Touch up paint?

I don’t know much about paint so I’m hoping someone here can help out. I saw this sucker as I finished washing my truck. Looks like a little surface rust is starting to build up. Does Toyota have touch-up paint pens for sale? I remember buying one for my previous car but it was a Honda. One side had paint and the other side had clear coat that you could apply after. Can I do that with this spot too? What kind of prep do I need to do? I know it won’t look perfect with a touch-up pen but at least it will prevent moisture getting underneath the paint and stop building rust. (I hope)

 

You'll want to dig out the rust spots before painting over it. I know there are chemicals that you can use that will eat away at the rust but I've not used them. I have used the little sanding pens that you can whittle down to a really fine point for the tiniest of chips. It will dig out the rust rather easily and leave a rough spot for the paint to bond to.

$14 PrepPen Adjustable Sanding Pen

https://www.amazon.com/Prep-Pen-FBA_Prep-pen-Adjustable/dp/B000J18RT6

As for the paint touch up pen, Dr. Colorchip or get the paint from a vendor. None of them blend perfectly without a multi step process of painting and wet sanding.

 

That looks like a spot for Dr Colorchip.

 

As far as getting touch-up paint for a 2003 era Tacoma in “Lunar Mist” color, forget about it. While it may look similar, it’s darker now. You’d have to be lucky enough to find someone who bought some back then and borrow it. Tho, most likely the paint inside their pen has dried up after all these years. I tried every available one and the touch ups look like crap.

 

This is why Dr Colorchip is nice. And it fills large chips.

 

They’ll just mix up what your vehicles factory color code is. Toyota altered what Lunar Mist was from 2003 to what it is now and what is available. The only Toyota Lunar Mist touch up pen available has a factory code of 1C8 and it’s not a match. Dr.Colorchip will just mix up the same. If you say my paint has faded, it doesn’t match areas the sun never shines, such as my inner door frame.

I pulled up next to fairly late model Tacoma with the Lunar Mist color and could tell it’s ever so slightly darker.
I sorta wished I’d not bothered as the scratches didn’t go past the light primer.

 

I recently bought my 2013 Taco from a Toyota dealer - they mixed up a paint pen for me there that matches well. Doesn't look perfect, but a lot better than the chips/ rust spots looked before.