How to Restore Black Fenders?

Hello all, this is my first post to the Tacoma World forum and I'm excited to be a member!

I've been having problems with my fenders these past few months. They became slightly discolored, likely a result to exposure to the sun (I live in Texas). About two months ago, I decided to purchase some Rustoleum Wipe New in hopes to restore my black fenders, and it was fine for a few days until I finally noticed some sort of residue/whitening on the fenders. After some serious elbow grease, I was able to get a good part of it off, but it has once again returned.

I'm wondering if anyone has had this issue and knows any sort of fix to this! I would love to get my fenders looking black again, so any help, such as product references, will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

This is what I use.

 

Welcome to TW Josh.

There are a number of detailing products and backyard remedies to the problem you are having with your flares.
If you want to stay ultra basic, and I do emphasize ultra, you can use peanut butter. Sounds dumb, but it will help... short term. A heat gun is the best way, but has a steep learning curve.
I know some members have had great success with some of the new detailing products that are available. I'm not familiar with any of them, so hopefully they will see this and comment.
Stay away from Armor-all only looks good for a day or two.

 

GTechniq C4 coating. Should get at least a year before you need re-application.

 

Got to disagree that a heat gun is the best way, it's pretty much the best way to damage it. You almost need to luck into it even working uniformly. Then you're pretty much removing the chance of that trick working again as you've pulled oils from deep within the plastic to the.surface.

Yeah putting a product on there is temporary too but isn't that obvious when the original material faded away from exposure so easily. Same goes for headlights or even the paint. Best you can do is keep the item protected, nothing is a permanent fix.

I'd suggest Solution Finish, you can top it with a trim coatings for longevity or know that you've got to redo the solution finish in the future.

 

X2. I tried a heat gun on my old Frontier and ended up with a blotchy mess. Becomes even worse if you happen to have an old dressing left on the plastic.

 

I stand corrected, I probably shouldn't have said "best". I used to be able to get the old vw plastics to come out super nice with that method, but alas that was many years ago.
Thank you for correcting my errant statement.

Here I figured I would get my nuts broken about the peanut butter thing.

 

I 2nd GTechniq C4. I have also use GTechniq C1 on black trim as well and works the same. I have HEARD they are the same, but that is just what I have heard.
Either way, they both work great!

 

Welcome to the forum, let us know what you decide and post up some after pictures

 

Do a deep clean with Meguiars 39, then apply a ceramic coating of your choice

 

Heat gun did wonders to my fender flares.

 

It's temporary though.

 

Did it back in March of 2012. Polished the paint, all original, 280k miles. I take care of it. I have done it twice since the truck was new. Doesn't seem so in this case. It's all in how you take care of it.

 

I'd give Mothers Back to Black a whirl. May take a few applications but may help.

$17 Mothers 06141 Back-to-Black Heavy Duty Trim Cleaner Kit, 12 fl. oz.

https://www.amazon.com/Mothers-06141-Back-Black-Cleaner/dp/B00GZLMEDO

 

Glad yours worked. Mine turned into a blotchy mess on my last truck.

Don’t bother wasting the money. Tried that in the past and it’s a temporary fix until first rain.

 

Best bet is to repaint them in trim paint.

 

Your black trim may be further gone than mine, but I've always used this stuff in the past.

$18 Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant (4 oz)

https://www.amazon.com/Wolfgang-WG-...595270666&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-4&th=1

Personally I've used a generic 'magic erasure' to lightly wipe down the trim first and then wipe the trim with a clean cloth then apply the Wolfgang sealant

 

That there is a nice looking truck. 2003 ish? I miss my 04'. Great job with the wash/detail.