07 Scion tC "Flint Mica" - rescuing my tC!

[noname5]

Hey all, this is my first submission here. I always imagined I'd submit a better one, but it seems a did a terrible job this time. I'm very disappointed in myself . Also, sorry for my pictures, I didn't get too much time to take them so I was in a rush and don't have much experience with car photography (I'm learning) so I had strange focus problems, plus my shot positions aren't the greatest.

Anyway, you should all know the story on this one. I was an autogeek "geek" before I bought this car new, so I had always kept it in as good condition as possible.

However, one fateful night (two nights ago), I was driving down a freshly paved road with barely any lane markings and no reflectors, and didn't see that the entire right side of the road was submerged with water. Well, my car took a dive into the water. Luckily, there was no one else on the road so I had room to do a hard pull to the left to get power again. Normally, ok, whatever, but this was possibly the muddiest water you could imagine! I only found the total extent of the "damage" the next morning.

It was... heartbreaking . At first I thought it was a little funny since I've never had my car super dirty, and found it funny my tC became a rally car (kinda) overnight . Unfortunately, that was how I felt until I started to clean this guy... I realized what a mess she REALLY was.

And yes, I know about the inside and the condition of my $20 wal-mart mats. I'll get to it soon... heh
Before Pics

Yes, it was cold. Yes, it was windy. Yes, it was even super-cloudy and intermittently rainy. Yes, I only had two hours before darkness fell over the land. Yes, I did greatly suffer out there - but I knew what had to be done :usa

The first night the sunlight ran out, so I didn't even get to put some RMG and Max Wax which I wanted to do. I was really looking forward to showing you guys the great results I got with the combo, but no time. I just had to settle for a quick application of Aquawax. I put Max Wax and RMG on two weeks ago.

 

[noname5]

Process:
Wheels
EO All wheel/tire cleaner
- Meg's Tire Brush
- Rubbermaid wheel brush (from Target)
Tires dressed with Meg's High Endurance High Gloss
Wheels sealed with Aquawax
Wells
EO Bucketless Car wash (hey, its good for something, I guess)
- Used an old body brush
Glass
Decided to go with a "new" method to try to take of the glass once and for all. Dang glass.
Method (done before washing the rest of car)
1) Washed all glass using dishwashing liquid
2) clayed windshield and roof (roof is glass)
3) CLR on winshield and glass roof (used with Magic Eraser)
4) Wash all glass again and rinse off paint (to ensure CLR is gone)
5) Glass dried with leaf blower
6) Rain-X (I know, I know, but hey, I have a bottle and don't want to waste it)
- 3 applications, ahttp://imageshack.us/
Loading...pplied about 15-20 minutes apart
7) All glass quickly buffed
8) Begin washing car as normal

I figured this would allow me to get Rain-X on well enough, but not have to struggle with streaks. Obviously, this worked.
Paint
Washed with DP Xtreme Foam soap (in the bucket... don't ask heh)
One capful of ONR tossed into the shampoo water bucket as a precaution against marring (I don't have a PC to correct any possible marring)
Target/Vroom MF mitt
Rinse bucket, rinsed more often than usual due to mud
Dried with leafblower and spot dried with cobra plush purple MF w/ ONR QD as lube
ONR QD'ed small spots I "missed" in the wash
ONR QD on the door and hatch jams

After Pics

The only after pic I got to take yesterday:

Taken today, I drove around for a few hours so sorry about the dust. I wanted to clean her up again but I don't have time since it seems all of my family suddenly wants to come over THIS month :hairpull

I also realized all the spots I missed, and the fact that wheels didn't even get clean despite the fact I tried to be very thorough

For the record, I really think these reflections suck. The depth was amazing two weeks ago, now it just sucks . This is two week old Max Wax and Aquawax.

Pic of the wheel and tire from driver's side (before was from passengers, I realized today that one is still dirty, go me . No tire foam on wells because I just about ran out! :doh:

Clean mirror!

Anyway, I was about to do my weekly ONR wipedown of the engine bay. Unfortuantely, I had so much more in store for me once I lifted the hood...

