detail question

Hello, I'm new here to TW, just bought a 01 2.7l and was wondering how I can make it like new. What products should I buy been hearing a lot of good things about the 303, colonize 845 & turtle wax. One of my other questions was the sr5 decals are kind of fading away as well as some paint because of the trucks age. Any tips on how to leave the truck like new? Thanks!!

 

We would need to see photos, but no product will make it look like new. You need the right tools like rotary buffer, polisher like a rupes big foot and the right compounds to do a full paint correction. If you are looking to do it yourself, I would invest in at minimum a good polisher, some meguiars #205 and meguiars microfiber cutting and polishing pads. As far as protection, you can use collinite or turtle wax, but they have a very short durability. I would look at CarPro Reload if you dont feel comfortable or dont want to pay a detailer for a ceramic coating.

 

If looking for exterior protection you can throw 303 in the garbage. Tacomaworld likes it cause it’s cheap. For exterior plastics coatings are the way to go. You will months to years out of them versus a weeks out of 303.

 

Another detailer here that votes for 303 being cheap garbage.
Don’t buy anything Turtle Wax or Armor All.
Buy professional products from good detailing names like Ammo, Chemical Guys, Adams Polishes etc.


You will not need a few products but likely quite a bit of products and materials.
Post pictures of specifically what you want to improve.
Your question is way to general and vague.

 

It’s nothing to serious but I want to fix every little thing that I can. Thanks guys

 

My recommendation on the badges is to remove them and never put them back on.
Since the truck is older you may get some shadowing where the letters were but that can be polished out.
If you really like the badges then you can replace them with new ones which can be easily found and are inexpensive.
Or you cab plastidip them black to refinish them.
You cannot fix the existing badges without it looking bad.

Rule of thumb for any scratches: If its deep enough to catch your fingernail you cannot remove it. You can however clay bar the scratch to clean it up abd polish to help hide it.

Those chips in the hood... you need to clean and wet sand down to bare metal and get touch up paint in a pen and paint over.
The only fix to making it like new is a repaint. However since the truck is older and silver (the worst color there is for paint work) you’ll probably have to blend the surrounding panels which will be very expensive.
Touch up pen is about all you can do for those.

To polish up the paint you’ll want a DA polisher. By hand won’t cut it.


By the way those headlights are in awesome shape. Get yourself a nice glass coating on those to keep them nice.

 

What he said...except there is DEFINITELY gonna be some ghosting where those emblems were that wont be able to polish out. Just recently went through this on the '13 tacoma after removing the dealer installed pinstripes and even on our silver 2010 mazda 3 after removing the paint protection film. Huge color difference on that one. Anyways those should be cheap enough to buy new and replace or black them out like PackCon mentioned. That would look good.

 

Just for reference. This is after removal lol. It looks terrible but the film was starting to crack. I had it installed just after we bought the car new in 2010. This is why I always recommend full panel wraps from now on!

 

I really appreciate all of your guys feedback!! Thanks for helping a noob out, it’s my first car so I apologize

 

I will never get clear bra film ever.
I stripped it on my F250.
Had to repaint the front quarter panels and hood because it damaged the paint underneath.
Luckily my cousin had a buddy that owns a body shop and did it for the cost of paint.

 

That sucks!

 

Personally, I wouldn't use a Turtle Wax product on my toilet. Collonite 845 is a great wax, but wax is pretty much old school and has been replaced by either synthetic sealants or various coatings. Waxes will only last a few weeks. Sealants can last months and coatings can last years. Sealants however are much easier to use for the occasional detailer. My favorite sealant is Menzerna Power Lock. For coatings - especially if you've never used one before - try something basic like C.A.R. Bullet Proof.

 

Agreed, Power Lock is a good sealant. Matt Mormon at Obsessed Garage uses 2 coats of Powerlock Plus, then Collonite 845 then P and S Beadmaker.

 

Like the others have said, get a DA polisher if you can. Porter Cable and Griots are the least expensive, and will do a decent job. Others, like Rupes, are more powerful but more expensive. I have a PC, and it is fine for doing my 2 vehicles.
Get a basic pad and polish package from Adam's, etc. and watch videos on youtube. It may seem intimidating, but it's not really that difficult. Spend a weekend on it, starting with a good wash and clay, and then (probably) a 2 step polish (like Meg's 105 and 205), and seal it. I've been using Adam's H2O Gloss and Guard sealant. It's very easy to use and lasts a lot longer than wax. Once this bottle is gone I'm stepping it up to a ceramic, however.
Then you'll only have to do a little maintenance on it here and there to keep it shining.
Check out detailing forums and sites for products. Everyone has their favorites, but try to avoid the cheap stuff. You get what you pay for.