making Karl proud?

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Sun Sep 12, 2010 1:32 pm

So, being the conscientious lemming that I am, I've been having Johnson Subaru do the maintenance on my Subaru while it remains in warranty. Despite being told that my front anti-roll bar void my new car warranty in its entirety (I had to educate the guy on the Magnusson-Moss Act) and other minor issues I took my car in for routine oil service.

As a "courtesy" they washed my car. I acknowledge the car needed to be washed, but wish they hadn't. When I got the car back it was as if someone had washed the car with a towel that previously had been dabbed in sand and rubbed over the whole car, as exmeplified in the first photo. If they even used a clean towel. Or clean water. Or soap, for that matter, as dried dirt was along the lower half of the car! :shock:

So, having nothing better to do on a beautfiul Friday :evil:

(sarcasm) I spent the next 6 hours washing, drying, clay-ing, polishing, sealing and waxing the car. I hope Karl approves.

Lesson learned: don't agree to a courtesy wash...

(that swirlishness was over the whole car)

After working on it for the rest of the day....

Beware the dealers!

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Sun Sep 12, 2010 1:47 pm

Nice work, Steve! I'm guessing you did the polishing with a machine? What'd you use? I'm guessing it looks better than it did a few days ago!

Dealer courtesy washes mucking up one's finish are all too common. Earlier in the year, a friend of mine, also a detailer, was in Raleigh to drop his wife's Jet Black 335ix off for service. He expressly told the service writer, "do NOT wash the car." While he was handing over the keys, I watched one of the staff drop a washcloth on the ground, pick it back up, and immediately use it to wipe down the hood of another car. Leith BMW in Raleigh, in case anyone's curious.

You can probably guess what happened - they washed it anyway, and it was probably that same guy with that same towel. BMW Jet Black is a famously easy paint to mar, and shows everything, and he was NOT happy. It took him the better part of a day to fix all the defects some hack put on the car in seconds.

The best you can hope for, apart from them actually not washing it after instructing them not to, is that they'll use a tunnel wash with forced air drying. Less contact with the paint means less scratches. JL now tapes an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper to the dash with "DO NOT WASH" written in big, bold text.

Chris Landi · **Joined:** Mon Mar 08, 2004 6:31 pm **Posts:** 579

A tangential FYI..

I bought my STi from Performance in Chapel Hill. I told the service dept. of my plans to autocross during the meet and greet when I picked up the car and then was up front about subsequent (minor) suspension mods, boost and exhaust mods. They honored my warranty without question and replaced things like the rear axles without hesitation when I complained of clicking noises. The one thing I did not let them do was run my car through their wash station. I stopped using Johnson when they got rid of Ryan. Since my car is out of all warranties I use Turbotime for all work (Ryan Davis).

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Sun Sep 12, 2010 2:03 pm

Thanks Karl!

I used a PorterCable random Orbital with Griot's Polish #3, Paint Sealant and SprayOn Wax. No way could I have done that by hand--I'd have two dead shoulders and wouldn't be able to move this morning. BTW, the Bug Off worked pretty well in getting the majority of conemarks off the lower edges of the car. The rest came out via polishing.

I like the sign idea. I'll probably copy that and see how they do with it. FWIW, the dealer followed up on Saturday with a "how did we do?" phone survey. They didn't much like what I had to say. I wasn't mean or anything, but they clearly understood the problem when I was done speaking with them. Manager's supposed to call me about it on Monday.

Chris,
Thanks for the tip in re:Turbotime. I'll keep them in mind should I still have the car when the warranty runs out. I've heard mixed reviews from Performance (as well as all the Subaru dealers except Folger in Charlotte), so I'm glad you've had a more "motorsports-friendly" staff to deal with.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Sun Sep 12, 2010 2:52 pm

Chris Landi wrote:

A tangential FYI..

I bought my STi from Performance in Chapel Hill. I told the service dept. of my plans to autocross during the meet and greet when I picked up the car and then was up front about subsequent (minor) suspension mods, boost and exhaust mods. They honored my warranty without question and replaced things like the rear axles without hesitation when I complained of clicking noises. The one thing I did not let them do was run my car through their wash station. I stopped using Johnson when they got rid of Ryan. Since my car is out of all warranties I use Turbotime for all work (Ryan Davis).

Hi Chris,

I bought my GH from Performance in CH as well. The service dept has been god awful. The service writers Gus and Guy are the least friendly and personable people I've ever met. I've had my cruise control clutch switch replaced twice and it's clicking again. They almost try to get me to forget about it. And they won't let me keep the old part so I can take it apart and fix it (and in turn contact SOA so they can correct the flaw in the part).

Anyway, I have done all the oil and tranny maintenance on my own but for some reason I get the impression that Performance would not be very autocross/mod friendly (my FSB is big and red and my shocks are bright yellow so it's pretty obvious).

I really have no intention of going to the dealer for service, but I still wonder about Performance if I need warranty work on the drivetrain or suspension (not relating to my dampers obviously).

I should probably just go to Folgers in Charlotte anyway given AB's experience with them

.

