how do i clean the engine and bay without damaging anything?

Yes the sca degreaser is probably not the strongest, but anything that doesn't dissolve with the first spray, or any really dirty areas I rub with the brush and they disappear with a second blast of the hose.

And I always wash degreaser off. Leaves a much cleaner surface.

 

You can get the 303 at Supercrap & Repco if the fkwits at Autobarn make you want to punch them. I bet Bursons sell it too.

 

Yes, I use a low pressure garden hose.

 

It would be a P clip. They are a P shaped clip that hold trans lines and fuel lines on. Sometimes wiring harnesses. They have a rubber lining on them. If that’s what they are talking about I’d tell them to get Fkd. *Like when one shop tried to tell me I needed a new clamp after I’d just bought that clamp a day before and fitted it myself (correctly).

Disconnect the negative terminal on the battery OP.

 

Some of my fav detailing people doing engine bays.

Forensic Detailing


Go to 21mns for one of the detailing world’s guru’s take on engine bay cleaning. Ammo Detailing


Pan The Organiser


Sandro from Car Craft Detailing in Melbourne. Great guy.

 

https://www.carcareproducts.com.au/303.html

 

I don't know why you would cover the alternator? Oil and dirt makes it way into them over time the absolute worst thing for one is oil. I've seen oil kill a lot of alternators I've washed hundreads and never had one fail I've likely increased their life span because they were covered in oil.

 

I cover mine now ever since the one in my VP shorted out and caught fire. Also why I now disconnect the battery. Prior to that, never covered alternator in decades.

 

Water it's self has too high of resistance to let 12v pass through at any decent current at distances over cm or two. That sounds odd.

 

Yep, but it happened and that experience changed how I do the job.

 

Yea when I was an apprentice my mate had power steering fluid leaking on his alternator in his VX SS and it died I said it should be fine I was wrong. I think the oil eats the enamel or it attracts dirt that rubs through the enamel???
Maybe with you VP the water and soap picked up a whole heap of brush dust and created a high current draw???

 

Hope it starts OK for you.

 

Need to be careful of TPS. Although I can not confirm 100%, I suspect that is why I have had 3 or 4 them fail in under 12 months, each time. It seems they fail a couple of months after a clean. I have now resorted to wrapping the TPS. On early V6 they say watch the DFI and coils but mine get wet and they haven't played up yet. I don't deliberately blast them though, just in case.

 

I'd say it has a similar affect that it does on a starter motor. On s starter it arcs out the brushes and sometimes takes out the solenoid at the same time. Some cars a notorious for failing starters and it's all because of a leaking oil filter adapter oring. I've pulled a few apart and found them caked.

 

Those cheap lil steam cleaners with small nozzles with a paint brush are good, quick and easy to remove sprayed on degreaser, easy to keep away from electrical parts. Me and a mate use to detail cars for a few car yards on the weekend for extra money before all the detailing/carwash trade went professional