Door Jamb scratches?

[CEE DOG]

Hoping somebody can help me with this. I am getting these little scratches all along the bottom door jamb. The only culprit could be the weatherseal on the bottom of the door scraping the paint there. Has anybody else had this problem? What did you do? My only thought is sanding the wetherseal to make it smoother so that it doesn't do this or applying some kind of protective coat.

Any thoughts?
Feed back please

[Harleyguy]

Hoping somebody can help me with this. I am getting these little scratches all along the bottom door jamb. The only culprit could be the weatherseal on the bottom of the door scraping the paint there. Has anybody else had this problem? What did you do? My only thought is sanding the wetherseal to make it smoother so that it doesn't do this or applying some kind of protective coat.

Any thoughts?
Feed back pleaseThese scratches could be caused easily as getting in and out of the car and a sneaker or a shoe heel touching it.I would treat the scratches as any other paint clean it up seal it protect it.As for the rubber seal that goes around the door you could use some silcone spray on it to keep it soft just spray the silcone on a rag and wipe the seal down.

[Matt]

:Picture: Would be useful as I'm not sure what part you're talking about.

If it's the area I think you're talking about, aren't there any linings there?

Some cars have just plastic, some have metal with lights inside them etc etc. Does yours' not have anything?

[LincolnZephyr2006]

And those seals can pick up bits and pieces of dirt.... the friction of it rubbing each time you open and close leads to it scratching. Just keep the rubber clean by wiping it off everytime you dry your jambs.

[sportscarhiatus]

And those seals can pick up bits and pieces of dirt.... the friction of it rubbing each time you open and close leads to it scratching. Just keep the rubber clean by wiping it off everytime you dry your jambs.

:whs:

Drying off door jams after a car wash is the best way to keep the area clean. Wipe off the rubber as well, then silicone spray via rag keeps it lubed. Neighbors always think I'm crazy when I take over 1 hour washing my car and they see me drying jams. But hey, that's why other people's cars look like crap.

Follow up the drying with a sealant.

[tenorplayer23]

You need this product................for a Saturn Sky (good luck). Perhaps you can adapt some "clear bra" film from 3M??

Corvette Sill Protectors, Clear Without Letters, Sill Ease, 1997-2004 (http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?pf_id=34397&dept_id=1595)

See ya. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/images/smilies/hellobye.gif

[jlb85]

I would agree, keep clean to reduce scratches, use the clear-bra style stuff to prevent them.

But don't sand down the rubber! Use some 303 or silicone spray to keep it supple. Many times these seals are dirty, even after you may think they are cleaned. If you lay on your back under the door and look up, you can see these seals can be quite complex in form, and you have to use both hands to bend and get cleaning utensils all the way up there. Then, you have to rinse thoroughly! Even on my truck (simple seals) I have to put a good effort into it to get them properly clean.

Also, getting close to the floor you can look into the door as it closes and confirm the seal is rubbing. If it is not, then it is your clothes/shoes.

To get the scratches out, M105 by hand on a foam applicator pad + lots of elbow grease. M105 works surprisingly fast by hand. Follow up with M205 if you want, or just apply some Klasse AIO. During routine washes, a good mist with something like Meg's Ultimate Quick Wax works great, and keeps things clean and smooth.

[CEE DOG]

These scratches could be caused easily as getting in and out of the car and a sneaker or a shoe heel touching it.I would treat the scratches as any other paint clean it up seal it protect it.As for the rubber seal that goes around the door you could use some silcone spray on it to keep it soft just spray the silcone on a rag and wipe the seal down.

Thanks for all the tips so far guys. I can promise you it is not clothes or shoes. I am extremely carefull every time I get in the car. Can you point me to the silicone spray you use?


:Picture: Would be useful as I'm not sure what part you're talking about.

If it's the area I think you're talking about, aren't there any linings there?

Some cars have just plastic, some have metal with lights inside them etc etc. Does yours' not have anything?

I do have the plastic/s.s trim lining on the area but below that is the painted sill that is getting scratched. I will take a picture of the area



And those seals can pick up bits and pieces of dirt.... the friction of it rubbing each time you open and close leads to it scratching. Just keep the rubber clean by wiping it off everytime you dry your jambs.

I clean and wipe dry that area every time I wash. I keep it so clean really it's just water from the wash that gets cleaned up. I will take a closer look but I don't think it's dirt.

:whs:

Drying off door jams after a car wash is the best way to keep the area clean. Wipe off the rubber as well, then silicone spray via rag keeps it lubed. Neighbors always think I'm crazy when I take over 1 hour washing my car and they see me drying jams. But hey, that's why other people's cars look like crap.

Follow up the drying with a sealant.

I hear you....I take about 3 hours. Can't seem to help myself. I guess rinsing my mitt with the hose and the second bucket after every pass can be time consuming....


You need this product................for a Saturn Sky (good luck). Perhaps you can adapt some "clear bra" film from 3M??

Corvette Sill Protectors, Clear Without Letters, Sill Ease, 1997-2004 (http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?pf_id=34397&dept_id=1595)

See ya. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/images/smilies/hellobye.gif

Yes, that is where I will head if I can't get this straightened out. Too bad Saturn doesn't make these. 3M soon come


I would agree, keep clean to reduce scratches, use the clear-bra style stuff to prevent them.

But don't sand down the rubber! Use some 303 or silicone spray to keep it supple. Many times these seals are dirty, even after you may think they are cleaned. If you lay on your back under the door and look up, you can see these seals can be quite complex in form, and you have to use both hands to bend and get cleaning utensils all the way up there. Then, you have to rinse thoroughly! Even on my truck (simple seals) I have to put a good effort into it to get them properly clean.

Also, getting close to the floor you can look into the door as it closes and confirm the seal is rubbing. If it is not, then it is your clothes/shoes.

To get the scratches out, M105 by hand on a foam applicator pad + lots of elbow grease. M105 works surprisingly fast by hand. Follow up with M205 if you want, or just apply some Klasse AIO. During routine washes, a good mist with something like Meg's Ultimate Quick Wax works great, and keeps things clean and smooth.

The seal gets 303 protectant but only about every 3-6 months since it is not really exposed to sun. I will get down there underneath and give it a really good scrubbing just to be sure it isn't dirty.

Thanks again for all the tips guys! I'll send some pics tonight for more info

[CEE DOG]

See attached photos. difficult to see the scratches in the lighting but you can make it out beneath the saturn name plate on the red paint to the right and left of the bright flash. wherever you see the little "flashes".

[Harleyguy]

See attached photos. difficult to see the scratches in the lighting but you can make it out beneath the saturn name plate on the red paint to the right and left of the bright flash. wherever you see the little "flashes".Still hard to tell from those pics.As far as the silicone spray any auto parts store carrys it.Just try and keep the spray.It won't do any damage but silicone and paint work as in respraying don't mix.Just spray a rag and wipe it onto the seal lets what we do at work.

[Matt]

I can sort of see them in the last picture.

Does your camera have a "macro" mode, it should do. Using this while shooting up close will allow you to get clear pictures from a short distance.

The only possibilities could be the ones already suggested. Are the rubber seals themselves quite rough? Maybe they have something sharp sticking out of them.

Can you ever feel dirt on the doorjams or seals when you feel them? The times that you can will probably be the times that it's getting scratched.

Also, keeping a nice coat or two of wax on those painted areas might help to reduce the chance of scratching (as Carnauba is said to have "scuff resistance", although how much it will prevent scuffs, I'm not sure), but will also help in not letting dirt sit around there so much. I use Collinite Insulator wax (#845) for the door jams).