A Clean Iq Is A Happy Iq

[craggle]

They are also very useful for cleaning wheel arches out.

I jack my car up at least once a year, preferably twice a year, remove a wheel at a time and blast out the wheel arch areas and clean the inside of the wheels to remove brake dust and other contaminants before they damage the alloys.

Takes a couple of hours to do I guess and I rotate the wheels at the same time but well worth the effort I think to keep things clean and free of corrosion. :)

Craig.

[aaronfife]

Definitely. I just done that a month ago. Toke them off, one at a time, got a soft brush and shampoo, scrubbed in the painted part within the arch then protected it. Good chance to clean, polish and seal the inside of the wheels too as you say. I usually check CV boots/ball joints/tie rods and so forth for wear and if needed, pack fresh grease in to prevent future problems.

Another thing I done on the Sam day was get right under the car and used metal polish on the exhaust. Sand off surface rust and apply. I couldn't manage the whole exhaust but backbox is certainly protected. Just saves future pay outs :)

[Cyker]

This waterless-wash thing intrigues me! I have not heard of such a thing before!

How does it work? Do you just spray it on a cloth/mitt and wipe down the car with it? Or do you spray the whole car, wait a bit then wipe it down?

What's it like on hard to shift things like tar spots and bird cack?

Can you use it to shift brakedust on alloy wheels?

[aaronfife]

This waterless-wash thing intrigues me! I have not heard of such a thing before!

How does it work? Do you just spray it on a cloth/mitt and wipe down the car with it? Or do you spray the whole car, wait a bit then wipe it down?

What's it like on hard to shift things like tar spots and bird cack?

Can you use it to shift brakedust on alloy wheels?

There's a lot of information on various websites in regards to waterless. I owned my own waterless detailing business back in 2010 so hope I can help.

Waterless is getting popular nowadays but using the correct and safer option is the way to go. Many companies such as 'Chemical Guys' & 'Pearl Car Care' are extremely good. Both customer service and in through final product.

The process works by spraying a light, fine mist onto a fresh, clean microfibre cloth, then spray a section of the car, leave for up to 20/30seconds to the wetting agents and waxed bond with each other. Then gently wipe over the area, folding the microfibre cloth on each pass. You'll then be left with a haze on the paintwork. Leave it to work for another 30seconds then buff with a 2nd clean microfibre cloth to a beautiful shine.

Many different techniques can be used with different products remember. This was my way of doing it as recommended by a few companies I worked closely with.

Waterless can be used in misy drizzle, sunlight and cold. But I would recommend a fair day is the best and ideal way to make the product perform to it's maximum. If you have an excessively dirty area, pre spray and let the product work for a bit longer (1min) to help the dirt lift easier. Just make sure you do it all careful and no scratches will be inflicted.

Most waterless can be used on wheels, bodywork (obviously) and some plastics.

Hope this helps for you. Any other questions, just ask :)

[Dark Matter]

Cyker

If you haven't already done so have a read of the "white IQ owners " thread which I also hijacked to talk about waterless.

[Mr Jones]

You can find the thread here:

http://www.toyotaown...howtopic=137714

It's also from there, I got into using Grease Lightning - I don't use the waterless on any 'tar and cack' though, as I still worry it scratches, dispite these products having 'special encapsulation'. I like to wipe hard and buff harder, so I jet wash my car on the way home the day I want to waterless clean.

Been perfect results so far...

[Dark Matter]

Each to their own technique .... But as you get more confident with showroom shine and it builds up a few layers you may be happy to dispense with the jet wash .Trust me and SS there is absolutely no need to Jet wash the car before using waterless ..... Except if is absolutely caked in mud.

[johnan]

Quite agree.

Because SS has built up a protective almost "non-stick" coating after a number of applications I find a quick pressure wash will clean the car without needing to use SS every time, and it also allows you to give it a good blast under the arches, and underneath in general.

If you are going to SS, the car there is no need to pressure wash it first, as you say, although a lot of people feel happier doing that.

John

[craggle]

Well, Had another couple of hours free this evening so gave the car a spray with the Turtle wax waterless cleaner and buffed it up to a lovely shine again.

I then remembered that I had a Turtle wax clay kit in the house so went and got that, split the clay into two and kneaded it into a soft, thin pad, sprayed a panel with the supplied lubricant and carefully started rubbing the clay on the surface. Turned the clay occasionally, re-kneading and made sure it remained wet then dried the surface with a microfibre cloth and re-applied the waterless cleaner and polished to a shine again.

