How long to wait before car wash/wax?

otruba_843

otruba_843

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Im getting my car back from the shop after the door had to be replaced and repainted because some lady backed into me. How long do I have to wait before I can wash or wax it?
 
otruba_843 said:
Im getting my car back from the shop after the door had to be replaced and repainted because some lady backed into me. How long do I have to wait before I can wash or wax it?
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I guess that would be a question for your body shop. If they bake the paint then the accelerated cure time allows you to do anything with the car, same as a brand new factory car. If they are old school with old school products, you may have a prolonged cure time. You can wash it, but may have to ask which wax/sealant is "body shop safe"
 
I want to say I've heard a month but I don't have any first hand experience.
 
Your best bet is to get with the body shop and find out the cure time for the products they used. In the mean time you can wash the car with whichever wash you choose as long at it dosent have any wax.
 
Paint systems vary from manufacture as to when you can seal/wax. It can range from 30 to 90 days for the system to completely outgas. If you know the paint system simply download the PDS (product data sheet). As a rule of thumb I tell all my customers 90 days just to be safe. I use M205 (bodyshop safe) on my personal vehicles during the outgas waiting period.
 
^ Great advice above. Your contact at the shop should be able to speak to this, but it never hurts to wait 90 days for the off-gassing.
 
You can wash right away, but unless the body shop states otherwise, I would wait 3 months before waxing it.
 
Ask the folks that did the work. As a rule it can be washed immediately but wax or sealant is a different story. After a boo boo fix'em on one of our cars they said 30 days but they have a heated booth for the paint to bake in. Others may not.
 
Most shops will tell you 90 days no wax. I've washed within that time, but adhered to the no wax... Make sure your wash is ONLY a wash not a wash n seal/wax. You paid a lot for that repair. Why chance it.

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3 months. Thats the safest way to go. My friend has a shop. I asked. You compound or polish, you will wrinkle the clear coat. It looks horrible trust me. Did that to my car. Had to get it repainted again. It seems hard on the top layer of the clear coat, but under the hard surface it still very soft. You have to let that thing dry. Unless they baked it. Than there is no waiting on a baked car.Get body shop safe wax, like wise you will really ruin the paint. Just wait the three months.

Ooh I have a picture of the wrinkle clear coat if you guys want to see.
 
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