28 - Wednesday, March 25, 1987 ~

North Shore News

CLEAN-UP SHOPS
Remember details

when caring for car

WHEN YOU mention automotive
detailing the first thought that spr-
ings to mind is a skillful painter
applying pin stripes or some other
type of customized paint work.

Although, this could be referred
to as detailing it is not the true
definition. Automotive .detailing
shops, which are commonly known
as clean-up shops, restore a car’s
showroom appearance through the
meticulous cleaning, polishing and
protection of the vehicle’s interior
and exterior.

Many things are involved in the
complete detailing of an
automobile; when listed step by
step they could fill a book.
Touching on the basics, the car is
divided into four areas, the engine
compartment, the trunk, the inte-
rior and the exterior, with each
section having its own require-
ments. -

Most detail shops handle each
area in the same manner, the only
difference being the products and
equipment used to do the job.

. The engine is shampooed to
remove built-up oil, grease and dirt
then rinsed with high pressure
water or steam. The compartment
itself is done in the same manner.
The hoses, fittings and engine

block are dressed, protected and - §

repainted if necessary to restore
the look of the engine compart-
ment to new.

* The trunk area is next. The pro-
cedure begins with a thorough
_vacuuming, then the. trunk ‘mat,
spare tire, trunk jambs, rubber
moldings and jack are cleaned,
_, protected or repainted, whichever
is required to restore the new look.
'’ The interior can be handled in
many different ways. The extent to
which it is detailed depends on the
‘amount the customer wishes to

pay. .
_ A full detailing of an interior ex-
tends to the point where Q-tips are
used to clean radio dials, air vents,
speaker grills and other hard to get

at areas of the car. To a detailer °§

the results are worth the effort.

‘As with all other areas of the
vehicle, the thorough cleaning is
followed by a protection process.

Probably the most critical area
for detailing is the exterior. The
amount the customer wishes to
spend dictates the extent to which
the finish is treated. A good detail
shop will recommend a polishing
and waxing treatment for the car’s
finish depending on the condition
of the paint and car as a whole.

_A vehicle’s finish is exposed to
air, water, sun and pollutants
which, through time, cause the
paint to: become faded or dull

looking. Polishing or cutting the -

paint removes the thin layer of ox-
idized or scratched paint and ex-
poses a new layer of paint
underneath. This produces a car’s
shine. .

-.To protect the shine against the
elements, a coating of wax is ap-
plied. This is just a basic overview
of what is done.

A brand new finish may require
little or no removal of paint, where
an older finish may require several

polishing steps to restore a shine.

Some heavily oxidized finishes
are beyond restoration or simply
not worth the effort to restore as
the oxidation will reappear in a
short time. In these cases the
money is better spent on repain-
ting.

As well as the paint, the other
exterior items of the car receive at-
tention. Tires, wheels, bumpers,
grill and trim are all meticulously
cleaned and dressed.

Again, the condition of the car
dictates the cost. A simple wash
and vacuum may be as low as $10
where as a full detailing of an en-
tire car may run as high as $300 or

more.

Once a car has been completely
cleaned and protected, the cost to
maintain the showroom look is
substantially lower. It is recom-
mended that a vehicle be rewaxed
at least twice a year.

A therough detailing can add
appreciabiy to the value of your
car. If the car is for sale or being
traded in, the cost of a detailing
job is easily recouped.

A person whose business image
is reflected in their car may also
find a detailing pays for itself.

An extensive detailing at regular
intervals will help your car last
longer.

With dedicated professionals like
Tony Connell it’s easy to see why

All kinds of collision repairs and our
paint services start as low as...

Rust Repair
Expert Bodywork
1.C.B.C. Claims

HOURS
Mon.-Fri. 8am - 6pm
, Saturday 10am - 2pm

945 West 1st
North Vancouver

984-4171

Show your
Car you care

we're proud of the “good service’we
have to offer at Jubilee.

Tony’s our tune-up/electrical

specialist. Originally from New
Zealand, Tony brings 18 years
experience to Jubilee, the last
9 years as a factory trained licensed

mechanic.

Tony keeps up with the changing
technologies in the auto industry by

attending all Chrysler training

seminars.

~AS you can see — good service just

doesn't happen,

SERVICE PARTS BODY SHOP

980-8501 980-2055

HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8:00am - 4:30pm

986-2601

Weer War
Sat. 8:30am - 5:00pm TO BE THE