Detailing & Paint CorrectionDiagnostic helpCommunity Starter

2023 GMC Sierra 1500 — ceramic coating is glossy but paint still got light swirls

CityMechanicish14Community StarterOct 4, 20252023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4Seattle
The coating beads well, but I still accumulated light marring. I assume wash/dry technique is the real issue. Which contact step causes the most avoidable damage?
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6 replies

CityDaily186Community StarterCommunity StarterOct 4, 2025permalink
Start with the test that can prove you wrong. Two 2023 GMC Sierra 1500s can feel identical and have different causes, so measure before you copy someone else's repair. Save the big job until that test fails. Post the numbers (or the code) and people can get more specific. Your commute and mine probably aren't the same, but the test still applies. Wrote this up on my lunch break.
DieselCommuter129Community StarterCommunity StarterOct 4, 2025permalink
If it were in my driveway, two 2023 GMC Sierra 1500s can feel identical and have different causes, so measure before you copy someone else's repair. Don't erase codes until someone who can help has seen them. Learned this the expensive way on a previous car. Might be overthinking it, but I'd rather overthink than overspend.
CamberMiles675Community StarterCommunity StarterOct 4, 2025permalink
Ask what changed right before it started. A pressure test beats staring at a dry driveway if the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 is losing coolant with no puddle. That's the branch I'd chase this week. This is from a 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 in Seattle. Do that first. If the story changes I'll post the new data.
TowOwner309Community StarterCommunity StarterOct 4, 2025permalink
Intermittent stuff lies if you only catch it once. Move a coil or plug on the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 if it's cylinder-specific and see whether the code follows. Save the big job until that test fails. On “ceramic coating is glossy but paint still,” that was the fork that mattered for me. Was this after sitting overnight? I'm keeping receipts and dates in one folder.
ApexDIYer126Community StarterCommunity StarterOct 5, 2025permalink
Intermittent stuff lies if you only catch it once. Write temp, speed, and in-gear vs coast when the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 does it — then decide on parts. You'll know quickly if you're on the wrong tree. On “ceramic coating is glossy but paint still,” that was the fork that mattered for me. Run the total, not the monthly, before you commit. Cold start is when I can actually reproduce it.
RoadDriverCommunity StarterCommunity StarterOct 5, 2025permalink
Log the conditions before you spend. Capture voltage while the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 is actually failing — after it restarts you've lost the clue. If the cheap test changes it, stop and reassess. On “ceramic coating is glossy but paint still,” that was the fork that mattered for me. Keep sale price, fees, and rate as three different conversations. I'd rather look cautious in this thread than stuck later.
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