Flyguy

I'm hoping that somebody is into car detailing and they would know more about this than I do. A few days ago, I noticed these spots on my hood, windshield and fenders. Here's 3 examples of what's going on:

Hood close up


The windshield


Looking down on the hood next to the right washer spout:


A few weeks ago I used Meguiars cleaner wax and yesterday I washed my car trying to get these spots off to no avail. Like I said, these spots are only on the hood and front fenders. Since I waxed the entire car and you don't wax the windshield, I've pretty much ruled out the wax being the problem. The car sits out in the sun pretty much every day. The apartment complex I live in has automatic sprinklers that activate at night so I'm thinking that my car got sprayed and these are dried up water spots that baked in the sun. Ideas, thoughts?

This is a 98 Civic HX by the way.

Scorps

I was going to say it looks like dried rain spots, but if you washed and waxed the car sense I really don't know what could have made that happen, I would take it to a profesional detailer and ask him!

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irseg

It is from rain, but that residue can be a real pain in the ass to clean off.

Meguiars sells a 3-step system called "Deep Crystal" that consists of a paint cleaner, polish, and wax. I'd get the cleaner and polish, and then their NXT Tech Wax instead of the stuff in the 3-step system. I've had excellent results from using those, and the paint cleaner gets rid of that residue.

DEI37

Water spots. You'll have to buff it to get rid of them. Either by hand (really hard work...honestly), or with an electric buffer.

Now we know who doesn't dry their car off after they wash it!

Also, you can, and I do recommend, that you wax the windshield, and all the glass. You'd be amazed at what it does in the rain.

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Scorps

If you wax the windshield does that mean you don't have to use your wiper's anymore?

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shakran

rain-x for the windshield. The effect is really cool -the raindrops bead up and then fly up the windshield when you're up to speed. It looks like jumping into lightspeed in Star Wars

Use the gold class paint cleaner system, not the deep crystal. Gold Class works better on clearcoat.

Flyguy

If I didn't dry my car then why is it only on the hood? Why not all over?

I use one of the rain-x alternatives and it does work wonders in the rain.

Thanks for the ideas.

pocon1

From What i have read (never tried), you can use vinegar on the windshield to dissolve the water spots there. I don't know if you can use it on the paint. Otherwise, get some polish (I use meguiars swirl remover #9) . Be prepared to work it in, and spend over an hour polishing and removing polish. Then wax it.

saltfish

Waxing a windshield with a commerical wax will lead to hazing and build-up. Such a buildup will take thinner and a good deal of time to remove.

This is why we use Rain-X, a silicon based sealant that helps to repel water; Rain-x will not build up.

-SF

Peryn

With all the talk of polishes, and scrubbing, i highly recommend a clay bar. I use one from Mothers. They are a tad bit expensive, but easy to use, reasonably quick, and leaves your car feeling like nothing else. I have used polishes, rubbing compounds, and other scrubbing stuff i haven't found a single one that i thought left your car feeling as nice as a clay bar does. Its really good at getting out oxidized paint, and the little hard-to-get stuff - it will probably go through water spots without a problem.

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