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need some help with baked in hard water spots....

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Old 06-26-2011
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need some help with baked in hard water spots....

Ok so here is the deal i have an 07 fx4 and it is shadow gray and black... when i bought it in north carolina i didnt notice that it had what looks like water spots all over it... hen i took it back to them and wanted them to fix it they told me it was too late anyways i am in texas now and it hasnt rained so i finally got a chance to wash the truck and take care of the spots... they arent coming off i have tried the vinegar trick, i have tried a really good professional cleaner wax and nothing is working.. help me!!!!
It also is not just spots it looks like it got washed at the dealership and never dried so it is like on long spot running down the truck as well as all over the windows you cant see them far away only up close... i have pics if you want to see them... please help me i dont want to have to wet sand it cause i dont have the money and it is my last resort...

thanks sorry for the long post
 
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Old 06-26-2011
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Maybe clay bar?
 
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Old 06-26-2011
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tried that one already too...
 
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Old 06-30-2011
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Try a test spot with CLR............dunno what it will do to the paint, but definitely takes off mineral deposits! Another thought: TSP?
 
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Old 06-30-2011
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I would have a good body shop buff it. Its probably the only way you'll get it off.
 
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Old 06-30-2011
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Wirelessly posted

Break all Windows have insurance replace them its free. For the paint id take it to a body shop and have them recon the truck usually buffing and cutting the paint
 
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Old 06-30-2011
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I like the window idea lol

or you could bust your taillight bulbs out,start going down the interstate slam your brakes on and let the guys behind rearend you and claim your brakes locked up. lol...dont listen to me thats a horrible idea.
 
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Old 06-30-2011
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I have a Jason hard cover on the bed of my truck,color matched. The cover came in and the place that ordered it for me said the paint had water spots. They called the manufactuer and were told to ask me if i would buy the cover at a discount price. They said the spots will not come out and buffing it would actually seal them in more. They said it was because the paint had not set or dryed enough before it was shipped. They took it back and made a new cover.Maybe the same issue you have?
 
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Old 07-01-2011
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Rubbing compound and a buffer. And lots of effort. I have a black truck and very hard water where I live so water spots are a common issue here. Previous owner had them baked in when I got the truck from her.
Since you already used cleaner wax you have now sealed the spots in under a layer of wax.
step 1: wax stripper then wash and dry the truck.
step 2: rubbing compound and a buffer and lots of time.
step 3: polishing compound, finer than the rubbing compound.
step 4: finally give it a good coat of wax to seal the paint again.
Do all of these steps in the shade on a cool day (or better yet in a garage). It will be much more difficult if the truck is hot.
 
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Old 07-04-2011
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Dewalt variable speed buffer @ 2200 rpm with wool pad and pro grold compound maybe a little more grit like tru grit or rapid cut compound. To get the swirls out you will have to 2 step the whole truck with pro gold and a light cut foam pad. I work at a detail shop. acid rain is a *****. Keep that surface waxed.
 
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Old 07-04-2011
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Originally Posted by fordguy86
Dewalt variable speed buffer @ 2200 rpm with wool pad and pro grold compound maybe a little more grit like tru grit or rapid cut compound. To get the swirls out you will have to 2 step the whole truck with pro gold and a light cut foam pad. I work at a detail shop. acid rain is a *****. Keep that surface waxed.
he might have to 3 step the truck...ive done my fair share of buffing too...also OP if you do this yourself be careful! you can do a lot of damage with a buffer
 
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Old 08-28-2013
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Oddly enough, but I use this product on my glass with an 8" fine foam pad on my Makita orbital:

3M Plastic Cleaner - Waxes and Cleaners - 2CTL2|39017 - Grainger Industrial Supply

Yes, plastic cleaner! It will take out those hard water stains where no chemical/soap solution will touch them.

You can also use it on your paint finish. If it isn't aggressive enough, then jump to

HD Polish from 3D Int'l http://www.autopia-store.org/HD-Advanced-Polish.html

and if that isn't aggressive enough move to:

Scholl 3D Gold Scholl Concepts S3 GOLD 1-Step Rubbing Compound (1kg) - Shinearama

With Black paint you have to be careful about "Halograms" being visible after buffing. IN order to prevent/lessen this affect, I suggest you purchase a dual action orbiter like this:

Meguiars DA Power System
 
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Old 01-08-2014
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try vinegar, years ago when chrysler shipped cars with transit coating, we were given transit coating remover to remove the film. it smelled like vinegar. we had a black truck that had bad water spots later so i tried vinegar and it worked 90%. i then decided to try savongran dirtex, as by the smell you can tell is it is VINEGAR to the max. keep it wet and in 30 mins we rinsed it off and washed and dried the car, no more water spots. then put a coat of wax and it looked amazing.
 
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