Body - Colored Side Mouldings Dull/Discolored/Stained
TECHNICALBulletin No.: 11-08-111-002
Date: April 13, 2011
Subject: Information on Body Colored Side Moldings Dull, Discolored, Stained (Clean and Polish Moldings)
Models:
2010-2011 Chevrolet Colorado (Crew Cab Only)
2006-2011 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe
2010-2011 GMC Canyon (Crew Cab Only)
2006-2011 GMC Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL
Condition
Some customers may comment that the body colored side moldings on their vehicle appear to be discolored, dull or stained with dirt and road debris. This condition only applies to extruded body colored moldings WITHOUT chrome accents.
Cause
Most discoloration is due to the top layer of the molding being damaged and weathered from UV light, ozone, industrial fallout, etc. This is often referred to as oxidation. When the top layer oxidizes, it can become hazy and cause the paint to look dull and it distorts the tint. Road film and dirt also are more likely to "attach" to the moldings when the surface is dull.
Correction
In many cases this condition can be corrected by cleaning, polishing and sealing the finish on the moldings.
Use the following products in the order listed to clean, polish and seal the finish on the moldings.
- Use GM P/N 88861401 (in Canada, 88861409) Leather, Vinyl and Plastic Cleaner to thoroughly clean the body side moldings. Follow the directions on the bottle for best results.
- Follow the cleaning step with GM P/N 12377965 Swirl Remover Polish. Follow the directions on the bottle for best results. It's recommended this be done by hand. Using a rotary buffer may damage the moldings. Dealers in Canada use Meguiars Plast-X(TM) Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish* #G12310C.
- Seal the polished surface using GM P/N 12377966 Cleaner Wax. Follow the directions on the bottle for best results. Dealers in Canada use Meguiars Cleaner Wax* #M0616C.
* We believe these sources and their products to be reliable. There may be additional manufacturers of such products. General Motors does not endorse, indicate any preference for or assume any responsibility for the products from these firms or for any such items which may be available from other sources.
Parts Information
**This product is currently available from Meguiars (Canada). To obtain information for your local retail location, please call Meguiars at 1-800-347-5700 at www.meguiarscanada.com.
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