Messed up wax job? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

billberry12 · 08-23-2009, 06:08 PM

I just bought a 2008 used Avalon. Cassis red. Washed it yesterday for the first time and I noticed that there are swirls on the driver side that look like someone pressed too hard on an electric buffer. It seems to have gotten into the clearcoat. Looks bad if the suns hits it just right. Seems like they were trying to cover up some hairline scratches. Only shows when car is clean and sitting in the sun a certain way.

What is the best way for me to try to correct this? Should I take it to a body shop for them to look at, or a professional auto detailer. I really don't have the equipment or knowhow to do anything much. The last thing I want to do is make things worse than they are.

Thanks for your input.

***humanoid*** · 08-23-2009, 10:05 PM

You can do it yourself and save $$$. There's a sticky at the top of the detailing forum for DIYs.

ToyotaJimD. · 08-30-2009, 02:58 PM

A photo might be helpful.

You can try a few things:

A 3-step process like Mothers California Gold Pre-Wax Cleaner, Sealer & Glaze and Pure Carnauba Wax; Meguiar's also makes a 3-step and you can do them by hand.

Meguiar's Color-X can help hide scratches, but you'll want to wax over it.

Scratch Remover, and wax over it.

If it was a dealer buy, likely they used a product which temporarily adds gloss, so you didn't notice it before -- you could take it back if it was a dealer buy, but sometimes you never know if they'll make it worse.

billberry12 · 08-30-2009, 06:31 PM

Thanks. I took it to a detail guy. He waxed it and buffed it. Looks good as new. All I saw is gone. Cost me $60.00.

Strange thing. I could not see the swirls and scratches the day after I wrote the first comment above at all. No matter how hard I tried. I assume it must have been the "perfect storm" of direct sunlight when I saw it. Just to be sure, I drove to the exact spot at the same time today, and parked the car in the same direction, and the problem is definantly gone after the new wax job today.

eyezack87 · 09-02-2009, 03:59 PM

Be wary of the swirls. Some waxes have an uncanny ability to hide them for a short time. I sure hope that detail guy was worth it. If they come back, DIY it, it doesn't take much money to do (by hand of course)

billberry12 · 09-02-2009, 04:12 PM

If I decide to DIY, what exactly should I do to it?

eyezack87 · 09-02-2009, 09:20 PM

Take some Meguiars M105, a Meguiars foam applicator, and a bit of elbow grease to it