Bird Doodie! Help!

[BigBrakeFuelie]

I have been using my C3 as a daily driver recently and I have a small problem.These birds have been splattering my car now three days in a row.I had heard that Bird doodie was harmful to your clear coat.By the time I got to my car it was dried and hard.I used what I thought was a soft sponge to get it off.I messed up big time!
I left these little scratches in the paint with a smeared type of look to it.It`s only in a couple of spot,the roof band,and the back area.
Question,will I be able to polish or wax this out?Is there anything I can do at this point to make it look better?:cry

 

[Eric]

The extent of the damage depends entirely upon how your paint was protected prior to the bombing raid. If you had a good wax shell on the car you may be able to save it. I would start gentle with something along the lines of a paint scrub and see if that removes the scratches. If not, proceed with caution to the more abrasive compounds. I've had great luck removing some fairly ugly scratches with light polishing compound. You may have more than just scratches though since bird bombs can be pretty destructive, especially if the sun bakes it.

We have some pretty well exprienced paint and finish folks here that may have more specific advise for you.

Good Luck!

 

[BigBrakeFuelie]

71Shark-Thanks,I bought the car Last June and I put a coat of McGuire`s on it in the summer.The "paint scrub" will any auto parts stores carry this?I am not familiar with what it is.Thanks.

 

[Eric]

Actually I goofed, it's called Body Scrub and it's part of the Maguiar's system, comes in the same red bottle as the polish and detailing mist. You should have no trouble finding it.

By the way, which Maguiars did you use. My bread and butter are the Maguiars polish followed by the Gold Class Paste wax followed by Detailing Mist. If I feel it needs it, I will use the Paint Cleaner which may also help you. Of course if I have a scratch I use whatever it takes. Everything I use, except the wax, comes in the same red bottles.

- Eric

 

[BigBrakeFuelie]

I remember it was the Maguire`s Gold Class,the polish and the wax.I think it will be allright.I`m gonna tackle it tomorrow.I`ll do whatever it takes to get the job done.

 

[DetailingDude]

Well, this is part of another "Why didn't I...." but I guess I should get going on it now! Dagnabit!
I have been using my C3 as a daily driver recently and I have a small problem.These birds have been splattering my car now three days in a row.I had heard that Bird doodie was harmful to your clear coat.
Well, birds don't have a No1 hole or a No2 hole they have a No1/No2 hole. Which means the "Bombing Raid" was a double whammy. Urin and feces! If that wasn't bad enough many birds use tiny rocks or shells to help digest their food. So it really is a "Triple Whammy"!

By the time I got to my car it was dried and hard. I used what I thought was a soft sponge to get it off. I messed up big time!
I left these little scratches in the paint with a smeared type of look to it.
Your sponge may well have been soft however the dried poop and the gravel are probably what did the damage. Next time you get bombed make sure you have a MicroFiber Towel, and a bottle of Selzer Water in your 'Vette. What you do is pour the Selzer Water on the spots to soften it, the bubbles will lift and float away some of the dung and then once it is fairly soft shake up the rest of the Selzer Water and blast it off!

It`s only in a couple of spot,the roof band,and the back area. Question,will I be able to polish or wax this out?Is there anything I can do at this point to make it look better?
Don't panic, this is a minor problem and it is quite simple:
Step 1: Wash the area thoroughly
Step 2: Clay the area thoroughly
Step 3: It is probably DeWaxed by the acids in the poop but you might want to do it just to get a better look at the surface
Step 4: Give the area a complete inspection to see the severity of the damage.
Step 5: If the DeWaxing has removed the damage skip this step. With 3M Perfect It II Rubbing Compound on a MicrFiber and with steady moderatly firm pressure rub in circlular motions. Make sure the surface is cool to the touch. If the product dries on the MF move to a new section of the towel and do the same process.
Step 6: Inspect the surface. At this point, if you have gotten rid of them you might be able to introduce your surface protection depending on what products you use.
Step 7: Go out and buy a bottle of Selzer Water.... NO SHOT GUNS PLEASE!

 

[BigBrakeFuelie]

Thanks DetailingDude.I`ll follow those instructions to the letter and see what happens.I appreciate your expertise.

 

[DetailingDude]

Thanks DetailingDude.I`ll follow those instructions to the letter and see what happens.I appreciate your expertise.

Glad to help!

 

[BigBrakeFuelie]

I had the oppurtunity to follow the procedure DetailingDude laid out for me and I`m happy to say my Corvette looks as good as new.It was alot of fun to see those scratches go away and my Vette to shine like new.Thanks,DetailingDude and everyone else who helped.