Help - New car disaster (bug remains)

[kdierking]

I just purchased a new car last week (2008 Black Acura TL) and am looking forward to the first detailing. With cars in the past, I just washed and waxed but I really wanted to learn how to do it right with this one. Anyway, I read and think I understand all the steps, washing, cleaning, claying, polishing, + 2 coats of wax. The problem is a bug splatter on the front of the. I had to leave town and the car sat in the sun for a couple days with the remains baking in. I washed it as soon as possible but ended up with the remains stuck on and very rough. I was afraid to rub very hard thinking it might damage the paint. I tried a generic bug remover with no affect.

Question: How do I remove it? Is it too late? Will claying help?

[CarbonBlack]

Re: Help - New car disaster (bug remains)

I am no pro, but I will give it a shot

Claying will help alot! This would probably be the first thing i would do.

Another option is to drape the area with wet washcloths. This will soak it and make removal easier.

I hope this will get you unstuck until the pros have a chance to comment

best of luck,
-Nick

[benhui86]

Re: Help - New car disaster (bug remains)

spray some bug and tar remover on it.... let it penetrate slightly..... rinse it off.... clay it with lots of QD as lubrication..... clean it with scratch X..... wax it....

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Help - New car disaster (bug remains)

Try the towels soaked in water. Just let them lay on the paint. If that does not do the trick, I would go with the bug and tar remover. Just remember after you successfully remove the splatter you should rewax immediately.

[Raymond4646]

Re: Help - New car disaster (bug remains)

In order to help prevent this from happening again, I would keep some quality microfiber towels in your car along with some quick detailer. I just drove down to the beach and when filling up I would perform a quick wipe down. Those seemingly harmless insects can eat away at your cars paint due to their very acidic nature, thus causing permanent damage. Just like others have said, grab a quality microfiber dunked in your car wash soap and water and let it soak on those bugs for a bit. This will loosen and help remove them much easier.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Help - New car disaster (bug remains)

Note: Fixed your code for the image so it will show up.

When inserting an image into your message,

Click on the Thumbnail - This will pull up the full size image
Right click on the full size image, this will pull up a "Properties" box.

With your mouse, highlight the code for the URL ADDRESS for the image and while it's highlighted, right click on it and select "Copy"

Now come back to your message and click on the little picture icon, this one...



Now copy and pasted you URL image on top of the highlighted http://
so that it replaces the default http:// that is already in the image code box with the URL address you're copying and pasting otherwise you'll have this

http:// http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/images/editor/insertimage.gif

Two sets of http:// in the URL Address and your image won't show up.


If that makes sense at all? Try a few times and you should be able to see what I'm talking about.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Help - New car disaster (bug remains)

Check out page two of this thread which can be found in the "Hot Topics" forum.

Bugs, Bugs, BUGS, and MORE BUGS!!!!!

Ah heck.. here's the pictures from the thread...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Phillips This tip was given to me by a forum member who attended one of our Saturday Detailing classes, I can't remember his name but I think he's a friend of Buellwinkle? If you have dried on bug splatter, typically on the front of your car where they impact, and you want to loosen and remove the splatter without having to scrub the area with force as so not to instill any scratches into your finish, what you need to do is to soften or re-liquefy the dried bug guts. Here is the sugggestion... Take a wash rag and saturate it with water or your car wash solution. Place the wet wash rag on top of the dried bug splatter and allow it to sit for a few minutes. A variation of this would be to use warm/hot water. To speed up the process, apply some gentle pressure while drinking a cold soft drink and if need be, hum or whistle a little diddy. Another variation of this would be to apply some Meguiar's Bug and Tar Remover to the wet wash rag before applying it to the dried bug splatter. After a few minutes have passed give the area a gentle wipe-off and the bug splatter should remove easily. Then either wash the car as normal or wipe the area down with a quick detailer. A variation of the above but for a larger area would be to use a larger cloth such as a bath towel. Saturate a clean, soft 100% cotton towel with water and place it over the affected area. Allow the wet towel to sit for a short period of time and then remove the towel and wash as normal or wipe the area down with a quick detailer.