Detailing your MR2 Windshield Wiper Cowl like new?

deucesquared · 09-15-2008, 09:38 AM

My wiper cowl, probably like most of yours, looks old and faded. I was wondering if there was something I could do once and have it look like new for a long time? I thought about spray painting it but that probably wont look so great. Any ideas?

PHOENIX · 09-15-2008, 09:49 AM

I spray painted mine, and it looks great. Just use the proper techniques and paint for it.

Go to an autobody supplier and get some scotch paint pads (i think the red ones) that are for paint and not primer. Then at the same place pickup some trim paint (spray can, white bottle).

Give the cowl a good cleaning and use the scotch pads to sand it. Clean it again and spray it. I gave mine 2 coats within 30 minutes of each other. Looked great in my opinion really revived it.

larrydiesbach · 09-15-2008, 02:33 PM

I have had the same problem on customers cars where i put a tiny little scratch on it from just barely touching it, especially in AZ where the sun beats you down, like the other poster I took a scotch bright pad to it then spray painted it. You would think with all this technology somone could make some kind of plastic that does not fad so badly.

Larry Diesbach
15 Year Certified NGA Technician
FixMyWindshield.com member

deucesquared · 09-18-2008, 09:27 AM

just wondering but why do you need to sand the piece down before you spray paint it?

GR8MR2 · 10-05-2008, 12:21 AM

I cleaned up my cowl with Meguiar's Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner. After it was cleaned I sealed it with NXT 2.0 and it has held up quite well since.

It was a lot of effort to get in all the fins but it came back to looking like new.

The only area on my 91NA that is hard to deal with is the panel under the engine lid louvers.

Mister2.2 · 10-05-2008, 02:36 AM

Mothers Back to Black, multiple coats, rub well. Will look new.

Mark_Dorman · 01-10-2009, 03:56 AM

^Back to Black doesn't last that long though. Looks great if you're willing to reapply every other month...

tksmr2 · 05-01-2009, 08:32 AM

I painted mine with gatorback coating.. Most of the time was spent cleaning the piece. Looks great IMO..

tigerpee · 05-01-2009, 09:13 AM

Mine was painted as well - looks great.

Jon3sgte · 05-14-2009, 01:32 PM

I sprayed mine as well. I also was recommended and used adhesion promotor. it is supposed to help adhesion so the paint doesnt flake when the sun beats on it. mine looks great. it's just like anything else you paint, prep work is everything.

Boily · 05-27-2009, 11:39 PM

painted mine 2 weeks ago

I love it, looks really clean!

westec builder · 06-04-2009, 08:42 PM

I bought a new one! and keep it under a car cover, looks great!!!! ha Doug P.S. I'm tired of being my wife's arm candy!

tadamany · 11-05-2009, 05:56 PM

duecesqaured, you need to sand it first so the paint has something to grab on to and stick. the better job you do at sanding and preping the better the paint job will look. it sounds strange to sand it, but it does work very well.

Mark_Dorman · 11-14-2009, 05:27 PM

You can use emery cloth as well to scuff surfaces before painting. I'd also use an adhesion promoter as well

ShackC · 01-01-2010, 11:01 PM

i need a whole new cowl, dipstick i got the car from let the hood fly up and broke the cowl, bent the hood, but the back to black is easy. Dont use regular sand paper at all on the plastic unless its 320 or finer and wet sand if possible.

09-15-2008, 09:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
deucesquared Some Skills Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 50 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Windshield Wiper Cowl like new? My wiper cowl, probably like most of yours, looks old and faded. I was wondering if there was something I could do once and have it look like new for a long time? I thought about spray painting it but that probably wont look so great. Any ideas?

09-15-2008, 02:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
larrydiesbach No Skills Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Windshield Cowl I have had the same problem on customers cars where i put a tiny little scratch on it from just barely touching it, especially in AZ where the sun beats you down, like the other poster I took a scotch bright pad to it then spray painted it. You would think with all this technology somone could make some kind of plastic that does not fad so badly. Larry Diesbach 15 Year Certified NGA Technician FixMyWindshield.com member

10-05-2008, 02:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mister2.2 Cheese it! Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,561 Thanks: 121 Thanked 115 Times in 99 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Mothers Back to Black, multiple coats, rub well. Will look new. __________________ --Josh MR2Trader.com Free to Buy and Sell your MR2 Parts!

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09-15-2008, 09:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
PHOENIX Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Hiatus....... Posts: 9,266 Thanks: 92 Thanked 292 Times in 224 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (49/100% )	I spray painted mine, and it looks great. Just use the proper techniques and paint for it. Go to an autobody supplier and get some scotch paint pads (i think the red ones) that are for paint and not primer. Then at the same place pickup some trim paint (spray can, white bottle). Give the cowl a good cleaning and use the scotch pads to sand it. Clean it again and spray it. I gave mine 2 coats within 30 minutes of each other. Looked great in my opinion really revived it.

09-18-2008, 09:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
deucesquared Some Skills Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 50 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	just wondering but why do you need to sand the piece down before you spray paint it?

10-05-2008, 12:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
GR8MR2 MR2 owner since 1990 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 53 Thanks: 2 Thanked 22 Times in 12 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I cleaned up my cowl with Meguiar's Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner. After it was cleaned I sealed it with NXT 2.0 and it has held up quite well since. It was a lot of effort to get in all the fins but it came back to looking like new. The only area on my 91NA that is hard to deal with is the panel under the engine lid louvers.

01-10-2009, 03:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mark_Dorman So long MR2's... Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 4,666 Thanks: 97 Thanked 86 Times in 82 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (26/100% )	^Back to Black doesn't last that long though. Looks great if you're willing to reapply every other month...

05-01-2009, 08:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
tksmr2 . Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Redneck/Hickville PA Posts: 512 Thanks: 7 Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I painted mine with gatorback coating.. Most of the time was spent cleaning the piece. Looks great IMO..

05-01-2009, 09:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
tigerpee Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 549 Thanks: 6 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Mine was painted as well - looks great.

05-14-2009, 01:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
Jon3sgte Cage Fighter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 186 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I sprayed mine as well. I also was recommended and used adhesion promotor. it is supposed to help adhesion so the paint doesnt flake when the sun beats on it. mine looks great. it's just like anything else you paint, prep work is everything.

05-27-2009, 11:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
Boily No Skills Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada, Quebec Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	painted mine 2 weeks ago I love it, looks really clean!

06-04-2009, 08:42 PM	#12 (permalink)
westec builder Copious Skills Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Devore, Southern Calif. Posts: 50 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post My Google Map iTrader Rating: (6/100% )	I bought a new one! and keep it under a car cover, looks great!!!! ha Doug P.S. I'm tired of being my wife's arm candy!

11-05-2009, 05:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
tadamany MR2 Withdrawl Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 290 Thanks: 5 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	duecesqaured, you need to sand it first so the paint has something to grab on to and stick. the better job you do at sanding and preping the better the paint job will look. it sounds strange to sand it, but it does work very well.

11-14-2009, 05:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
Mark_Dorman So long MR2's... Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 4,666 Thanks: 97 Thanked 86 Times in 82 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (26/100% )	You can use emery cloth as well to scuff surfaces before painting. I'd also use an adhesion promoter as well

01-01-2010, 11:01 PM	#15 (permalink)
ShackC Shut up&enjoy the ride Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Northern Cali. Posts: 924 Thanks: 47 Thanked 12 Times in 12 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	i need a whole new cowl, dipstick i got the car from let the hood fly up and broke the cowl, bent the hood, but the back to black is easy. Dont use regular sand paper at all on the plastic unless its 320 or finer and wet sand if possible.