Bought a used FR-S but...

[soulreapersteve]

^ What those guys said.

I'm not fitting to answer your question since Seattle rarely gets snow.

(We are in a convergence zone, blocked by a mountain range so surrounding areas get the fun while we only get rain..)

[Packofcrows]

Originally Posted by 02.ACCORD.DUDE

Bummer...

Next question, any tips on keeping car "clean" through NJ winter (other than don't drive it )?

(Really just looking to keep salt to a minimum - I was thinking I'd just wipe the car down with a moist towel / shammy every week since a full wash doesn't seem possible in the garage and I'd be scared of anything freezing)

Wax monthly with carnauba wax. 24hr later use spray on wax/detailer.

Instead of washing in winter weekly, use spray wax to wipe down dirt and debris if possible.

Concerning interior.... car seat covers that slide moisture/dirt. PVC/Leather if possible. All weather mats+custom plastic mats all over car but not driver (safety first!). Vacuum every 3 days (I do!) and finally, wipe down interior with favorite "wet" (like armor all) wipes.

Oh, if you live near coast, dont forget to hose down bottom of car if possible to help remove salt.

I know it's overkill (above) but that's something i'd do. I do 3/4 of that but my issue is dust.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

A touchless one! Many offer a card or pass that gives you several washes. I did mine once a week last year and have very little rust underneath (bolts and fittings that will rust anyway). Many guys will yell and scream it is no good (mostly from places that have never seen snow much less a salted road) for the car but it is way better then the salt and you can just strip off the spray wax in the spring.

Originally Posted by Packofcrows

Wax monthly with carnauba wax. 24hr later use spray on wax/detailer.

Instead of washing in winter weekly, use spray wax to wipe down dirt and debris if possible.

Concerning interior.... car seat covers that slide moisture/dirt. PVC/Leather if possible. All weather mats+custom plastic mats all over car but not driver (safety first!). Vacuum every 3 days (I do!) and finally, wipe down interior with favorite "wet" (like armor all) wipes.

Oh, if you live near coast, dont forget to hose down bottom of car if possible to help remove salt.

I know it's overkill (above) but that's something i'd do. I do 3/4 of that but my issue is dust.

I called it!


Pack, when there is salt involved we mean there is SALT involved. You would probably be sanding your paint off with just trying to do a wipe down. A weekly wash is important up here.


45 minutes after a wash:

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by new2subaru

lol There goes $10.

The last two winters have been so cold I bet I didn't wash the car twice all winter...

This car won't see salt for a while.

I had the cleanest dirty car around! I got a pass for unlimited washes for about $75 so didn't care if it got dirty right away. The place has a really good blowdry so even on the coldest days I had no real freeze up issues.

[Packofcrows]

Lol id just buy a teleporting machine then or a winter beater.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Packofcrows

Lol id just buy a teleporting machine then or a winter beater.

You get used to it.

[02.ACCORD.DUDE]

I was under the impression must washes closed for the winter... But I'll check with some local ones, that'd make my life easier...

[02.ACCORD.DUDE]

Originally Posted by Packofcrows

Wax monthly with carnauba wax. 24hr later use spray on wax/detailer.

Instead of washing in winter weekly, use spray wax to wipe down dirt and debris if possible.

Concerning interior.... car seat covers that slide moisture/dirt. PVC/Leather if possible. All weather mats+custom plastic mats all over car but not driver (safety first!). Vacuum every 3 days (I do!) and finally, wipe down interior with favorite "wet" (like armor all) wipes.

Oh, if you live near coast, dont forget to hose down bottom of car if possible to help remove salt.

I know it's overkill (above) but that's something i'd do. I do 3/4 of that but my issue is dust.

Do you have any cover / product recommendations (spray wax)?

I have some turtle wax lying around will that suffice? I don't think I ever waxed my old car because if the condition it was in when I received it

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I called it!


Pack, when there is salt involved we mean there is SALT involved. You would probably be sanding your paint off with just trying to do a wipe down. A weekly wash is important up here.


45 minutes after a wash:

I don't touch my car with anything all winter long. Just get a wash every time I get gas and that's that.

[xuimod]

Originally Posted by 02.ACCORD.DUDE

edit: In regards to the header... If I get the dealer to swap the header back to the stock header, what other steps will they have to perform in order to eliminate the CEL / what other parts should I look to have replaced?

You can install a bluetooth OBD adapter and then use a smartphone app to clear the CEL code. The CEL code is probably an O2 sensor related one. If the CEL code comes on often you can always install an O2 sensor spacer. They are easy to install and cost like $10. The O2 sensor CEL might still come on with the O2 sensor spacer installed but it will come on a lot less frequently.

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by xuimod

You can install a bluetooth OBD adapter and then use a smartphone app to clear the CEL code. The CEL code is probably an O2 sensor related one. If the CEL code comes on often you can always install an O2 sensor spacer. They are easy to install and cost like $10. The O2 sensor CEL might still come on with the O2 sensor spacer installed but it will come on a lot less frequently.

@02.ACCORD.DUDE
The obd adapter doesn't work during an inspection because it will simply come back on during a diagnostic emissions test at varying RPm, the best way is a tune its better for the engine in the long run as well as more power to be made in the future, the spacer trick is unreliable sometimes and you don't harness the power of the UEL or EL headers effectively

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by 02.ACCORD.DUDE

Will snap a clean picture tomorrow - but after comparing the lights I think like you and others have mentioned they are the stock lamps.

Here are some pics of how the lights look at night, looks like all the lights are coming on when I switch to regulars - am I looking at some kind of wiring F-UP here?

edit: In regards to the header... If I get the dealer to swap the header back to the stock header, what other steps will they have to perform in order to eliminate the CEL / what other parts should I look to have replaced?

The obd adapter doesn't work during an inspection because it will simply come back on during a diagnostic emissions test at varying RPm, the best way is a tune its better for the engine in the long run as well as more power to be made in the future, the spacer trick is unreliable sometimes and you don't harness the power of the UEL or EL headers effectively

[Packofcrows]

Originally Posted by 02.ACCORD.DUDE

Do you have any cover / product recommendations (spray wax)?

I have some turtle wax lying around will that suffice? I don't think I ever waxed my old car because if the condition it was in when I received it

Personally here is my recommendation for products (I live in sunny, hot and dusty Central CA):

I. Wipe car down for dust if it looks clean, then dump micro towel
II. Wash with, I believe, Dawn liquid dish soap. (removes soft grime and wax)
III. Dry up car thoroughly
IV. Apply Gold Class Carnauba Plus Paste Wax (I leave in sun with container closed for 20-40min before use so it's easier to apply if really hard to use)
V. Wipe down car when foggy white, ever so lightly.
VI. Leave for almost 24hrs so wax settles in.
VII. Apply TURTLE WAX QUICK & EASY WAX & DRY SPRAY WAX generously as well. I also do under car on plastics and under/inside wheels so mud can just be sprayed off later.
VIII. The next day or a few days after, after driving it a tad I wash with Meguiar's G17748 Ultimate Wash and Wax

Might be overkill, but I havent had issues with removing bugs and debris in a long time.

This is my bi-monthly routine.

If it sprinkles, once I know it won't rain anymore, I'll use just a quik detailer or turtle spray wax on car and wipe down. Makes car look like it was just washed. Quick 8min wipe.

Again might be overkill, but thats the process i've developed.

Interior-wise....well thats ocd of me, but I vacuum every 3 days! haha

[soulreapersteve]

Originally Posted by Packofcrows

Interior-wise....well thats ocd of me, but I vacuum every 3 days! haha

Man, I wish I lived close to you. I'll pay you good money to vacuum mine.