clay bar detailing is an effective way to remove oxidation. While clay bars won’t remove swirl marks, they will get rid of the bonded layer of oxidized paint that is dulling the color. Read “A Powerful Tool in Auto Detailing: The Clay Bar - opens in new window or tab..”

Alloy wheels and tires: Brake dust that accumulates on alloy wheels is corrosive. To prevent damage to the rims, clean the wheels off with water—followed by a non-acidic alloy wheel cleaner - opens in new window or tab.. Use a soft-bristle wheel brush to scrub, getting into crevices and around the lug nuts. Dry the wheels with a microfiber towel. Applying a wheel glaze - opens in new window or tab. or wax afterward will protect the wheels from further damage.

Wash the tires and apply a water-based tire dressing. Avoid silicone-based products that will attract dirt to the tires. Apply the tire dressing in thin coats, allowing time for them to dry in between each coat. A good tire dressing keeps the tires moist, slowing down ozone-based damage.

Chrome: Chrome polishes such as Turtle Wax Premium Grade Trim Restorer - opens in new window or tab. and Simichrome - opens in new window or tab. can eliminate small pits in the surface and bring luster back to trim pieces and chrome bumpers on classic cars. (Beware: on newer cars, some chrome surfaces are actually chrome-plated plastic.) Make sure the chrome surface is clean and dry before applying polish since dirt particles can leave scratch marks. Park the car in a cool place, so the polish doesn’t dry too quickly. Use a clean cotton cloth or cotton polishing pads to apply the product and polish it down.

Cloth and vinyl convertible tops: Use a feathered convertible-top brush - opens in new window or tab. to remove dirt that accumulates on your vinyl or fabric top. To clean the top, you can either use a gentle car shampoo or a convertible top cleaner such as 303 Convertible Top Cleaner - opens in new window or tab. that works on both vinyl and cloth. After cleaning a vinyl top, use a protectant to prevent sun damage that will fade the color and cause cracking. For fabric tops, use a fabric guard that restores the factory protectant against water and dirt intrusion.

About the author

Nina Russin

Nina Russin is an ASE certified automotive technician and writer who has been covering the automotive industry for 30 years. She was a weekly automotive columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times for 10 years, and a contributor to AutoWeek, Automobile Quarterly, Collectible Automobile, Cycle World, and AAA Arizona Highroads Magazine. Russin is co-founder and president of Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year, an annual competition.

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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.