Loved new Sprint rain protecting tips!

[Splig]

I'm new to all this (see 'Anyone Know about This One' on Ebay Items and you'll see!) I'm sorry if I'm covering old ground but would appreciate any basic tips on caring for my beautiful new Sprint.

As I've rambled on (see above) its been in a garage since restoration but I don't have one at mo so I'm a bit pained to see rain falling on a thing of beauty. How best to protect it from the elements? I did get a cover but on the road at the minute and don't want to draw too much attention. Am I being a total wuss? I know a hardy Dolomite isnt one but it was restored with love and I dont want to ruin the great work!

Again sorry for taking this back to basics - please point me to the right place if its there!

[DoloWIGHTY]

Buy a good quality wax based polish, that'll help seal the paint and bright work from moisture.

It also is a very satisfying job to have the paint and shiny bits all looking lovely.

[Nick C]

The main thing is to protect it from salt - as long as there is no bare steel showing, the rain won't have much affect, as it's painted! Clean it well, especially underneath, at regular intervals in the winter, and use a rust preventative such as waxoil underneath.

You have to be careful with covers, as they can sometimes cause more harm than good, especially if they get dirty (grit, which will scratch your paint), or if they are put on when the car is wet (thus trapping the water against the car). If you keep it nice and clean, and wax it regularly, the water will pretty much fall off anyway!

Obviously the best solution is to keep it in a garage, but for quite a lot of us that isn't an option...

[alolympic]

I would echo what Nick has said.
Also, I would play close attention to all of your rubber seals. The main thing you want to avoid is for water to enter the car somehow and run into box sections, sit behind the door skin etc. so make sure all of your rubbers are watertight, if not, repair with sealant, or better still, replace.
Just take a good look in the boot, take the door cards off, take a look inside the doors, under the arches etc. That way you know if you have any problem areas - any rust may point to a water entry point, or blockage of drain holes that otherwise you may miss.
Have a good luck up in the front arches in the area behind the headlights, a notorious mud trap, and why you see so many Dollies rusting there. Make sure it is clean, then squirt anti rust wax up there.
I would recommend Bilt Hambers range of rust proofing products over Waxoyl every day of the week, well worth the little extra.
The best combined ploish and wax I have used is also made by them (no, I'm not on comission) and is called Auto Balm. There was a write up about it in the Dolly Mixture mag not so long ago. It is a very nice product, gives a great shine, protects the paint well and is proven to be a good rust preventer. The good news is, you can use it on chrome and your alloys too.
Oh, and you can always stick a little car dehumidifier on the dash to prevent damp inside, these are just a bag of crystals really but worth it for a tenner.

[Splig]

Thanks so much - very useful tips. You should be on commission for Auto Balm as definitely using that! With the vinyl roof - just best to dry it off when wet and angst no more?

Thanks again - this place is invaluable!

[DavePoth]

The vinyl roof is a good question. You need to be a bit careful with it, as if it gets damaged, or starts lifting at the edges, it can become an appalling rust trap. so it pays to look at it from time to time.

I'm thinking it may be an idea to try one of the "back to black" style bumper and trim restoring products, as they are a wax style product, although I must say I have never done it myself.

[Purplebargeken]

Yep, deffo a thumbs up for the Auto Balm, Autoglym Resin Polish is good too however. I would also recommend the B & H autoclay as well as it'll bring the paintwork up like glass..... then use the polish.

Ken

[sprint95m]

With the vinyl roof - just best to dry it off when wet and angst no more.

Welcome to the forum.

You can buy proper paint for the vinyl roof to make it waterproof.
Vinylkoke I think it is called. I should have some of this stuff and the surface prep somewhere.
It is easy to apply (brush) and gives a lovely shiney finish.

[Edin Dundee]

......
Oh, and you can always stick a little car dehumidifier on the dash to prevent damp inside, these are just a bag of crystals really but worth it for a tenner.

