New To Tacoma...

Hi guys, picked up my Pure White 2018 TRD Sport last Tuesday night. It is a double cab 4wd with automatic and tech pkg. It also came with the floor liners and toyo guard, which I actually didn't pay for but it had it so they threw that in the deal. I have already debadged it as well as removed the TRD Sport stickers on the bed. I installed Go Rhino nerf step bars today as well as Toyota bed mat. I added LED headlight and fog light bulbs too, even though most of the people on here recommend HID, I run LED in all our other vehicles and love them. My new wheels should be here tomorrow, I bought the TRD Pro wheels in black. Should look good with the black/white theme and new Nitto Terra Grapplers. I do not plan to lift it, I will leave it stock height as that is good enough for me.

Now, for the bad. I did not find out until this week that the white paint does not have clear coat. I have lodged a complaint already with the dealer and Toyota directly because my truck has rail dust all over it. I have clay barred it 3 times to no avail. The paint is smooth as silk, but the stains are still there. I am taking it in Saturday morning to show it to the store mgr and see how they plan to resolve it. If they can get the stains out, I will be happy, as I love the white. I am sure I can get the stains out with a fallout remover but I don't want to try until they at least see them. I used to detail cars myself so I am about 99% sure I can take care of it. But on the 1% chance I can't, I don't want to mess something up. If the spots don't come off, I will be demanding a new truck of a different color. I am very picky about my vehicles, and me knowing those spots are there will drive me crazy over the next few years. So, fingers crossed they do come off. That is my only complaint so far. Other than that, I absolutely love the truck! I set out 8 years ago to have this truck and I went through 3 other trucks and 1 car before finally getting exactly what I wanted.

 

Welcome to TW.... Good luck!!

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TW! How does a new vehicle NOT get a clear coat? Best of luck buddy, I'm curious to see what happens with the dealership.

 

Welcome, hopefully they get you fixed up properly. I used to paint cars years ago, and most solid colors (no metal flake or pearl) did not have a clear coat. I had to look up what rail dust is, and I'm not sure what the connection between that and a clear coat is. Rail dust would be bad either way! They usually protect the surfaces somewhat when they are transporting.

According to the interwebs, clay bar only breaks off part of the dust particle but leaves the adhered part, which then rusts again. Needs a chemical treatment apparently.

 

yeah clear coating won't remedy the issue at hand, I was just shocked that Toyota doesn't have that information prominently displayed all over their website. honestly I can live with the non clear thing. but the iron deposits embedded into the paint I cannot. I actually have talked to Toyota as well as my dealer and they are meeting me tomorrow morning to discuss the options. they even told me if they aren't able to make me happy with their resolution that they would be happy to trade me into another color truck. I actually used to work at this very dealership in the detail department and I know what to do to fix it. but, before I attempt it, I want them to see it. if on the off chance I mess it up, which I don't think I will. all cars gets rail dust/industrial fallout on them, even dark colors. but they aren't visible to eye once you clay it. but on the white it is visible big time. I am most certainly pleased with the truck! I only wish I would have bought a Tacoma 8 years ago like I really wanted...

 

Still not making the connection between clear coat and rail dust. Clear coat is just clear paint on top of paint with pigment, mainly used on paints with metal flake to inhibit oxidation in the flakes. It's still paint. Oh, maybe I understand now. Once the clear coat is worn off (age, buffing), you might get the same effect as rail dust since the metal particles are now exposed. We've all seen those old Buicks. This doesn't apply at all to solid colors, though, no reason to display it all over a web site, it's irrelevant and has nothing to do with your situation.

Dude, they need to make it right, you shouldn't have to fix it yourself even if you know how. It's a brand-new truck, they need to fix it.

 

maybe I should have worded my original post differently, and I apologize for that. I am not saying the rail dust is a result of not having clear coat. rail dust and industrial fallout gets on ALL paints, single stage and base coat/cleat coat. I simply didn't know that manufacturers still use single stage paint. I am not upset about that, just didn't know that was the case. that is not what I lodged the complaint about.

I agree, they should make it right, and I am sure they will. I know almost everybody at the dealership. we used to do their tint work as well. so we have a good relationship you could say. I just like to detail my own stuff, as I know the company the dealership uses (I used to work for them) and they are all kids out of high school with no real detailing skills.

again, I apologize if this was/is confusing. I didn't mean for it to be. and I didn't mean to imply that single stage paint is the cause of the problem. I just didn't know they still used it is all.

