c/auto-protection

TIL my windshield wipers were the reason my wiper fluid froze in Des Moines

The reservoir was fine at 10 degrees but the nozzles kept icing over because I put the 0 degree fluid in back in November, has anyone swapped to heated washer lines or is there a better winter mix?

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murphy.linda•3d ago

Pro tip: don't test ceramic coating on a dusty car in July in Phoenix

Last summer I tried applying a new ceramic spray to my hood at 2pm outside my apartment near Camelback Road. The dust storm rolled in halfway through, and the coating grabbed every bit of grit like flypaper. I ended up spending 3 hours buffing it off with a microfiber towel and a bottle of isopropyl alcohol. Anyone else learn the hard way that coatings need shade and clean air, or was it just me?

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hannahk19•8d ago

That $40 ceramic coating kit from the auto parts store actually held up for 18 months

I laughed at my buddy when he swore by it. Figured any paint protection under $200 was a scam. He did my hood with it back in March 2023 and I just washed the car last week. Water still beads up like crazy, no swirls either. I used to drop $150 on a detail every 6 months. So what's the catch? Is mine just a lucky batch or do these cheap kits work for everyone?

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barnes.wren•9d ago

$300 ceramic coating failed in 4 months, but my $20 spray wax is still holding

I paid a detail shop $300 for a ceramic coating back in March. They said it would last 2 years, and I believed them. By July, the hood had water spots and the beading was gone, looked like nothing was ever applied. Meanwhile, I hit the car with a cheap spray wax last month and it's beading better than the coating did on day one. So did I just get scammed, or is ceramic coating overhyped for daily drivers? Has anyone else had a coating fail that fast, and what did you switch to?

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nancygrant•9d ago

Just realized my 'premium' ceramic coating was 3 years old before I even bought it

I got my truck ceramic coated last month at a shop in Tulsa. They charged me $850 and showed me the bottle right before they applied it. I didn't think to check the batch date on the bottom. My cousin works at a detailing supply warehouse and he looked at the empty bottle I kept. Turns out that specific lot was manufactured 3 years ago and the shelf life for the chemical is 18 months once it sits in a warehouse. The coating still looks fine so far, but the manufacturer's tech line said the crosslinking agents degrade over time even in sealed containers. He said I might get 1 to 2 years of protection instead of the 5 they promised. Has anyone else had a shop use old stock on them and how did you check for it after the fact?

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valadams•11d ago

Has anyone actually used the roadside assistance included with their auto protection plan?

I had to use the roadside assistance from Premier Auto Protect after locking my keys in the car during a long trip. I called the support line and they arranged a locksmith without making me figure out who to contact. It was a pretty stressful situation, but the process was straightforward and the person I spoke with kept me updated.

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