[Commander Cummings]

I have a quick question about them. I have a Form Fit deflector on my 2006 Tacoma and although I was at first leery of it, I actually really like it, so it stays.

My question is about washing/waxing: Looking under the deflector, I can see it is dirtier there, because the people who last washed it didn't take it off. But it seems like you could just quickly take it off so you can wash the entire hood. I know the rubber "bumpers" won't come off (adhered to the hood), but the plastic deflector will.

So, people with bug deflectors: Do you remove them when you wash and/or wax your car?

 

[uuc328]

don't have a deflector but if i did i would probably take it off every few washes and when time to wax

 

[Dark Taco]

I do think they look good. However, I have heard of those bug deflectors rubbing the paint off. I would take it off to wash wax and inspect for damage.

 

[Commander Cummings]

Well, maybe I spoke too soon. After taking it off to inspect the hood (it's filthy under the deflector, by the way), I looked at the truck and may actually prefer it without the deflector. I guess I could take it either way, but because I'm worried it can do more harm than good, I may take it off. As I found out on my road trip this weekend, it does little to actually deflect any bugs

So for removing the adhesive bumpers and protective tape, I suppose I would just heat them with a blow drier and then use dental floss (no fishing line here...I know, I suck ), and slowly work the floss under and slowly peel the pieces back while still applying heat.

Sound about right?

 

[Dark Taco]

^^^^ that and 3m adhesive remover or goo gone......then wax.

 

[Commander Cummings]

^^^^ that and 3m adhesive remover or goo gone......then wax.

Son of a...I was just at the store and if I would have read this, I would have got some adhesive remover. I think I'm gonna wash it today and maybe take them off, and I'll wash it again later this week and try to wax it.

 

[RalphVa]

I had one on our 1996 Taco because I'd done a botch job of repainting the bug craters on it made of a careless previous owner(s). The deflector kinda hid my botch.

I'd vote against ever getting them. Just wash the bugs off the same day you find them there. I've even taken the trash can from motel rooms and washed the front of the hood, the grill, mirrors, etc. Long as you don't let the bugs stay there, they won't ruin the paint.

I finally had the hood resprayed while the 1996 was in getting some other body work done. Took the deflector off, of course.

 

[Commander Cummings]

The area underneath looks pretty good. A few small chips in the paint, but other than that I'd say it's good. My first instinct is to remove the deflector so that it doesn't do any more harm than good, and to do it now before the paint fades over time and makes it so I can't ever take it off. So I'm going to go for it, and hopefully the areas under the adhesives are fine.

Dave

 

[Commander Cummings]

Well, I got it all done and I'm not as happy as I hoped I'd be; that's not to say that I regret taking it off, just that the paint didn't quite clean up like I had hoped.

I got the adhesive parts off, used Goo Gone (took some serious elbow grease), then washed, polished, and waxed the car. The oxidation under where the deflector was didn't really get fixed by the process, and you can barely see the remnants of a couple of the round adhesive tabs.

That being said, I actually prefer the truck with the deflector off, and am happy I did it. Also, I think that I am more picky than everyone else, and I am only seeing the issues because I know where to look.

So yeah, it wasn't a 100% success, but I'm happy with the overall results :thumbsup:

Dave

 

[Chalkie]

My deflector is mounted in such a manner that nothing is visible in the mounting. It is all under the lip of the hood. They are not all that way?

Mine is clear. I had at one point considered painting the inside to color match it, but since it is clear you hardly see it and I really do think they do some good. I only seem to get the really big fat bugs on the windshield when going down the highway.

 

[Dark Taco]

Is there still glue remnants. If so I wonder if using the clay bar would help remove the excess.

 

[Commander Cummings]

Is there still glue remnants. If so I wonder if using the clay bar would help remove the excess.

Kinda. You can see the circle where the round bumper was. It's pretty faint, and I can't even remember if there is a difference in texture there.

I may clay it either way. But that means I have to wash it again, and I don't feel like doing that today. I just washed it last night!

Good idea, thanks for the suggestion!

Dave

 

[Dark Taco]

Kinda. You can see the circle where the round bumper was. It's pretty faint, and I can't even remember if there is a difference in texture there.

I may clay it either way. But that means I have to wash it again, and I don't feel like doing that today. I just washed it last night!

Good idea, thanks for the suggestion!

Dave

If you clay that area only you can get away without washing....but after the clay be sure to rewax the freshly clayed area.

 

[Commander Cummings]

Well, I guess the paint is just kinda rough under there.

Today I re-rinsed the entire car (shocking confession later), dried it all, and clayed the hood, followed by another washing of the hood, and waxing of the hood.

Honestly, it didn't do too much. I can see where there were little flecks that came up from the clay bar, but it didn't do too much to where it is oxidized or circular remnants of the stickers exist. I guess it's just something I'll have to live with, but honestly, you can hardly tell. It really just looks like someone opened the hood and sorta smeared the front inch of the hood. It isn't bad, I'm just really protective over my new truck! If the paint were perfect I'd obviously be happier, but that isn't to say I'm unhappy with the truck; to the contrary, I absolutely love it and have put on almost 1,500 miles in the past week (granted, we drove to Idaho and all around it and back, but still).

The shocking truth I mentioned: I have NEVER towel dried a car in my life; instead, I have always let them air dry, with the sort of results you would expect. I guess I just never cared that much about my cars before. So today I noticed that there were some horrible water spots from when I washed it yesterday, which is why I re-rinsed it and used a towel to dry it.

How could i have neglected something so simple for the past 14 years of car ownership? I picked up a microfiber towel when I was getting the Clay Magic, and I have to say that it really took little time in comparison to how much better it made the truck look.

 

[Dark Taco]

post up some pics....My interest is peaked.

 

[Commander Cummings]

Will do. I need to get some for the records (bragging) anyway

I'll get them tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Commander Cummings]

No joke, the camera cannot take a picture of what I am trying to show. I walked around and took like 20 pictures of what I wanted to show, but it never showed up. Which means one of two things:

1) The camera is an idiot
2) It isn't noticeable enough to photograph, and thus isn't a big deal.

I'll take option number 2.

 

[elwinna]

Good job on the clay and wax. Forget towel drying. Microfiber towels are for polishing and wiping without scratching. To dry get an Absorber. You can pick one up at Walmart cheapest (or any auto or boat store). Less than $10 and it will save time and eliminate all streaks and water marks. I have 4 or 5 around my truck and house.

 

[Dark Taco]

I use a leaf blower and a large size absorber. To dry.

 

[Commander Cummings]

post up some pics....My interest is peaked.

It's really sunny today, and I noticed that the problems with the paint are much more noticeable today. Here are a few pics that demonstrate what I was talking about:

I don't think I really need to highlight the problem(s) here; they're pretty obvious.

Remember now, I have washed (twice), waxed (twice), used paint cleaner, and hit it with the clay bar, and you can still not only see where the circular deflector mounts were, but the paint under where the deflector was is kinda shitty and is almost a different tone. Also, notice that it isn't the sun creating that "line" going across the hood; it's the line created by the two different appearances in the paint.

Ideas?