My C8 was at the dealer (against my better judgement) for the 7500 mile service. I actually have a filter and was going to do it myself but figured it was free and they sell more corvettes than anyone in central Indiana, so maybe I was being too cautious. Picked it up today. They did a warranty test for leaking water and left hard water on the car and then parked it outside in 80 degree cloudless weather. I had a professional ceramic coating applied and despite my efforts, even with vinegar, i cannot get the spots out. I requested they pay for a professional fix but they want to try to fix it themselves - suggestions?

 

Why did they need it for more than a few hours? I had the 7500 mile service done via appointment at a local dealer. They had it back to me later that day.

Did you ask for the leak test (or report a leak)? If not, I'd push for them to compensate you for the pro to fix it. Otherwise, seems like you've got 2 choices. Take the risk that they actually know what to do (unlikely), or you pay for "a professional" to fix it for you.

 

I dropped it off at 8am Tuesday morning expecting a call around noon. Finally I texted at 1pm and they said there is open warranty issues they need to perform and won't be done until tomorrow. I had arranged my work schedule to accommodate dropping off and picking up same day, so now changing schedules again. Then today at 11am they say almost done - I inquire at 1pm, almost ready, then at 3:30 get a call. Pick it up and see that it was baking in the sun.

This is Hare Chevrolet in Noblesville, Indiana. I am done with them

 

Just my opinion but I would not let them try to fix it themselves….depending on how wide spread the area is the shop you had the ceramic coating done at may fix it as a curtesy….I have done that in the past…if not I bet they wont change a lot...

 

to think I could have had it up on my quickjacks and done the oil and transmission filter change on a saturday afternoon is sickening. I do all my own maintenance on my vehicles and this was the one time i went to the dealership

 

NO! Don't let them do even more. Take it back to wherever you got the coating applied. All the best.

 

No way I would allow them to do the detailing. Press to have them pay for the shop that did the ceramic coating do the work.

 

I'm confused. Did you do the ceramic after you discovered the water spots in an effort to remove them, or did the spots develop on top of previously installed ceramic? If the latter, I thought ceramic coating was supposed to prevent water spotting.

All situations are different but I had a similar situation a few years back on my 4Runner. Unfortunately the ultimate solution was to abrasive polish through enough of the clear coat to get past the spots. I truly hated doing that but there was no alternative.

I’d if the dealer let it happen to start with I wouldn’t trust them to fix it.

 

I don't know what hard water creating water spots on your paint says about the quality of the ceramic coating, but it isn't good. With my ceramic coating all water droplets just disappear like they were never there.

 

I have a Great small Chevy Dealer with a Trained C8 super Tech. They do a great job and just waited for my E-Ray when theychanged myDCT Filter and Engine oil year 2 with 7500 miles. They only charged a flat $350 for Cortesey Delivery og my 2017 Grand Sport, 2020 C8 Z51 and E-Ray.

For all 3 asked that they Did not wash at the PDI. Super Service Manager said his wife asked the same when she picked up her C7! I never have them do a Complementary wash when I have serviced, Retired and they are ~30 miles from my home so I always make an appointment and wait. Recall year 1 for the engine oil change they had to replace the seat belt retractors on warranty. They were fine but required by GM. Took all morning but I waited and watched. Had to remove a lot of "stuff: to replace the retractors.

 

Regarding the ceramic coating - it was installed right after I bought the car. BTW, I ordered this and was at the dealer when it came off the delivery truck, so the ceramic coating was applied within days. Why is the hard water a problem? While the ceramic is incredibly tough, it is still subject to the laws of chemistry and physics, especially when heat is involved. Hard water contains dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. When the water evaporates in the sun, it leaves those minerals behind. On a microscopic level, they bond to the surface like tiny pieces of concrete. The hot sun causes the car’s paint and the ceramic coating to expand. As the surface expands, it becomes more "porous" and pliable. So the heat "bakes" those minerals into the coating while it is in this expanded state. As the car cools and the surface shrinks back down, it traps the minerals or, worse, allows the alkaline minerals to chemically etch the surface of the coating. Even though the coating protected the actual paint from immediate damage, the minerals are now physically embedded in the ceramic layer itself. Since they aren't just sitting on top, a simple wash can't "unstick" them. The sun turned the water into an acid-and-mineral concentrate and used the car’s own heat to "weld" it to the finish.

 

copying my other reply re: ceramic as there are probably misconceptions about what it actually is

Regarding the ceramic coating - it was installed right after I bought the car. BTW, I ordered this and was at the dealer when it came off the delivery truck, so the ceramic coating was applied within days. Why is the hard water a problem? While the ceramic is incredibly tough, it is still subject to the laws of chemistry and physics, especially when heat is involved. Hard water contains dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. When the water evaporates in the sun, it leaves those minerals behind. On a microscopic level, they bond to the surface like tiny pieces of concrete. The hot sun causes the car’s paint and the ceramic coating to expand. As the surface expands, it becomes more "porous" and pliable. So the heat "bakes" those minerals into the coating while it is in this expanded state. As the car cools and the surface shrinks back down, it traps the minerals or, worse, allows the alkaline minerals to chemically etch the surface of the coating. Even though the coating protected the actual paint from immediate damage, the minerals are now physically embedded in the ceramic layer itself. Since they aren't just sitting on top, a simple wash can't "unstick" them. The sun turned the water into an acid-and-mineral concentrate and used the car’s own heat to "weld" it to the finish.

 

You are correct…if “hard” water is allowed to puddle up and dry on paint/PPF that has been ceramic coated then it can leave water spots…it is not Fairy Dust

https://www.ceramiccoatexpert.com/po...eramic-coating

https://detailtheworld.com/blogs/new...eramic-coating