General VX Questions

[RickOKC]

Apologies in advance – I know my search skills suck so I most likely didn’t use the right combination of words to find my answers:

A) My VX will start without depressing the brake pedal - is this normal. (Maybe I'm just mis-remembering how automatics work since I've only driven 5-speeds for so long.)

B) The hood insert – what is the correct, original texture for the paint? Is it a shiny gloss, semi-gloss or a flat that you can feel?

C) The horny-toad portion of the headlights – do they have a purpose other than looking like 400 lbs of badass-awesome-mega-cool?

[Ldub]

B = smooth semi gloss/satin

C = they also house the running lights

[RickOKC]

B = smooth semi gloss/satin

C = they also house the running lights

B = THANKS! My insert is in great shape but it's somewhat faded and uneven in color so I'm thinking about painting. It looks a lot better even with something temporary like Armour-All, but I'd like it to look "right" and be more permanent. (Hey, were is the Black vs. Not-Exactly-Black Color Argument thread? I keep coming across lighthearted references to it, but never found the actual topic! LOL!)

C = So what do running lights in that location do for us? (Besides look killer.) Sorry, I just don't understand what function they perform.

[VX KAT]

A = mine's always started w/o brake depressed...think Isuzu must have decided not to implement that. It's basis, (I believe) originates from the whole Audi 100 / unintended acceleration debacle of the 80s.

B = I applied 1 coat of Refinish/Restore to mine - makes it look like it's waxed, with a somewhat satin type finish, I like it that way.

C = horn lights allow Suzie to put uber kool neon purple/UV lights there! ...other than that, I dunno

[lasturbo]

B) Here is one of the famous threads for hood insert and colors:
http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=16846

[PK]

A) You can start without your foot on the brake if your trannie is in Park.

To shift out of Park, you have to have your foot on the brake.

PK

[RickOKC]

A = mine's always started w/o brake depressed...think Isuzu must have decided not to implement that. It's basis, (I believe) originates from the whole Audi 100 / unintended acceleration debacle of the 80s.

B = I applied 1 coat of Refinish/Restore to mine - makes it look like it's waxed, with a somewhat satin type finish, I like it that way.

C = horn lights allow Suzie to put uber kool neon purple/UV lights there! ...other than that, I dunno

A = THANKS! I suspected that starting without applying brakes was probably normal, but wanted to know for sure. Now I feel better knowing that somebody didn't screw around with "who-knows-what"! Funny how we get used to "how things work" so quickly.

B = I have GOT to buy the finish restorer you have written about. If I recall correctly, your cladding when from fairly light to quite dark and that is what I want. I'm glad to hear you're still recommending it after reading your early impressions. Still like it? Did it even out a more after additional applications? I need to look up your recommended 303 Protectant, too and see what that's about, too.

C = I saw that post, too! Purple looks awesome, but here in Mayberry I'd probably get impounded for having non-standard colors.

[RickOKC]

B) Here is one of the famous threads for hood insert and colors:
http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=16846

LOL, thanks! The instant that poll popped up I was LMAO!

[RickOKC]

A) You can start without your foot on the brake if your trannie is in Park.

To shift out of Park, you have to have your foot on the brake.

PK

Much appreciated! Everything is working just like that so I feel better now.

[Ldub]

C) The horny-toad portion of the headlights – do they have a purpose other than looking like 400 lbs of badass-awesome-mega-cool?

When you go supersonic, the little vapor cones that form behind them look cule...

[PK]

When you go supersonic, the little vapor cones that form behind them look cule...

Wow - that was close.

Dub nearly used that awful "cute" word.

PK

[VX KAT]

B = I have GOT to buy the finish restorer you have written about. If I recall correctly, your cladding when from fairly light to quite dark and that is what I want. I'm glad to hear you're still recommending it after reading your early impressions. Still like it? Did it even out a more after additional applications? I need to look up your recommended 303 Protectant, too and see what that's about, too.

My cladding seems to be a bit on the lighter/gray side no matter what I did to it....I'm convinced there are some different hues of cladding that came out of the factory.....The R/R only slightly darkened my cladding. Rowhard had a pic of his bumper 1/2 done with R/R and it definitely darkened it.

My 1st coat of R/R was nice and low satin finish. When I applied the 2nd full coat (like 9 months later), it resulted in a higher shine finish, not a gloss finish, but definitely shinier...I didn't care for it but am stuck....luckily the sheen has "toned" down a bit since application in April.

Most importantly, if you're going to wheel it and EVER brush up against anything like bushes, I would NOT recommend R/R.....it chips off just like a ladies clear nail polish coating wherever it's struck by bushes.
I "think" the front bumper is ALSO chipping off due to road debris/abrasions from high speed/highway driving.....so I'm really disappointed with that aspect. I haven't yet attempted reapplying it to the front, but I think it'll blend very well. I'll post a pic of my front bumper to show how it's chipping/peeling off.
My single coating on the hood insert is holding up just fine, looks great.

303 protectant...I worship that stuff!! Get some!

[Ldub]

Wow - that was close.

Dub nearly used that awful "cute" word.

PK

Oy mate...missed er by only one...

[tom4bren]

Rick,

If I understand it correctly, Isuzu included the hood insert to cut down on glare. The intent was for it to be a matte or satin finish so that it eliminates reflections/sun-glint.

I had mine LineX'd about 2 years ago and I really like the result. The finish has a shine to it but the texture yields the same results on cutting down on glare.

Here's a pic of it right after it was done (still looks the same tho 2 years later).

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/sh...64/ppuser/2699

Tom

[Luna X]

If you decide to paint the insert...

Make sure you wipe it down thoroughly with lacquer thinner. AmourAll is one of the biggest enemies against new paint... it contains silicone, which will cause "fish eyes". (looks as if the paint is scared, and won't adhere to that particular spot)

Due to the sun/fading, I suggest painting with a basecoat/clearcoat combination. Clear contains UV protection, so it won't fade in a year or less.
To get that satin look, you can add a flattening agent into the clearcoat. A little of that, more or less, will give you different levels of sheen...