(Stands up) hi everyone, I'm biscotti and I'm a fiat barchetta addict.its only been 5hours since my last fix and I'm getting withdrawal symptons.

As you may know,I've had some trouble for the last 3 months with having to buy 4 engines and in the end having the last one fixed.anyway I have a few simple cleaning questions if anyone can help with them.I don't have a list of mods that I have planned(yet) .

What safe product can I use to get car sales sticker adhesive off the inside of the rear screen?I have autoglym vinyl and rubber cleaner.
Is autosol OK to clean and polish stainless steel exhaust?
Any advice on engine cleaner sprays or gel to use?
I'm going to remove the floor lining to inspect the floor and any moisture,is there anything I would be advised to apply to the interior floor before replacing the lining?
Also,is the factory paint water based(its a 96 Rosso speed 168)and what paint renovator if any should I use?

Thank you




I will post some photo's of my car soon,I'm taking it tomorrow to see if the few little patches of flakey lacquer can be touched up or not

since picking up my car from the garage,after driving a few miles the injector malfunction light comes on and stays on.once i turn the ignition off and back on again the light goes off until i drive a few miles again then comes on?

this morning it was very cold here,i drove my car out of the garage and it cut out,the same light came on and stayed on,the car kept cutting out so i just reversed it back in to the garage where it still keeps cutting out.anyone with any ideas where to start looking for faults?im taking it back to the garage early next week for them to look at it.

Your luck is almost as good as mine! Hope it's an easy fix

connect the ecu to a computer and read out the fault that is causing it.

What safe product can I use to get car sales sticker adhesive off the inside of the rear screen?I have autoglym vinyl and rubber cleaner.
Is autosol OK to clean and polish stainless steel exhaust?
Any advice on engine cleaner sprays or gel to use?
I'm going to remove the floor lining to inspect the floor and any moisture,is there anything I would be advised to apply to the interior floor before replacing the lining?
Also,is the factory paint water based(its a 96 Rosso speed 168)and what paint renovator if any should I use?

Thank you

Hiya and welcome to the forum,
OK firstly

The rear plastic glass can be cleaned with either of these two great products.
http://www.hindsightuk.com/

http://www.renovointernational.com/products/plastic-polish.php


Autosol should be fine for the exhaust but if your not getting good results step up to these.

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/meguiars-nxt-generation-all-metal-polysh.php?cPath=24

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/advan...Csid=c3130ee4a39f6c089ffe022b78075f86&x=2&y=8

For the engine bay, I use Meguiars All Purpose Cleaner (APC) or Surfex which is water based, both great products to have. Meguiars APC can be used for many other jobs and great for the interior too.

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/advan...Csid=c3130ee4a39f6c089ffe022b78075f86&x=0&y=0

Engine plastics can be protected with 303 Aerospace
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/advan...Csid=c3130ee4a39f6c089ffe022b78075f86&x=0&y=0

And lastly the flakey lacquer you mention is the final clear coat from a water based paint system. It will need to be repainted.

I work as an Auto Detailer so any questions regarding cleaning / polishing and protecting cars just fire away..

Hope this gets you sorted..

Thanks kc3 that's a great list,I notice you put a plastic protector for the engine,can you tell me is that for keeping the degreaser off the plastics and rubber(does the degreaser harm any other parts) or to be used after the degreaser just for keeping the plastics looking good?thanks for your answers,

Yes! the protector is to be used once everything is cleaned and de-greased.
It will keep the plastics looking clean and new and lasts a long time.

It can be used for the interior plastics and dash too as it has great UV protection although don't over apply it as it can become a little shinny if over applied.

Another product I like to use for the B interior plastics and rubbers is the meguiars(40) vinyl and rubber care. This leaves a more natural less shiny finish.
If you need to bring back to life, dull and grayed plastics there is a product from Gtechniq called C4 which is a permanent trim restorer, but is a nano technology surface coating and requires some care in using the product.

What would you advise for polishing a headlight?

biscotti said:

What would you advise for polishing a headlight?

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... Elbow grease... lots of it :wave: ... then some more!

If there really oxidised, then ildeally you need to get a machine polisher on them after first having wetsand them with 2000/3000grit paper.
This will make them new again.

Although there are DIY kits from 3M that has all the bits required, a small type pad and adaptor to a common household drill, compound polish and wet papers.

If there just slightly dawl/ off colour then a good rub with a just a compound polish or even maguiars plastic polish should clean them them up.

Thanks for the advice,just had my car towed to the garage as it wouldn't start properly.the guys picking it up said it smelled like it is running rich,will know more in the morning when they get the diagnostics on it.

The garage just phoned to say my car is ticking over when they warmed it up,but the injector light is flashing.they plugged their computer in but says the car cannot communicate with it.they have asked me if I can get a wiring diagram for the engine manegment system.any ideas what the flashing light is trying to say?

If yours is an early B. 95-99 try replacing the fuel filter which is under the car just before the right rear wheel, alternately it could light up because of the O2 senser.

Thanks kc3,I give the garage the manual they wanted today,I will ring them tomorrow.

As for polishing a cloudy headlight I will try one of the kits from meguiars or machine mart here in the uk,they both use a drill.the one from machine mart has a UV sealant with it,I will check the other one also.thanks again

Garage just phoned me and said the fault with my car is the crankshaft sensor,I should have it back tomorrow.

Fingers crossed!

The latest on my car is that the exhaust camshaft has a high point which has been rubbing and worn the sensor on the inside of the pulley,so I may be after a camshaft if the mechanic can't source one for me

Great,got my car back today just wish it would stop raining now,never mind I'll be busy later watching wales win a rugby match.the garage didn't charge me for the new sensor and work they carried out as they felt that I have spent enough already.they have my reccomendation anytime.I will post some photos asap.also is there anyone here attending the biamf show in April?

No gloating re rugby...

Crachat said:

No gloating re rugby...

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Wales yesterday and Alonso second today