Paint Issues - Chipping, Scratches, Etc

After washing my new Tacoma for the 1st time one deep scratch and several smaller scrathes "magically" apeared on the hood, I'm thinking the dealer (DarCars Sliver Spring, MD) used the colored wax to cover up the scratches...

 

Not sure on a colored wax. They could have used a product that had some fillers in it to mask the scratches. But a deep scratch is a deep scratch. And is difficult to hide. Is the deep one through the paint? Does your fingernail catch it?

Alot of times, scratches can be introduced by the user during the wash stage. Small piece of grit in your sponge, your all done. By no means do I think you did this yourself. And you are most likely correct in the dealership. However, you should take care during the wash stage as this is, beleive it or not, the easiest way to add damage to your paint.

Here is why: Someone uses some cheapo sponge they got at the car store. Fills up 1 bucket with the soap and proceeds to dip his sponge in and then wash the truck. Then they take thier cheapo sponge and dip it into the soapy water. Then go back to the paint. So what happens to all that dirt that you just took off the paint? Well it goes right back into the wash pail which in turn, goes back onto your paint. This is where scratches and swirl marks come from. So what to do? First, ditch the sponge. Get a MF pad or a real good wash mit. Buy 2. One for the top 1/2 of the truck and one for the bottom 1/2. Always use the same mits. The reason is that the bottom always has more dirt than the top. By seperating the mits and washing the bottom last, you are further minimizing the chances for damage. Then use 1 bucket for wash and 1 bucket for rinse. After you wash a section. Rinise out in the rinse pail. Then go back to the wash, then the car, then the rinse and continue doing the top half of the truck. Then move onto the bottom half using the same procedure.

This will dramatically reduce your chance for self-inflicted damage. If you really want added protection, buy 2 grit guards. When you place your mit into the rinse bucket, scrape the grit guard. This will deposit the dirt on the bottom of the bucket and will not reintroduce the grit to your mit. (Hey that rhymes! lol) Then when you go to the wash, scrape again. You will be astonished to see what is at the bottom of those buckets and how dirty the water is in the rinise bucket. Just think, all of that was in the same bucket as your wash before.

I know it seems like a lot of work, but it really is the only way to wash your vehicle if you want to reduce swirls and scratches. I stress to people who wash thier vehicles to try this way if they want/care about reducing swirls. Some people just don't give a crap, so I don't bother telling those people. If you are interested, this webiste is the cheapest I have found for a bucket, gamma seal lid (best thing EVER), and grit guard. www.usplastic.com $20.24. The lids and grit guards fit any regular diameter bucket. I like 3.5 gal buckets for car washing. Don't need 5 gal of water in each bucket.

Also, get a decent car wash. Meguiar's Gold Class is a nice OTC product. I like this better: http://www.chemicalguys.com/Premium_Car_Wash_Shampoo_p/cws_301_16.htm

Mix it at a small ratio and you have a super slick wash that leaves a awesome shine. Mix it heavy and it will strip your old wax.

Sorry for the long post, but I hate scratches and swirls in my paint. I like it like liquid!

 

Wow, thanks for the lecture! Yes pretty sure my mitt was free of debris for the 1st wash.
Deep Scratch meaning through the clearcoat and paint as it has a brown tint-Rust. I went over the vehicle prior to purchasing and something like that would have been pretty obvious...

 

Didn't mean to lecture! Post kinda got away from me! lol

That's a deep scratch! I guess you could try the dealer. Not sure how far you are going to get seeing you looked it over and signed that you did. If you put up a stink, they might do something for ya! Good luck!

BTW, never think your mitt is free of debris. If your really care about your paint, think about the 2 bucket system.

 

i got scratches on the door and cab area. used a dam coat hanger to try & get the truck unlocked when my remote took a shit. gonna get to use the OEM paint pen and see how long that will last

 

I got a million scratches on the box and lots of chips and rust on some. BF A/T do kick up alot of rocks tho. Just have Rino it.

 

I bought some stuff called DR. Chip to try and fix this. http://www.drcolorchip.com/

I will post up the results, maybe in a new how to thread...will keep you posted will try it this weekend.

 

Reading this thread makes me glad that I 3M'd my front bumper and hood, even though it was a bit pricey.

 

i have an 07 and i have zero problems with paint/scratches on my car and i've brushed up against more than one bush before, i have a few on the side but its obvious where they came from and i've been able to wax out most of them. I definitely don't have any chips either.

The only new things i notice when washing my truck is the new door dings i have, some of them i have no f-ing idea how they could have gotten on that part of my truck, all of them have no paint missing or scratches, just a little dent in the side so i've been lucky. It seems that the 08+ models are having trouble with the paint, looking at this thread i noticed most of the people with the paint problems have an 08 or higher.

I don't have mud flaps either, i took those off and despite all my off roading and kicking up rocks, i don't have any scratches or paint missing along the bottom side of my truck which i find amazing so i guess i got lucky with my paint.

 

Hey All, I just noticed this morning that on the bottom of both sides of my new truck (just picked up a couple weeks ago), the paint has bubbled up and there appears to be some kind of protective tape or something on the bed portion. I don't have the painted flares though, just the paint before the flares and then on the door.

Anyone ever notice this? I'm going to ask the dealer when I pick up my tags, but just wondered if anyone else experienced this. Thanks.

 

If it is between fenders, then it is Toyota's answer to the body rust that plauged the Toyota trucks pre-Taco days. I had that on my old '97 SX Tacoma. Normal. The tape is like a clear bra to protect from stones. Good to have. Just use painters tape if you wax to cover the edge. Dried wax is a SOB to get out of there. And don't use an abrasive polish on it. PlastX or something else.

 

thanks. Yeah, I took a look at the tape a little closer and figured it was a protective measure of some sort. But any idea on the paint bubbling up there? That doesn't seem right, does it?

Thanks for the help. My first new car ever, so I'm totally lost with things like quality paint.

 

Well, if it is on the fender itself, I would hope to think that it really isn't bubbleing but just the look of the dyed plastic fender. I mean anything is possible, but bubbling paint on an 09 is odd. The fenders are plastic and thus cannot attain that same look as the paint onthe truck. If you actually look at the truck in a certain light, you will see the difference in color. I mean, it is still the same color but being plastic the fendewr will never have the same look as metal. Let me ask you this, is the bubbleing on the whole fender or just spots? If it is just a few spots that seem out of the ordinary have the dealer take a look just to be sure. I could be bubbling I guess. But if it is all over each fender, then I am thinking it is the way it is.

Anyway to get a pic up here of what you are talking about?

 

It isn't bubbled up paint. It is paint over a protective coating that helps keep the paint from chipping off.

 

They make it look bubbly like that on purpose. That way when you do get a rock chip (and it will chip, though tougher than the rest of the paint) you can just dab a blob of touch-up paint on there and nobody will notice.

 

thanks everyone. here is a garbage cell phone pic of what i mean.

 

crappy pic redux:

 

I have a freaking scratch on my tailgate now...

Completely my fault though... I put the tailgate down while holding my keys and dragged a key through the paint... about 1/2 an inch long... I'm pissed...

 

Looks normal if that is the film on the fender.

 

rb automotive finishes can look good on plastic parts. In my opinion most automotive bumper covers have just as good of a finish as the rest of the panels.

Toyota has chosen to use single stage paint on the Tacoma bumper covers and fender flares. In addition, the application of the paint on these parts is extremely dry. These two factors result in the poor finish on our trucks.