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Bostonlegal	Took delivery of brand new 2001 orange prowler. Noticed that there appears to be a little overspray near the front grille. Upon examination I noticed that the dealer must have touched up the very bottom of the grille.I took some very soft compound and removed the overspray and than polished the spot. However the part that I did is now much smoother to the touch than the rest of the car. I was wondering if the pearl coat is suppose to feel rough to the touch or dose the car need a good polishing and waxing. The shine is beautiful but not smooth to the touch. Please let me know
BeWare	It should be smooth to the touch. In additon to a polish / wax job you might want to consider using a clay bar on it first.
YellowFever	How much of the car feels rough? If alot, they may have painted alot more then just touching up (which they should have revealed when buying) or worse, it had been wrecked. Before spending time and money buffing, I'd have a paint specialist look at it and determine the thickness of the paint all over the car. They can tell in about 2 seconds if there was damage, major damage, or if alot more had been painted.
TooHipCat	quote: Originally posted by YellowFever: I'd have a paint specialist look at it and determine the thickness of the paint all over the car. They can tell in about 2 seconds if there was damage, major damage, or if alot more had been painted. I personally think this is great advice. Please let me know if you need my bodymans name and telephone number. He repaired my cat to a condition that believe me when I say this... better than factory!!! By the way...he is out of Hudson,NH. I hope that's not too far for you. Brian
GRROWL	Sounds to me like they resprayed for "curb rash" under the nose and did a proper job of polishing out the nose (since you didn't notice anything wrong there). However, they seem to have neglected the grill. If the repair job under the nose is 100%, just try some clay on the grill overspray (or, you can pay AC $10-bucks and go with the chrome grill treatment). -GRROWL
pumpkin	I bet if you tried a little spot with the clay bar you will be surprised how smooth it will get. ------------------ Current mods: Mopar dual exhaust & front mudflaps; MacMotorsports Air Intake; Real Rod Air Patrol; Graphics by Balistek Designs; ($8) Chrome grille; Chrome tire valve-stem covers; Painted rear bumper lettering; Prowler Pro Gears; Synthetic Oil; Raybestos Ceramic Brake Pads; TGF Door Panel Inserts & Headrest Covers; SheepskinExpress Sheepskin Seatcovers; Grille Light; Pinstriping by Bo Boring; Painted Valve Cover; Window Tinting; Windshield Visor Banner; Front Bumper Removal / Relocation of Front Turn Signal Lights; Real Rod Transmission Cooler Cover, Sill and Carpet Covers, Aero Front Covers and Roadster Rear Pan, rear bumpers removed; rear mudflaps; painted calipers; Prowler Products by Gary Drilled Rotors, front and rear; Painted tach; Jay's Aluminum Billet Center Caps w/shimmers, Chrome Lugnuts and Chrome Radio Bezel Shimmer; Dash Rings; Windshield Wiper Arm Removal; Fender Trim; Speaker Replacement; Painted Plenum; Painted Radiator Crossmember; Painted Rear Mudflaps; Air Patrol graphics; Aluminum engine compartment support bars; PlasmaGlow 7-color LED Underbody Kit; Dash Designs Dash Mat; Airbrushed Rear Trim Panel; Painted Headlight Caps; Modified Big Tach; Real Rod Speaker Box Cover; TGF Grill; Airbrushed Gear Shift Knob. More 'Pumpkin' photos . . . . . New pictures in Personal Scrapbook (02/23/03) "I may have to grow older, but I do not have to grow up!" More cars and other stuff "The Prowler is not a car to go from Point A to Point B. The Prowler is the Point!"
KlasKat	I have used a clay bar myself, but do not know if I did it correctly. Do you just go over the car after you have washed it with the bar or what?
