Q:
I purchased a new vehicle in March and am looking for advice on what to do to keep vinyl body mouldings from losing their finish. In the past I’ve used products that tend to keep the colour but over time give then a grey finish. Someone suggested using Vaseline but I’m a tad reluctant to try that. Hope you can recommend something. Thank you.
Margaret
A:
That is quite a challenge. There are several treatments and protectants on the market that do a good job but none are perfect. The sun and weather can be a relentless enemy of vehicle finishes.
First of all, there are several different types of mouldings used in automotive applications. Unpainted plastic, natural rubber, synthetic rubber and several vinyl compositions can be used in different locations. There are two steps to maintaining them. First, they need to be clean. Start by washing with mild automotive type soap and water.
Then you need to remove any wax from trim mouldings. If wax, which is an ingredient in some paint protectants, remains in the pores of the moulding, it will turn grey over time. This can be difficult to remove so it may take a couple applications of cleaner.
Some of the chemicals on the market are both a cleaner and a protectant. You can find these at most automotive stores and many what I call department stores such as Canadian Tire and Walmart. Look for a vinyl and rubber cleaner under brands such as ArmorAll, Meguiar’s and Mother’s. I find they all work quite well.
As for protectant’s, I am a little more selective. Again, there are many different brands but application and finish are often different. What you don’t want to do is spray these protectants on clear headlight lens and try to avoid spraying them on paint. I find Meguiar’s protectant works well and have used it often but it is not my favourite. Spray some on a cloth and wipe it onto the mouldings. If you use Vinyl and rubber protectant on tires, you can spray it directly onto the tire but wipe it off afterwards.
I find some of the others leave a more shiny finish on the trim and some tend to attract dust. These work well if you are detailing a vehicle for a car show but I prefer the natural look rather than a shiny look for everyday vehicles.
My favourite protectant is 3M’s 303 Aerospace protectant mainly because it contains no silicone (silicone causes blemishes in newly sprayed paint so body shops avoid products containing silicone). Originally designed for aircraft, 303 works well on automobile trim as well. Application is the key here. Apply some to a cloth and wipe on the trim.
Be careful to not apply too much. Then immediately wipe completely dry with a clean cloth. Buffing the trim with another cloth will increase the effectiveness of the bonding and longevity of the protectant. If you don’t wipe it dry, the protectant will wash off in rain or the car wash! It leaves a clear matte finish that I often don’t find with other products.
Reapply every 30 to 45 days for optimum UV protection. You can find 3M 303 at some auto supply shops and at Walmart under the Golden Eagle 303 Aerospace protectant label. Remember, parking in a garage or out of direct sunlight will extend the life of any trim.
Q:
I have noticed that vehicles don’t have brake and signal lights in the same location. I especially noticed this with a couple Kia vehicles that have their lights low in the bumper but tail lights up higher on the body. Is there some type of standard?
Sandra
A:
There are many federal standards on automotive lighting, including height, area, colour and distance of visibility but not to the exact location or styling. Every manufacturer wants to make their vehicle distinctive so they design lights that set their vehicle apart from others, and most do a pretty good job of it.
I have noticed that Kia does have some vehicles with brake lights low on the bumper and when following them you tend to look at the higher tail lights, which makes it easier to miss when the brake lights come on. The solution: don’t follow close to any vehicle ahead. It makes it easier to see all the lights, drive smoother and avoid collisions.
