Skoda Kodiaq SUV Forum banner

Pitting on chrome bits after hand/carwash

34K views 47 replies 26 participants last post by  Gopher1 
#1 ·
So iv just visited the local Hand Carwash and upon returning, to my horror, the chrome bits are really badly pitted. (will qualify 'pitted' with i cant actually feel any depressions)

I thoughts it was just soap/wax but hasnt wiped clear with a rag, I then tried AutoGlym wax with fibre cloth, waited a while before buffing and still nothing. Looks really bad, im on a lease as well so this wont go down well.

Anyone know what it might be or how to remove, I hope its not harsh jetwash thats effectively gone through some of the chrome like plating.

Hood Automotive lighting Automotive design Automotive mirror Vehicle door


Automotive lighting Hood Motor vehicle Automotive design Bumper


Hood Motor vehicle Automotive lighting Sky Automotive design


Automotive lighting Hood Automotive tire Bumper Vehicle


Last shot is the good side (other side they didn't seem to do as bad / not noticeable)

Car Wheel Vehicle Tire Motor vehicle
 

Attachments

See less See more
5
#2 ·
Somebody else complained about this last week. I can't remember who, but I wonder if you both use the car wash.
I am always a bit suspish about hand car washes. I always use IMO. They have a non scratch guarantee and for a number 2 wash which includes manual pre jetwash, wheel scrub and blowdry all for £5. I really can't be bothered to DIY. I have used IMO for years and they have never done any harm to any of my cars.
If you had put your location on your profile I could have told you if there is one near you (that's why we ask for location ;) )
So you'll have to find it yourself I'm afraid! :lol:
https://www.imocarwash.com/gb/search-results/?value=UK%20wide
 
#4 ·
I've experienced the same thing and several people have complained about it.
My thought is to possibly wrap them in either black or chrome vinyl?

If they get damaged again, it would be a simple case of peeling off the damaged section of vinyl film.

I don't think it was the car wash, many others who have washed their own cars have also mentioned the same isssues.

To me it's a manufacturing issue and there's no real reference to it in the owners manual either.
 
#5 ·
Well if it is a manufacturing fault. I will put a £10 note on it that Skoda says, " We know nuffink about that mate, so it doesn't exist!"
 
#6 ·
Well oddly enough, I spoke to the salesman who sold me my car and he said "not another one! We've had a few of these lately on the Kodiaq and superb"

I've asked him to look into replacing for the Sportline trim instead.
 
#8 ·
Colin Lambert said:
Somebody else complained about this last week. I can't remember who, but I wonder if you both use the car wash.
I am always a bit suspish about hand car washes. I always use IMO. They have a non scratch guarantee and for a number 2 wash which includes manual pre jetwash, wheel scrub and blowdry all for £5. I really can't be bothered to DIY. I have used IMO for years and they have never done any harm to any of my cars.
If you had put your location on your profile I could have told you if there is one near you (that's why we ask for location ;) )
So you'll have to find it yourself I'm afraid! :lol:
https://www.imocarwash.com/gb/search-results/?value=UK%20wide
Used to use IMO when we had the doubtful privilege of living near Watford - good washes. Now our nearest is about 40 miles away. Come to think of it, there are NO car washes within 15 miles.

No pitting on my chrome trim - don't have any except front grille. :mrgreen:
 
#9 ·
These are water stains. After washing the vehicle, the chrome strips were not enough dried. After one day on direct sunlight the stain are etched in the trims clear coat. They can only be removed by polishing.
 
#10 ·
tomix said:
These are water stains.
Microfibre towels are great for drying the car. Stops these sort of stains from happening.
 
#11 ·
gojoholo said:
Microfibre towels are great for drying the car. Stops these sort of stains from happening.
You are right, but it should be done immediately after washing process.
In some cases can help some citrus based water spots remover gel or some special acidic products dedicated for car washing use only. But be very careful, because some car brands use not real chrome trims, but just a chrome colored plastic strips. I dont know, if these on Kodiaqs are the real ones, or just a plastic ones. The plastic strips can be easily damaged by citrus based acidic water spots removers.
 
#15 ·
The OP has tried polishing the chrome trim so this isn't water marking.

These hand car washes are great for convenience, but not for your car.

As mentioned above, for them it's all about time and cost, so a lot of them use TFR (Traffic Film Remover). The cheaper versions are extremely acidic and aggressive, also known as truck wash.

It is the first stage, as you're sat queuing the guy comes over with a hand pump and sprays a fine mist over the car, this is TFR, it basically makes it easier (and therefore quicker) for them to wash the car. It is extremely important that TFR is not allowed to dry, this is when the damage is done. I'd imagine in this weather that is exactly what has happened.

It has essentially stained the chrome trim, and is probably irreversible now. This is what it does to the grey plastic wheel nut caps...