pumpkin	You first wash your car. Have you ever heard of fast shine, quick detail. Its a water and wax mix you use as a quick shine. You see them use it at car shows. spray it on and wipe it off. So what you do is spray a small area with fast shine and when wet you use the clay bar after a few stokes the clay bar will slide real easy take a clean cloth and wipe clean. Done, finished the whole kat will take around an hour. Now your paint is clean and smooth. Now polish and wax. I clay all my cars, you can use one clay bar many, many times.Note if you don't use the fast shine the clay bar will not move, it wii stick. ------------------ Current mods: Mopar dual exhaust & front mudflaps; MacMotorsports Air Intake; Real Rod Air Patrol; Graphics by Balistek Designs; ($8) Chrome grille; Chrome tire valve-stem covers; Painted rear bumper lettering; Prowler Pro Gears; Synthetic Oil; Raybestos Ceramic Brake Pads; TGF Door Panel Inserts & Headrest Covers; SheepskinExpress Sheepskin Seatcovers; Grille Light; Pinstriping by Bo Boring; Painted Valve Cover; Window Tinting; Windshield Visor Banner; Front Bumper Removal / Relocation of Front Turn Signal Lights; Real Rod Transmission Cooler Cover, Sill and Carpet Covers, Aero Front Covers and Roadster Rear Pan, rear bumpers removed; rear mudflaps; painted calipers; Prowler Products by Gary Drilled Rotors, front and rear; Painted tach; Jay's Aluminum Billet Center Caps w/shimmers, Chrome Lugnuts and Chrome Radio Bezel Shimmer; Dash Rings; Windshield Wiper Arm Removal; Fender Trim; Speaker Replacement; Painted Plenum; Painted Radiator Crossmember; Painted Rear Mudflaps; Air Patrol graphics; Aluminum engine compartment support bars; PlasmaGlow 7-color LED Underbody Kit; Dash Designs Dash Mat; Airbrushed Rear Trim Panel; Painted Headlight Caps; Modified Big Tach; Real Rod Speaker Box Cover; TGF Grill; Airbrushed Gear Shift Knob. More 'Pumpkin' photos . . . . . New pictures in Personal Scrapbook (02/23/03) "I may have to grow older, but I do not have to grow up!" More cars and other stuff "The Prowler is not a car to go from Point A to Point B. The Prowler is the Point!"
BeWare	Some clay bars come as a kit with the liquid provided. I was afraid the first time to use it. It's really very easy just don't use pressure.
Bostonlegal	quote: Originally posted by BeWare: Some clay bars come as a kit with the liquid provided. I was afraid the first time to use it. It's really very easy just don't use pressure. The car has only 68 miles and has never been repainted. I'm guessing the car sat for five years either indoors or out. The entire car just feels gritty to the touch. I have plenty of mothers wax but was wondering which polish is the best.The car was purchased in Alabama. Thanks for your response
Jim R.	Clay bar is the answer to this. DO like Pumpkin says, Wash then claybar, I use water and rub down a panel at time. If it sticks to the finish no worries just was a cleaner wax and the clay will clean right off. This will make your car so slick you will think it is waxed ( not so ). Then you apply wax... Jim
GenoTex	Clay bar is the way to go.... buy some, take 5 minutes and read the directions!!!......... then go to it Welcome aboard
catfish	for your info its not pearl.pearl is a 3 stage pnt.all prowlers are 2 stage.buff it,lightly. ------------------
pumpkin	Boston, since you use mothers, you can add this item. http://www.cardomain.com/item/MOT07240?ref=bizrdf
WildBill	Congratulations with the new Kat & welcome to the POA. The clay bar should help. I'm am not saying that this is the only way to do it, but this is what I do & it even gives my silver a deep reflective shine. Wash the Kat with Dawn dish washing detergent. It strips the car of all the grease & road grime, old wax etc. (It works great on the wheels as well) Your next step is the clay bar using the Mother's kit that Pumpkin described. As with wax, make sure the body panels are cool & apply in the shade. Follow the directions included with the kit. Do one panel at at time & keep it wet with the spray (quick detailer) If you drop the clay bar. THROW IT OUT or you can still use it the same way to occasionally clean your windows. Like Pumpkin said, you can go over an area with the clay bar a couple of times if you want & reuse it for quite a few applications as long as you keep it clean. Then it's time for the wax 3 step process: 1)Fine Cut Cleaner 2)Swirl Free 3)Wax (I have always used Meguiar's or Mother's- Try to get their professional products - Meguiar's comes in light brown bottles & I use their NXT Generation Tech wax) If you can't finish it all in one day, then you can cover the Kat with a car cover until the next time you can finish the job. Just an extra added precaution in order to keep the surface clean. You can use a California Duster after rides or occasional dustings & then the Quick Detailer for a quick shine or to clean up bug spats & such if you want. If you decide to wash the kat. Use a car wash that does not remove the wax. Hope this helps. WildBill