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Car Exterior Stained

19 years ago

There is a stain on the right side of our car's exterior, not absolutely sure of what it is, but I need to know what to use to clean it without damaging the finish.

I think that it's some kind of very heavy pollen, acquired when I accidentally brushed some bushes while trying to park in a very crowded lot yesterday. It's bright yellow and in long low streaks along the length of both doors. I was on my way to a doctor's appt. and what with the doc and all, I immediately forgot about the incident. We only noticed the stain this morning.

Our car is a 2000 Mercury Sable (and is only partly the reason for my username, lol), and the finish is still perfect. Am I correct in assuming that it would not be good to use anything with an abrasive, not even SoftScrub?

TIA for any advice.

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Comments (6)

gary__
19 years ago
I have found liquid car cleaner wax and a random orbit electric polisher to work easiest for me for this kind of thing. If that doesn't do it, polishing compound will. If you use that stuff, go with the white 'lite' kind as opposed to the red or brown 'heavy' kind. I bet the cleaner wax will take care of it. I've used several brands such as turtle wax and maguiars. All seem about the same to me.
sable_ca
Original Author
19 years ago
Gary - thank you. However, the news is worse. We retraced my "carsteps" later today. What I sideswiped were not shrubs, it was a low concrete abutment with a painted yellow line. Oddly, the car doesn't look damaged except for the smears of paint. Underneath the paint, though, it's probably scratched, no? Any suggestions? Is the car dealer the best place to take it? DH has been remarkably calm, but we'll be very unhappy if this is not fixable.
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tr,,it's a little too far back. you won't be able to see any detail. (so, get ready for a bunch more pics! you really have a lot of options w/this brick) I've got some diff garage door options, a front door, and I've thrown in 4-5 more color combos. However, in order to work w/a larger pic: Move over to the right just a little, and come forward a few more feet so that we don't see the fencing. see if that works. (and hopefully you take a picture at present so we get the landscaping) in the meantime, here's a dark door and a light door. (but you really can't see the front door very well because it's too far back! here's a warmer charcoal on the garage, and a soft pink door ( just pick one of the brick colors) I think if you did the siding and the fascia trim in the same charcoal, it would look nice. Kendall charcoal is a warm charcoal. that could work. or BM Gray, you could do a lighter warm gray on garage door (with the hardware) and a darker gray on the siding. Paint the trim a soft white. tried to show it here. Maybe like these ? you have the two grays, Or, just go w/the color palette on the left. If you can swing it, I'd get a panel of windows, along w/your current hardware, added to your door. looks so much better. The panel of windows, the iron hardware, the lights. I also found the perfect door for you. This one. (no side lite) And this color. See how the siding is painted a medium gray? The front door is a dark charcoal, SW Iron Ore. then do the pretty pink flowers in a dark gray container. Bright white trim (in one of those whites I showed you). maybe think about doing some black slate tile on your porch floor. and, think about doing something w/that wood fence (if you haven't already). throw a fence stain on it I'm kind of digging this aluminum style garage door on your house! With a new front door and the new colors, it will be totally updated. (don't forget the fence! ) The silver color door is nice w/a blush front door. Btw, found a few more colors for the brick. more of a terra cotta color for the door (or I guess you could do the siding) and the other two would be siding/ and trim. this one, Ashley gray would be siding, Trim would be middle one, and the front door would be the terra cotta. as for the garage door, you'd do the gray color like the siding.
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jemdandy
19 years ago
Oh-boy! Brushed concrete, did we? That must have made a scraping sound.

When you retraced your steps and found the scraped concrete with yellow paint, did you happen to notice if any of your car's paint transferred to the concrete? If it did, then you have a big ole paint scape right through the top layer of paint.

But if you were ever so lucky and had a slight swipe, maybe just enough to rub off some yellow paint to you car, it should clean off with light scrubbing with a soft cloth and some cleaner. First, try automotove wash soap and water. If more agression is needed, try to lift the yellow paint by gently rubbing it with vaseline. If the vaseline does not work, wash it off with soap and water. Then, try gently rubbing the yellow paint with ordianry automotive wax/polish. Let dry then buff. If that does not work, I'm out of gentle options. It may need re-painting. See an auto body shop.

I'm hoping that you have a clear coat over the paint and that the clear coat was not penetrated. If you don't have a clear coat, you likely have a scratch in you paint. At best, there will be a gouge in the clear coat and that may show even after thorough cleaning. However, it may be possible to buff out a scratch in the clear coat.
gary__
19 years ago
If it were me, I still try what I said the first time. Use a random orbit polisher and use cleaner wax which is just car wax with a little rubbing compound in it already. If that's not enough, try white polishing compound. That's just fine grit polishing compound as found in the cleaner wax only there's no wax. If you use that stuff, wax it afterwards. If you don't want to do it yourself, take it to a detail shop and let them take a look. If buffing won't fix it, then I'm afraid you'll have to take it to a body shop if it still bugs you that much. If that's the case, you might want to turn it into your insurance company. Paint work can get pretty spendy these days. jmo
sdello
19 years ago
sight unseen, I believe gary__'s answer is as good as it gets.
earthworm
19 years ago
I think both answers are great, but that JemDandy's is a little easier on the finish..This may end up in a paint shop anyway; but I'd say it is better to remove 98% of the damage and just live with the other 2%..

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