Steve,

Johnson scratched my driver's door when they did my rear diff seal. I mentioned it on an online followup survey and 2 months later I get a call for the service writer saying I should call to set up a time to get that remedied. After your car wash experience, I'll probably pass

.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Sun Sep 12, 2010 3:02 pm

Steven Carter wrote:

BTW, the Bug Off worked pretty well in getting the majority of conemarks off the lower edges of the car.

I just re-upped with a fresh gallon yesterday. Great stuff!

Not to hijack, but with the mention of a jet black car, what can I do to avoid water spots? I have a towel ready for once the car is completely rinsed and I dry it as quickly as possible.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Sun Sep 12, 2010 4:26 pm

One of these days, I might have to try some more Griot's products. Their Spray Shine QD is excellent. And that wash bucket of theirs is the best thing ever. I'm gonna use it in about 20 minutes, once the sun is below the treeline so I can get the truck clean after the Nationals voyage.

Speaking of black vehicles being washed in the sun...

Matt McGrain wrote:

I just re-upped with a fresh gallon yesterday. Great stuff!

Not to hijack, but with the mention of a jet black car, what can I do to avoid water spots? I have a towel ready for once the car is completely rinsed and I dry it as quickly as possible.

Keep the vehicle wet. Rinse down the entire car, or at least the side that's in the direct sun, after you wash every panel. When drying it, get out your largest microfiber drying towel, and go over the entire car one time, horizontal panels first. You're not looking for perfectly dry - rather, you're looking to get most of the water off the horizontal panels. Once you're through with that, go back with a second towel and finish the drying step.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Sun Sep 12, 2010 6:21 pm

Karl,

What do you think about this?

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car ... als&page=1

Inline water softener. IIRC it's the mineral deposits in the water that cause/exacerbate the watermarks. Is this worthwhile or a waste of money?

BTW, the Griot's Speedshine is great stuff--I agree. The smell is *almost* more enjoyable than the end result! And it works as a great lubricant for claybar cleaning...

steve remchak · **Posted:** Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:14 pm

alright Ya'll i have one for you. fly-shit on a Suburban. my 3K psi pressure washer won't knock this crap (literally) off the paint.

and BTW, the 3M pad wasn't such a good idea either. :roll:

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Mon Sep 13, 2010 11:43 am

Steven Carter wrote:

Karl,

What do you think about this?

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car ... als&page=1

Inline water softener. IIRC it's the mineral deposits in the water that cause/exacerbate the watermarks. Is this worthwhile or a waste of money?

BTW, the Griot's Speedshine is great stuff--I agree. The smell is *almost* more enjoyable than the end result! And it works as a great lubricant for claybar cleaning...

Softeners aren't a bad idea. My friend JL (same guy from BMW story above) has a system called a CR Spotless that I've borrowed before, and it does work. However, I can't justify the cost. I guess it depends on the quality of your water, but for me, it's cheaper to simply keep the car wet.

I wouldn't waste your Speed Shine on clay duty. Buy some QD at an auto parts store, whichever one is on sale. As long as it's sufficiently slippery, it'll be fine. The Meguiar's stuff in the dark red bottle is fine for this.

steve remchak wrote:

alright Ya'll i have one for you. fly-shit on a Suburban. my 3K psi pressure washer won't knock this crap (literally) off the paint.

and BTW, the 3M pad wasn't such a good idea either. :roll:

As in, uh...fly excrement? Really? That's a new one on me.

Anyway, wash the truck, then try a clay bar kit. If clay won't do the trick, you might need to try something like a mild solvent.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:54 pm

steve remchak wrote:

alright Ya'll i have one for you. fly-shit on a Suburban. my 3K psi pressure washer won't knock this crap (literally) off the paint.

and BTW, the 3M pad wasn't such a good idea either. :roll:

Are those the little (1/16 inch or less) dark "dots"? If so, that's what fingernails are for . . . :lol:

Maybe with the help of bug/tar solvent.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:16 pm

DickRasmussen wrote:

steve remchak wrote:

alright Ya'll i have one for you. fly-shit on a Suburban. my 3K psi pressure washer won't knock this crap (literally) off the paint.

and BTW, the 3M pad wasn't such a good idea either. :roll:

Are those the little (1/16 inch or less) dark "dots"? If so, that's what fingernails are for . . . :lol:

Maybe with the help of bug/tar solvent.

ten fingers, 45 dots per finger. aaaahhhhhhhh no Dick, that would work my fingers to the bone. literally.

yes Karl. fly excrement. one of the many joys / by-products of horse ownership. the 'burb sits down at the barn so it is a target apparently.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:48 pm

Holy fly excrement Bat Man . . . :lol:

If there is no solvent to speed the process how about substituting PLASTIC putty knives for finger nails?

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:56 pm

DickRasmussen wrote:

Holy fly excrement Bat Man . . . :lol:

If there is no solvent to speed the process how about substituting PLASTIC putty knives for finger nails?

i have heard tell of razor blades held bass-ackwards or something. it ain't my ride, so i try not to think about it too much. :roll:

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Sep 14, 2010 4:57 pm

Steven C, did the service manager at the dealer call you?

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