What a huge difference clay makes to the car! Before I thought it was clean but now wiping your hand over a un-treated and a treated area makes you realise just how dirty the surface is. The clean area is now amazingly smooth and slippery.

Run out of light unfortunately after one rear panel, one door and one front wing but continue I shall. :)

Craig.

[Guest]

Well, Had another couple of hours free this evening so gave the car a spray with the Turtle wax waterless cleaner and buffed it up to a lovely shine again.

I then remembered that I had a Turtle wax clay kit in the house so went and got that, split the clay into two and kneaded it into a soft, thin pad, sprayed a panel with the supplied lubricant and carefully started rubbing the clay on the surface. Turned the clay occasionally, re-kneading and made sure it remained wet then dried the surface with a microfibre cloth and re-applied the waterless cleaner and polished to a shine again.

What a huge difference clay makes to the car! Before I thought it was clean but now wiping your hand over a un-treated and a treated area makes you realise just how dirty the surface is. The clean area is now amazingly smooth and slippery.

Run out of light unfortunately after one rear panel, one door and one front wing but continue I shall. :)

Craig.

Must get me a clay bar kit too. I began to give our iQ a good deep clean on Monday 23rd. I got the cleaning side done but was so achey -bad day- I had to stop. Tuesday I went out to dust it off then went to begin the polishing sesh... but couldn't as it was covered on the upper surfaces by what I thought was tree sap. There is a very large Oak tree at the back of our house across the road; I thought it was that. Then I saw zillions of little bl**dy midges flitting around, and wondered if it was something from them. Anyway, it was a mess. A normal wash didn't get rid of the mess, using bug and tar remover failed. I used an industrial window cleaner spray, which removed it. Unfortunately I then had to polish every panel I cleaned, panel by panel. Took me all sodding day to complete. Cleaned inside too on Wednesday and completed roof, passenger door and lower part of rear bumper. Hard work but worth it to have a shiny motor. The clay bar will be next and follow your example Craig. BTW, Still haven't painted the brake calipers yet.

[craggle]

Well, If a clean iQ really is a happy iQ then mine must be ecstatic! :D

Just finished claying the rest of the car and polished up afterwards with the waterless cleaner.

The clay is well worth the effort and has made such a difference to the feel of the paintwork. I even did the roof although I thought that was the cleanest bit of the car but the change after doing it is night and day. All the lumps, bumps and tar spots along the bottom of the doors have simply vanished now and as there is a layer of wax on the car hopefully future dirt will stick less easily.

Touched in a couple of small chips with the touchup brush, cleaned all the door shuts and inside the boot shut area, blacked the wheels and gave the interior a vacuum.

Seems a shame to use it now! :)

Craig.

[dash]

It looks fantatic Craig. I thought ours looked good after a waxing, but yours looks mint ;)

Dave

[craggle]

Cheer Dave.

She does clean up quite well. There are quite a few stone marks in the front bumper unfortunately but I guess we all suffer from that, Not much you can do to stop it I guess.

I have a set of Eibach lowering springs waiting in the garage to fit but need to find the time to do the job and I want a dry day but not too sunny, Picky I know! :)

Craig.

[aaronfife]

Looking great Craig :)

Will be good to see it with Eibach springs on. I'm considering upgrading dampers but nobody seems to offer them.. :(

[Soeley]

Looking great Craig :)

Will be good to see it with Eibach springs on. I'm considering upgrading dampers but nobody seems to offer them.. :(

Cough, cough,

http://www.fensport.co.uk/Parts/Model_99/Category_2/3660

http://www.dcperformance.co.uk/uprated/bc-racing-v1-series-coilovers/toyota/iq.html

http://www.saw-tuning.de/TEIN-SuperStreet-Gewindefahrwerk-Toyota-IQ-AJ1

[Dark Matter]

I have used this stuff http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4167c0c07b which I find good. A lot of people say it's rubbish for some reason? Maybe they're a bit doubtful of cleaning a car etc. without water! .....

Where are these foolishpeople and where do they live !!

As many will appreciate I have bored for England on the subject of waterless.

Yesterday I had a stark reminder of the good old days.

For reasons I won't bore you all with I find myself temporarily without stock of Showroom Shine.

A filthy car led me to yesterday get out the bucket, sponge and hose for the first time in maybe 3 years.

What a mistake . What a mess . What a Rubbish result.

It also took forever to complete .... And then I had to wax it ..... and go change my soaking wet trousers thanks to a leaky hose .

I absolutely.cannot understand why waterless isn't more popular.