Melting Paint Focus MK 3

Clearcut · 5 May 2015 at 07:24

Hi, devastated this morning, glanced at my centre console this morning after cleaning my car yesterday and noticed the following:

I only wiped the inside with a damp microfibre cloth, what on earth could have done that?

Has this happened to anyone else and is it an expensive fix?

Thanks

iaind · 5 May 2015 at 07:28

The cloth wasn't just damp, it had some other cleaning product on it from a previous use - presumably something acidic or alkali.

Anyway it looks like that panel just snaps on - go to ford and buy a new one, it won't be expensive

Clearcut · 5 May 2015 at 07:47

Thank you, Can't believe window cleaner would do that but it clearly does.

Malt_Vinegar · 5 May 2015 at 09:41

Let us know what products you were using, so people can avoid in future!

Hyburnate · 5 May 2015 at 12:18

That reminds me of those vent air fresheners that do that. You don't have one of those do you? Maybe leaked?

e; Here we go: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18596213

iaind · 5 May 2015 at 12:22

Malt_Vinegar said:
Let us know what products you were using, so people can avoid in future!

Why would you avoid using window cleaners on windows? A lot will be acidic and it's only a thin layer of plastic paint.

You don't clean your bodywork with wonder wheels then complain then say you'd never buy wheel cleaner again :confused:

jellybeard999 · 5 May 2015 at 12:22

iaind said:
Anyway it looks like that panel just snaps on - go to ford and buy a new one, it won't be expensive

Or rub down and respray it.

TaKeN · 5 May 2015 at 12:25

jellybeard999 said:
Or rub down and respray it.

Carbon Fibre vinyl wrap tbh.

Burned_Alive · 5 May 2015 at 12:26

iaind said:
Why would you avoid using window cleaners on windows? A lot will be acidic and it's only a thin layer of plastic paint.

Is that right?

I was definitely not aware that window cleaners are acidic.

iaind · 5 May 2015 at 12:30

Burned_Alive said:
Is that right?

I was definitely not aware that window cleaners are acidic.

Depends on the window cleaner. A lot have vinegar in them which is very acidic (although it'll be diluted). A lot have ammonia which is alkaline and plenty are neutral. Nothing wrong with acidic or alkaline window cleaners as glass doesnt melt. Just dont use it on flimsy plastic trim!

Malt_Vinegar · 5 May 2015 at 12:35

iaind said:
Why would you avoid using window cleaners on windows? A lot will be acidic and it's only a thin layer of plastic paint.

You don't clean your bodywork with wonder wheels then complain then say you'd never buy wheel cleaner again

Your post confuses me.

The OP used a damp cloth that had a residue of a window cleaning product on it, and it did this. It would suggest that the product was still able to damage paint in a low concentration, so I think I would like to avoid the chance of the same happening to me.

This is a scenario that is entirely possible and even likely in the average home car-cleaning.

Why would you not want to know what product it was?

Clearcut · 5 May 2015 at 16:20

Mystery solved. It was indeed an ambi pur air freshener. I dropped it yesterday while cleaning the car and I've now noticed I put it back on upside down, so of course all the contents have leaked out down the back of the vent. Thank you to the person who linked to that other thread as that showed me my stupidity. I could seriously kick myself.

Malt_Vinegar · 5 May 2015 at 16:40

Clearcut said:
Mystery solved. It was indeed an ambi pur air freshener. I dropped it yesterday while cleaning the car and I've now noticed I put it back on upside down, so of course all the contents have leaked out down the back of the vent. Thank you to the person who linked to that other thread as that showed me my stupidity. I could seriously kick myself.

It all becomes clear!

Bad luck, but at least we now know this is not down to killer Glass cleaners

Clearcut · 5 May 2015 at 16:57

Indeed MV, at least now we don't have to throw out out all our glass cleaners

Hyburnate · 5 May 2015 at 18:02

Clearcut said:
Mystery solved. It was indeed an ambi pur air freshener. I dropped it yesterday while cleaning the car and I've now noticed I put it back on upside down, so of course all the contents have leaked out down the back of the vent. Thank you to the person who linked to that other thread as that showed me my stupidity. I could seriously kick myself.

No worries, now get yourself down a breakers and get a new bit

Will · 5 May 2015 at 19:39

When I worked at halfords we used to get endless angry folk back in the store demanding that we replace peeling or damaged trim due to air freshener spillages, you wouldn't get anything ambi pur or similar 'liquid' air freshener anywhere near my car for this reason!

thepharcyde · 5 May 2015 at 19:56

This happened to my car many years ago. Sara Lee who were the company that owned the brand Ambi Pur, sent a desposible camera, request for a quote to replace said facia.

They fronted the cost and all was sorted.

Not sure if P&G will be so accommodating?

mrk · 5 May 2015 at 20:45

And this is why I refuse to use dangling or vent air fresheners! I love the clinical smell of Neutradol blue so just plonk a globe below the armrest in the cubby hole thing, job done

Malt_Vinegar · 5 May 2015 at 21:17

I use a specific car odour neutralising spray when ever I clean my car's interior. It has done wonders keeping it neutral in there.
I use the same stuff on my MG, and it smells like new in there now. New carpets all around helps too, but the second hand cloth seats took a few cleans to get them pretty much neutral.

No point just covering up smells, clean and neutralise the source!

iaind · 5 May 2015 at 22:00

Malt_Vinegar said:
I use a specific car odour neutralising spray when ever I clean my car's interior. It has done wonders keeping it neutral in there.
I use the same stuff on my MG, and it smells like new in there now. New carpets all around helps too, but the second hand cloth seats took a few cleans to get them pretty much neutral.

No point just covering up smells, clean and neutralise the source!

Was going to say the same thing. Save for some of the Yankee candle ones, they all just smell like sickly cheap perfume. I wouldn't have my house smelling like that so why should the car?

Smelly stuff like food packaging gets thrown out, it's cleaned regularly and a spray on the fabrics every now and then. It smells like a car rather than a cheap hooker