Hi folks. I’ve had my MX5 just a few weeks now and can’t stop smiling. I drive most of the time with the top down and find that pushing the top down to close it leaves a sort of whitish mark on the hood where my hand has been. Anybody figured out how to prevent this. Wearing gloves etc seems a bit ott.
Dry vacuum
I think the marks are dead skin, as ‘the man that knows’ said just vac them off when you next clean the car.
Thanks for the responses, I have cleaned the car a couple of times and each time washed the hood with a soft brush attached to a hose (no detergent), it gets rid of the mark but next day it just comes back, guess it’s something I’ll just have to put up with. I know I have to learn about looking after the hood properly, the dealer had it as a demo car for six months so I don’t think the hood was looked after properly. There seems to be plenty of advice on the forum.
The secret is not to push the hood closed. Close it from the inside pulling the hood closed. Make sure the windows are slightly open and it should close properly without the need to push it closed from standing outside the car. Took me about a month to realise the hood closed more easily with the windows down.
Thanks Taxi Driver but this is happening when I open the soft top, not when closing it.
Just realised I did say closing it in my opening post, sorry people
Don’t worry! Saw what you wrote, but knew what you meant!
I do the same, but don’t have problems with hand marks!
I’ve been thinking about this
I never get hand marks like you do
Is there any Fabric protection applied
If not., I use Fabsil…far better than Renovo …IMO (Formula has changed and its nor as good or a seasy to use)
Brush it on after a good vaccing and it should prevent hand marks
I have had the same problem with my last 3 MX5’s. When opening the hood I now press the hood down into the latch with a microfibre cloth in my hand. I always assumed the white marks were caused by the natural oil in the skin.
I have always used this product around every 8 weeks to clean my hood, it works very well.
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/genuine-mazda-mohair-hood-cleaner-400ml-p-1793.html
Thanks a lot for the replies. I don’t think the hood has ever been treated so I’ll give give it a good clean and then try the Fabsil, I thought of using a cloth to close the hood but it seems a bit of a faff. Will try cleaning the first good day we get which in Scotland could be next year sometime.. Will post result when I finish.
I wrote this fairly recently:
How to clean and seal a Mohair Hood
(ChrisRS Valeting & Detailing)
A nice sunny day and not too cold is essential to aid drying
Equipment:
Large car soft bristle wash brush
Nail brush
Wet & Dry Vac … set to wet
Dry vac
Bucket
1" Detailing Brush or 2" NEW Paintbrush
Container for the Sealant
MF cloth
Fabric/Convertible roof sealant…Renovo/Fabsil/ Similar products
Method
In the bucket, mix a mixture, using around 100ml of each of the following:
Johnsons Baby Bath or similar
Milton Sterilising from fluid, to kill Algae spores
Bilt Hamber Surfex APC or similar
Warm water to 3" in the bucket
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Wash the roof in sections with the soft brush and then lightly with the nail brush to remove ingrained dirt. Do not apply any pressure
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Suck out the moisture with the Wet Vac
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Allow to dry for an hour in the sun
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Dry vac the roof and leave a little longer
When satisfied that the roof is dry…It doesn’t take long…That’s the nature of Mohair,
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Pour the sealant into container and apply section by section with a 1" Detailing brush
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Each section should be lightly wiped with the MF cloth after each section
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Wipe any Sealant off the glass immediately, or mask and cover the windows, prior to starting
Your Hood should now look brand new again!!