Bug Guts damaged my paint !!

Have a 2011 black double cab and recently when I returned from a vacation I had to clean all the bug guts from the front end of the truck. No Luck....the bug guts have eat away the paint in the form of bug splats....the front of the hood as well as the front window poles....it looks horrible. I have never seen this type of thing before and I can't believe that bug guts have done this to my brand new truck... The vacation was a 2 day drive to which I powerwashed as soon as I got home.. Does anyone know if Toyota will do anything for this ???

 

I've never heard of bug guts eating paint... Have you tried a clay bar on the paint? See if it's just something really stuck on there?

Pictures of the problem might help....

Bump for an interesting problem

 

I'm sure your paint isn't ruined. Like Kondaborne said, clay bar.

 

Definitely a no.

Like others said, try a clay bar.

 

I've tried bug and tar remover and it didn't touch it....close up it looks like the paint is eat away...I'll try to take a picture tomorrow and post it. I'll try the clay bar but I think its a waste of time....

 

I know this doesn't apply to the OP, but down here in Florida we have love bug seasons where there are just swarming groups of love bugs on the road. If you leave them on your vehicle too long they will damage and eat away at the paint. It isn't much fun.

 

Same thing happened to me on my 2010 White Sport. I have a orange blotches on my grill and bumper. Its a joke. Brought it to the dealership and they tried to get it off and said it would have to be totally repainted. This was something that would NOT be covered under warranty. I almost ripped the guys head off when I was fighting with him about it. Let me know if your dealer gives you any leeway.

My thread with pix.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/118908-orange-spots-grill-paint.html

 

My first truck i took out was black and it sat next to some trees. (NOT UNDER) And the paint looked horrible also.

Paint issues are usually a factory rep. investigation.
It won't hurt to ask to have him look at it.

Most times if it's one panel then the dealer (at least mine at this point) can authorize it without getting the rep involved. Yours might not be able to.

Play the NICE CARD...

 

This is a pic I took with my iPhone the day I tried washing it off....nothing would touch this....sorry its kinda blurry

 

I had something similar happen to me. A huge bug was taken out just outside of the driver's side fog light about a year ago. I've washed it and washed it with no luck. I need a new bumper anyways since someone backed into it with a trailer hitch and drove away...

 

It does not take long for bugs to etch paint especially since toyotas paint is not of the greatest quality. If the bugs have etched the the clear your only option is a repaint.

 

Im thinking your clearcoat took the hit. My stock solution to bugs has always been HOT water-given that bugs are protein. If in fact you paint has been removed for real-then Toyota has some resonsibility because of inferior finish!

 

x2. Bug guts can absolutely wreak havoc on paint! I'd say to wetsand and polish before jumping the gun and repainting though.

 

I tried to wetsand on a tundra to remove the bug etching but the clear was so thin (only about 70 microns) that you really had no room to work. I guess if your gonna have to repaint anyway its worth a shot.

 

That's crazy! Power wash and tar remover didn't do it Lived in South Florida for years....luv bugs Always kept wax on my truck tho...this helps.

but a 2011 fuk

 

I know exactly what you mean, bugs have eaten the paint off my front end also. Toyota won't do anything, don't even bother trying, lol. Only option I see thus far is to do a complete re-paint of the truck when I have cash to throw away (for me it has to be the entire truck because it sits outside and there's no way the paint will match 100% anymore).

 

Try this...works wonders

 

Clay bar man, it took tar off my van that bug and tar remover didnt even touch, or try soaking it with a mineral oil or another oily substance to loosen it up, the heat from your engine has baked it on.

 

From the pic that looks all on the surface. You should be able to buff that out.