[jyl]

I’m cleaning up a 2000 Volvo XC70 that was parked under a redwood tree and sat there through PNW winters for ten years.

On the positive side: “free car” with 117K miles for my son, whose old Jeep XJ has some disadvantages, and my elderly friend is happy that her late husband’s car is going to a young man she adores.

On the negative side: sitting for so long, things deteriorated and I’ve spent more than the car is worth to get it running again.

Anyway, the car is now running well, almost everything works and the things that don’t are trivial and should be easy fixes (rear hatch shows “open” warning light when it isn’t, etc). The interior including leather seats is in good condition and is cleaning up nicely. It no longer smells musty.

On the exterior, the paint survived well BUT there is one big issue. *On the horizontal surfaces (hood, roof) ten years of tree debris and water have left a sort of lacy residue that isn’t coming off.* I don’t think it is etching of the paint, you can see and feel the stuff as a raised rough layer. It’s not blobs of sap.

I’ve tried soap, brushes, 409, Goo Gone, clay bar, orbital buffer with cutting compound, no effect.

I think my next step is to try a sanding block with 600-2000 wet-dry sandpaper.

Does that make sense? Would you try something else first? Some magic chemical?