Just a word of caution here - these de-humidfiers do work, but if it's the type that has a collection box to trap the water, make sure you don't spill it. The stuff will never dry and will always feel wet, the water must be contaminated with oil or something from the silica gel.

[Jon Tilson]

The thing that kills thse cars is water leak to the interior. Make sure you have no damp carpets after a heavy downpour. If you do, then make resealing the windscreen...most likey source...an extreme priority.

Not a very girly job but you need to regularly (6monthly) get underneath and look for signs of rust in the boot floor seams and inner rear wheel arches, cill ends and from sub fram mounting points and chassis rails to name a few...
Broken under seal is the key here...it soon provides a rust trap.

I use a goo called dinitrol on most of my accessible seams. Seems to work well. Poke a piece of wire through the drain holes in your doors. Don't park under trees for long periods and get rid of bird crap asap.

Jonners

[JPB]

.....Not a very girly job but you need to regularly (6 monthly) get underneath and look for signs of rust in the boot floor seams and inner rear wheel arches, cill ends and from sub fram mounting points and chassis rails to name a few.....

I sometimes send a girl* underneath to check mine when I'm not having a particularly good day and can't get under there myself. She loves the feeling of Ensis fluid and/or waxoyl in her hair, eyes, nostrils, ears, mouth etc. So I could argue that, if properly managed, it's a very girly job

It's a very satisfying way to spend a Saturday's afternoon though, much better than going mud wrestling or another, similarly messy pursuit.

*Sister-In-Law beast is a 47 year old woman, but the principle's the same.....

[Jon Tilson]

Did you ever see that Harry and Paul show where Paul Whitehouse does an impersonation of Abramovitch the Chelsea owner...

If you can, imagine me in a russian accent saying...

"I buy her"


Jonners

[SprintMWU773V]

Mer do a great black trim renovator product that not only cleans vinyl roofs but also helps provide a water reppelent layer on it which promotes beading of water. I also use Bilt Hamber Autobalm on my cars as it seems to last a very long time and looks fab. You'll need to polish your car beforehand though as this product is pure wax with no abrasives. I like Autoglym Super Resin Polish but it does contain silicone which won't help with the autobalm so I use a paint prep polish from Meguiars but others are available. If the paint is really tired you're as well off using T Cut or Farecla G3 then use the autobalm. If you're using a cutting polish never leave it unwaxed on top.

If you do look at a cover make sure it is breathable or else the car will sweat and rot. You need to spend decent money on a cover really, in my experience Coverzone covers are good value. Halfords do some nice waterproof breathable ones in the Advanced range but the medium one is a tight fit on a Dolomite so you'd need to go Large. Alternatively check your local rag for garages to let or place an ad. A dry and well ventilated garage is a good alternative to a cover. I had a similar problem with my 1500 as it's a nice car that I wante to keep nice. It was under a cover for a while but I have now moved to a lock up which though not perfect is probably better than sitting outside under a cover. To help minimise damp inside the car in storage I use "Dry Bags" which can be regenerated in the oven. Get them from camping shops or Amazon.

[Splig]

Thanks so much - great information. I can honestly say if Roman offered me a ludicrously obscene amount for my new baby I'd send him packing. Know I won't be believed but its the truth!

Now got shopping list for when I get paid (sorry but Turtle Wax (don't shoot me!) has to do til then) - Mer bumper/vinyl gel (is that the one? it does say its water repellent), Bilt Hamber autobalm/clay (special offer) and will save up for the Vinylkote, or if Roman fancies buying my house. I cant seem to find the 'dry bags' tho.

I checked the car during/after a hard days rain and found a few drops inside from one corner of the windscreen so should I just use a little sealant there? I did pop out now and again to blot off the water from the front and back window corners as it gathers in puddles there - is that something I have to accept with the shape of the windows or abnormal?

Thanks!

[DavePoth]

Yeah, the little puddle on the top of the seal is a "feature".