This was previously an engine bay in pristine condition

I've never detailed an engine bay before, so I'm not sure how to proceed. The pics really don't portray how bad it is - the mud from hell is everywhere

Here's all I found in the garage:

1) Greased lightning
2) generic degreaser (disc. auto parts)
3) wd-40, blah blah

I'll go buy something else if I need to, but I was hoping I could squeeze by this time with some of that "greased lightning." What do you all think?

Here's what I'm thinking:
1) Run engine for about 10 minutes
2) Shut off, spray with degreaser
3) Let sit for 15 minutes (?)
4) scrub parts I can get to
5) rinse off with gentle water flow
6) blow off water as much as I can with a leafblower

Would that work? The alternator and battery are covered with mud, too, so I'm not sure if I should cover those up, since it seems a lot of people don't have problems with not covering it up.

Anyway, that's where I need help. Also, suggestions would be greatly appreciated!.

Sorry for the ultra long post, but... thanks for looking.

I suppose I'll be back with an engine bay after, and a shot or two of the inside after cleaning it up

 

[nick19]

Here's what I'm thinking:
1) Just the opposite. Let it sit for about 20 minutes before proceeding.
2) Spray with degreaser, scrub if neccessary.
3) Let it sit for 10-15 minutes
5) Rinse off with gentle water flow
6) Blow off water as much as I can with a leafblower, and run car for a few minutes, to speed up the drying.
7) Dress the engine bay if you'd like. I do, with sucess.

Cover the alternator, battery and the other connection before you proceed. Detailing an engnine is much easier than most think. Any "degreaser" will work, just becareful. Meguiars makes one thats safe (Safe Degreaser) to use on engines, that I use currently.



Do you go 'muddin in that car? (edit, my smiley isn't working) Looks much better after she's washed. "Booster" waxes work well to, and are easy.


Hope this helps...take care.



-Nick

 

[Whitethunder46]

Here's what I'm thinking:
1) Just the opposite. Let it sit for about 20 minutes before proceeding.
2) Spray with degreaser, scrub if neccessary.
3) Let it sit for 10-15 minutes
5) Rinse off with gentle water flow
6) Blow off water as much as I can with a leafblower, and run car for a few minutes, to speed up the drying.
7) Dress the engine bay if you'd like. I do, with sucess.

Cover the alternator, battery and the other connection before you proceed. Detailing an engnine is much easier than most think. Any "degreaser" will work, just becareful. Meguiars makes one thats safe (Safe Degreaser) to use on engines, that I use currently.



Do you go 'muddin in that car? Sure looks like it.. Looks much better after she's washed. "Booster" waxes work well to, and are easy.


Hope this helps...take care.



-Nick

What's the best material to use to cover these things?

 

[nick19]

I use a Meguiars, dressing, called "Hyper Dressing", I buy it by the gallon. It's around $35 a gallon, but I also detail for income. I'm still a F/T student, but I have worked 50-55 hour weeks, detailing. It leaves a fresh scent, and has decent durability.

I cannot comment on some of the dressings AG sells, as I've yet to have a chance to use them. I will find a few for you, that I've heard good.


http://www.autogeek.net/duragloss-non-silicone-tire-dressing.html

http://www.autogeek.net/spaucainsh.html

http://www.autogeek.net/303aerprot.html


Just for starters.. I don't know what kind of look you're trying to acheive. I am going a very dark tone, making all things black, BLACK!!

 

[sparkie]

Man, what a write up. Talk about detail. Nice work there, Scion are sweet cars. Well I do engine a little different then most. First a warm engine (not hot). Depends on how dirty one is to what products (APC) I use. Purple power for bad, Simple green or Megs APC 4:1 for not so dirty. Spray product on engine let it set and dip brush with water/dawn and start cleaning. Start engine. Start pressure washer and spray off under the hood. Then pull out my leaf blower and dry. Let engine run for 15 min. Wash car then come back and spray Black Magic all over the engine bay. Go ahead and polish and wax car and finish glass. Very last, wipe off engine with old towel.
Here is a link you might want to look at.
http://www.autogeek.net/engine-guide.html
Sorry but I like pics!