Automotive lighting Light Automotive tire Hood Hubcap


Avoid.
 

Attachments

#16 ·
silver1011 said:
It is the first stage, as you're sat queuing the guy comes over with a hand pump and sprays a fine mist over the car, this is TFR, it basically makes it easier (and therefore quicker) for them to wash the car. It is extremely important that TFR is not allowed to dry, this is when the damage is done. I'd imagine in this weather that is exactly what has happened.
I can not imagine that anyone left to dry it on the car without rinsing. But under certain circumstances this can happen. If that's true, we got the answer to the question whether it's really chrome or just chrome colored plastic.
 
#17 ·
tomix said:
silver1011 said:
It is the first stage, as you're sat queuing the guy comes over with a hand pump and sprays a fine mist over the car, this is TFR, it basically makes it easier (and therefore quicker) for them to wash the car. It is extremely important that TFR is not allowed to dry, this is when the damage is done. I'd imagine in this weather that is exactly what has happened.
I can not imagine that anyone left to dry it on the car without rinsing. But under certain circumstances this can happen. If that's true, we got the answer to the question whether it's really chrome or just chrome colored plastic.
I read that as they didn't deliberately not rinse off the TFR, rather with it being so hot it dried almost instantly on contact with the car before it was rinsed off during the next stage of the hand wash process.
 
#18 ·
I bought some of the Autosol a previous poster mentioned, make it nice and shiny but didn't remove the blemishes, also tried Mothers Mag metal polish and also some plastic polish, none worked.

I did try a tiny bit of WD40 which seems to have the most success but overall the problem still remains.

I phoned Skoda Customer Services who were not really interested and said take it into your local dealer. Now.. my Kodiaq was actually in at the local dealer 2 weeks ago for a different issue, my wife took it in and happen to briefly mention to the agent about the chrome trim and they said it wouldn't be covered as its wear and tear. She didn't follow it up as it was only a 'mention' during conversation and the car was in for a different reason but I will be making an appointment specifically for this chrome trim to see where we get.

My wifes Focus (also with chrome trim) and nearly 5 years old looks pristine (trim) compared to my 12 month old Kodiaq,and the kodiaq was about £43k new (with my options)!
 
#19 ·
Largely as a result of the recommendation by the previous poster mentioned above, I purchased a tube of Autosol and eagerly applied it to my chrome effect window trims. Didn't do a bloody thing!

I don't give up that easily and in the far reaches of my tool cupboard I found a small tin of Brasso and an even older tin of Duraglit wadding (Duraglit wadding in the famous orange tin no longer exists as a stand alone product but the name lingers on under the Brasso banner). I poured a small amount of the Brasso liquid on a very dry piece of wadding and rubbed very gently on the affected area.

In short it works - most of the little white spots have gone, the rest have faded significantly and may need a further application. If the problem returns it'll be a warranty claim.

There is no doubt in my mind that the eastern european car wash jockeys are using TSR or a variant thereof but the underlying cause is the crap material Skoda are using. My 7 year old Mondeo had similar chrome coloured highlights and using the same EE car wash I never had the problem.
 
#22 ·
I have the same issue with white pitting/staining to the chrome door trims my 8 month old Kodiaq. The "friendly" Skoda dealer sent photos to Skoda warranty department and Skoda decided it wasn't their problem and that the chemical corrosion was my responsibility as it caused by hand car washes. They are at loss to explain why not all of the trims have been affected - only front door trims (the lower ones are worse) and the lower rear trims on the drivers side only! but not the chrome at the front or the roof bars or anywhere at the rear of the car. I queried whether it was a faulty lacquering process in manufacture but Skoda are not prepared to accept any fault at the moment. Interestingly my wife's car a Fiat 500 with a lot of chrome has been to the same car washes and has not been affected at all. Not what I expected from a top of the range Kodiaq from a reputable car manufacturer. Any ideas on how to "encourage "Skoda to admit fault? I am a bit reluctant to pay the £400+ to rectify the problem! Thanks
 
#23 ·
I have the same problem with white marks on the window trim. I have always washed the car myself using the Auto Glym products supplied with the car 12 months ago. The only other time my car was washed was 4 weeks ago when the dealer did a summer service, They have sent photos to Skoda but reading similar posts I am expecting them to say it's my fault. How can I prove it was the dealer his word against mine. I will be contacting the BBC Watchdog program to highlight the problem if Skoda wash their hands of the problem.
 
#25 ·
Anyone having any luck in resolving this? I've tried Autosol and Brasso but the marks remain. My affected trims are from off side lower, rear off side lower and front near side upper and lower. Odd that this is exactly the same as someone else has mentioned which to me seems to indicate a manufacturing inconsistency.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top