 

I was told by Toyota directly that they only use clear coat on metallic and pearl colors. all other colors get a single stage paint. we also own a 2017 Lexus RC F Sport and it is Pearl White, which is clear coated. I knew Ford used to use single stage paint back in the 80s-90s but I had no idea Toyota and other manufacturers use(d) it. its not a bad thing honestly, as long as it's maintained properly.

 

Howdy

 

Well hopefully they are giving us a thicker colored paint layer then since the clear coat is usually much thicker than the colored layer.

 

Yeah, no worries, I was just confused, no need to apologize. You sound like you know what you are doing with paint. If you know how to fix it right, have them sub the work out to you! Wait, no, bad idea. If you are not happy with the results, then they could just blame you. Kinda sucks, but good that you know the folks at the dealership.

Anyway, I was trying to think back if we ever did clear coat on any solid colors, and I don't think we ever did. The main solid colors used are black, white and red, the occasional yellow. Pretty much every other color has metal flake or pearl (I love pearl done right). But now you have Toyota with their Cement, Quicksand, and my personal favorite, Cavalry Blue teehee. I've seen posts that say the Cement has some flake in it, so it may have a clear coat.

I'm sure there is a specific paint thickness they shoot for on all colors that gives the best coverage and protection at the lowest cost. Paint systems these days are pretty advanced compared to the 70's and 80's. The synthetic multi-step systems were available, but they were new and expensive when I was doing it. Today's finishes are really tough, but those robots leave orange peel in spots. Nothing beats a properly polished lacquer finish for looks, but it is not very tough.

 

I am not a rookie when it comes to detailing but I am sure some things have changed since I got out of the game. actually they have changed for the better I am sure. I am not concerned at all about the durability of the paint on the truck. it shines up really well. and it is smooth as silk from the clay bar treatments. it is simply going to take a chemical solution to remove the lil specs left behind.

the dealership manager looked at it this morning and I am dropping it off Monday morning. they are going to give me a loaner car and have their body shop actually do the chemical process to remove the fallout. if for some reason that don't work, they will attempt to machine polish them out. if after all that I am still not happy, they will hopefully work with me on trading out into another color. they claim they will anyway...so hopefully Monday afternoon I will know if I will be keeping the white or getting something else. I truly hope they can get the spots out, because this truck cleaned up with all the black trim and wheels that is going on it is going to look sick!

 

Welcome aboard

 

dealer still has my truck, but I didn't get to drop it off yesterday like planned. I dropped it off this morning. they did do a good wash and fallout chemical removal process today and actually got some of it off. so they asked me to stop by and go over it again with the sales person and store mgr. we had it inside and used led lights to shine directly on the paint. there is still some spots they need to remove, but it is getting better. the dealership mgr even told me he wanted to make it right, not just get it "good enough" which made me happy. we marked each spot with masking tape, so my white truck looks funny with lil pcs of green tape all over it, lol. the mgr was even down on his hands and knees with his light going all over it and marking spots. he found some I hadn't even seen. I know I am being picky, and that is just how I am guys. I make no apologies for that. I have always taken care of my vehicles and this one will be no different. but before I start my processes I want them to get it right, so if I mess something up it is my own fault. not that I will. I love the white, and I know it is going to look damn good once the wheels and tires are on it. but, if I had it to do over again, I would have opted for the Cement, which was my second choice. the Subaru I traded for my Taco was Desert Khaki, and I love colors like that.

 

Sounds like you are being taken care of. We used to do the masking tape thing with hail damage cars. You have to get it under the right lights to catch everything.

Don't worry about being picky, these trucks aren't cheap.

 

I am happy to report, I got my truck back today. I do believe they got all the spots out. unfortunately I haven't been able to get it inside in the right light to check it properly, but outside she sure looks good. the store mgr actually told me not to feel at all bad about being picky, he wants me to be happy. we are leaving to drive to KY in the morning, so he told me to take it and drive it this weekend, and when I get to work on Monday to put it inside and check it really well. if I find anymore spots to call him directly and he would take care of it. super nice guy and great guy to work with. my salesperson, she can come off as snotty.