Help with 2002 PT Cruiser pillars

[alban61]

Hi guys,
Need help with my bud's 2002 PT Cruiser door pillars. As you can see from the pics, they're in bad shape. During the cold season, he takes it to the brushless car wash. They've deteriorated over time.
The pillars are smooth hard plastic, almost glass-like. It's still smooth to the touch. Told me he has used cleaners, and even polish compound (by hand) to remove it. Nothing has really made a dent in it. It almost looks like water spots, and also looks a little oily, but it's dry and smooth to the touch.
He told me that these are a problem with the older Cruisers. Most in his PT Forum have given up and resorted to aftermarket pillars. Any chance of saving these?
Thanks.

Al B-)
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k88/alban61/PT1.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k88/alban61/PT4.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k88/alban61/PT2.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k88/alban61/PT5.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k88/alban61/PT6.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k88/alban61/PT3.jpg

[ltoman]

aren't they paint of some sort? same thing on our old van, and there is no repairing them.

[BanditSRT]

I had the same thing happening on my old SRT-4. I used some Mother's cleaner wax on mine. They looked great after that BUT they weren't anywhere near that bad.

[bambo2888]

im not sure if this will work for you, but my acuras door pillars were the same. i was able to use an orange pad with xmt2 to shine them right up, but the actual peels were still visible.

[ScottB]

If they are a gloss plastic, they are likely a lexan material. Try a plastic polish, or consider an outside AG purchase of Novus polishes. The Wolfgang headlamp cleaner kit might work also.

[ltoman]

im not sure if this will work for you, but my acuras door pillars were the same. i was able to use an orange pad with xmt2 to shine them right up, but the actual peels were still visible.
yah, it is if the paint has peeled already. yours looks like maybe not. mine has for sure. it is a loss - but not for that car - imho.

[Surfer]

I polished the pillars on my suv (you have an Explorer right, look at the Pillars), I used OP and 4" Edge orange cutting pad and got the swirls out and brought a nice black shine.

[alban61]

It's not peeling paint. It's basically stained.

It's more of a gloss plastic, like Scott said. I'll tell him of your plastic polish suggestion.

My pillars on the Explorer are black metal. It had a scratch in it that had a little rust. Hmm, thanks Surfer. Might try XMT 1 with polishing pad to bring the shine back to the Explorer pillars.

Thank you all for your suggestions/recommendations. I'm still open to more ideas.

[Surfer]

It's not peeling paint. It's basically stained.

It's more of a gloss plastic, like Scott said. I'll tell him of your plastic polish suggestion.

My pillars on the Explorer are black metal. It had a scratch in it that had a little rust. Hmm, thanks Surfer. Might try XMT 1 with polishing pad to bring the shine back to the Explorer pillars.

Thank you all for your suggestions/recommendations. I'm still open to more ideas.I'm almost postive that on Explorers/Mountaineers the pillars are metal witha clear or gloss coating of some kind. You can tell just looking at it, but yeh I polished mine and came out great, they were swirled up like paint and definitley had to have a clear coat on them b/c my pad didn't turn black or anything.

[Meghan]

I am with surfer, a swirl remover or an all in one with a polishing or light cutting pad, just to see if it helps. Cannot be any worse than what you got now, might as well give it a try.

[Surfer]

I am with surferI know you are, cuddle closerIm the MAN

[alban61]

^^
LOL.
I hope you guys know that the pictures and problems are with my friend's PT Cruiser and not my Explorer. His PT's pillars are hard, glossy plastic (lexan?)

[Surfer]

^^
LOL.
I hope you guys know that the pictures and problems are with my friend's PT Cruiser and not my Explorer. His PT's pillars are hard, glossy plastic (lexan?)Try AIO and cutting pad, chemical cleaners are pretty strong in AIO.

[koibybrian]

If all else fails. Might try a few parts places. This place might have it.

PartsTrain.com - Hard to Find Auto Parts and Truck Parts (http://www.partstrain.com/)

[sparkie]

AIO or DG#101 will work!
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/2754-detailed-00-expy-dg.html

Before #101
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m139/sparkymm6/00Expy007.jpg
After #101
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m139/sparkymm6/00Expy009.jpg