'03 dash material ruined by Windex?

Thanks for all the suggestions for materials to clean and preserve the dash. I've tried a couple of things - Meguires (sp?) Dash Foam looked like I spilled olive oil on the dash, I cleaned that off (with water!) and tossed the can. The Toyota vinyl preserver seems to work pretty well, that's what I'm on right now.

It's now obvious that the dash treatments have helped restore the color. However, it's also obvious the surface itself has been destroyed where the smears are, it is no longer smooth but rough and missing microscopic pieces. So no dash treatment is going to make it look right again. However, after working it over a bunch of times with Toyota vinyl treatment, the dash doesn't look too bad. Just makes me kind of sick when I look over at it. Hey what do you want for $34k, one of the half-dozen new cars I get to buy in my whole life? If I live long enough to buy another new vehicle, it sure won't be a Toyota. (Side note, the Volkswagen dealer only offered $26k for our nine-month old 4Runner as a trade-in on a Tuareg, so my wife said if the 4Runner goes, so does she. That was a tough decision, but they both stay :))

It's funny, when we saw "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" I thought of myself! Another great application for Windex is to clean our antique oak kitchen table, gorgeously refinished. Windex works great to get food smears off, the table looks fabulous, and has for years now.

A final note, I did talk to the Toyota rep about this at the invitation of our local dealer's service manager. They are both really nice guys. The rep said that this problem is not a defect, it's a design issue and therefore Toyota did not strictly need to replace the dash. But in this particular case he would authorize a dash replacement because I was so unhappy with the vehicle, and Toyota does not want unhappy customers. However, he pointed out that any time you rip into a dash and replace the whole thing, you are running a very large risk of introducing rattles and squeaks that will never be eradicated. I have until the end of October to decide whether to go ahead with the dash replacement. Any opinions on the risk of permanent rattles if the dash is replaced?

---------------------
Gregg
'03 SR-5 V8 4WD
---------------------
 
A Toureg! Talk about problems! Just read the Edmunds site. Seems VW has its hands full trying to work out the gremlins in that beast.

I had about 12,000 miles on my new '02 Sport Runner. The sun caused a bubble to form in the dash foam directly above the a/c controls. I debated for months if I wanted the local Toyota hobby store to tear into my factory sealed perfect vehicle. I finally agreed, the bubble was really starting to bug me, and it took three days of COMPLETELY disassembling my dash, the wires and controls under the dash, the speedo/tach, basically the entire elctrical front end was laid out in the front seats. I was mortified when I saw the work in progress. But the service manager assurred me he had his best detailer working on the project. Sure enough, when I had my Runner returned to me all seams were tighter than factory, the bubble was gone an no squeaks or rattles developed over the next six months I owned the vehicle. I traded her for an '03 Runner. It is a tough call. Take something you know is not perfect or take the chance of fixing it and having a bigger problem develop.

I say get it fixed. It will bug and hound you to the point of second guessing yourself. Especially after the time given to repair has expired. Just make sure you know that a detailer is working on the dash. The detailer who did mine rotated regionally through the different Toyota dealers, his specialty was dashes and interior trim. He even put his card in a seam of the dash should I have any future questions.
 
Gregg,

I definitely recommend getting the dash replaced for several reasons:

1) Everytime you or your wife looks at it you'll be reminded of the dreaded Windex incident.

2) Everytime you look at it's less than perfect finish, you'll wish you replaced it because every other part around it looks brand new.

3) The "Stealer" as everyone calls them sounds like a very decent one that tries to take care of its customers and is offering you something they don't really have to do. Take advantage of their kindness in return.

4) If there's something wrong with the dash after it is replaced, the dealer should continue to fix it until it's right.

5) When it's to sell your beloved, the cosmetic flaws may cost you some cash.

Just my .02
Jon
 
I did a similar thing to the radio faceplate in a Supra, so not a new situation. The damage is done.
Have you thought about getting a fabric dashboard cover? They look good, will cover up the damage and no dash squeaks to listen to. Hopefully out of sight, out of mind.
The dealer might even give you one free as his parts department probably has them.
 
FWIW, my vote -- get it fixed. Tell the service manager (in your nicest tone of voice) that you expect any squeaks and rattles to still be covered under warranty, so it is their best interest to fix it right the first time. Then hand them the keys until it is done.
 
Vinylex or 303 Aerospace Protectant. on the dash. Use a microfiber towel.

Use an automotive ammonia-free cleaner. with a different microfiber. Use very little cleaner or even plain water. Spray cleaner on towel, not window.
 
Gregg! Think about what you're saying! Cuz you didn't read your manual, cosmetically damaged your dash you're not ever buy another Toyota? Do you or don't you like the ride? Now I'm as much the materialist as the next guy, (that's why I'm at work on this site now!), but sometimes you need to step back and bitch slap yourself for being too obsessed over something so small!

OK, your rep has offered to take your car apart to fix a cosmetic issue with your dash. Would I do it? Probably not. You may end up with more then you started with, an insignificant smear in exchange for a rattle trap.

I had my Sequoia hood re-painted after the dealer damaged replacing the windshield. Took 3 times to get the color almost right and, guess what, it ain't right, never will be. Lesson learned; don't let a dealer do what can only be done in the factory. Not worth the time, frustration and end result.

I'd say continue with treatments and leave well enough alone. Your 4Runner won't care about the dash when doing 50mph off-road. The 4runner is not a Lexus status car to be displayed at soccer games; it's an off-roader for getting you to places where the real fun begins. (IMHO)

Then again, if it's all that important to you take the offer to rebuild your dash and loose the Windex forever. I don't even use in my house anymore. Just don't blame Toyota for your fixations with cleanliness, the manual warned you and I'll be the Windex label did to!

Best of luck
 
Vinylex

A LEXOL product for vinyl called Vinylex. MY local stealership carries it. Try it, you'll like it. I use this on my dash and interior and it works AWESOME! Works great on vinyl like normal LEXOL products do on your leather. Accept nothing but the best for your rig!

:guitar2:

Brian
 
To close this subject and answer the question you've all been waiting anxiously to hear :) I've decided to NOT have the dash replaced after chatting with my local service manager once more. He points out that a rattle problem resulting from replacing the dash may not surface for who knows, maybe 60.000 miles, but if it does, it may not be fixable for any reasonable cost. So why do that to whoever owns the vehicle then (it sure won't be me).

The dash problem is just "cosmetic", and it's a good reminder, every time I look over at the scarred dash, what "Toyota quality" means. So I'll live with it. But to answer mtnrunner's question, NO, I DON'T like this vehicle. Check out my gripe list in

What should be changed on the 03 4Runner

Since that post, the following problems have appeared:
  • Dash material scarred by Windex
  • Thump from rear suspension after releasing brake when stopped
  • Clunk from drivetrain when accelerating after coasting on highway
  • Pulsation or popping in brake pedal
    [/list=a]
    Of course, the last three are intermittent and so the dealer will never identify or fix the problems. So, I see no reason whatsoever to revise my opinion that this 4Runner, and Toyota Motor Company in general, are the most miserable examples of automotive mediocrity I've ever had the misfortune to experience.

    Over and out.
 
Thanks to my wife

I love my wife so I let her get away with murder, which includes putting her dirty shoes on the dash since she is so short. But as a result I had these dirt marks on the dash which I left for months because I am so lazy I hate cleaning. Well last month while doing something I finally find the energy to clean it, and for the most part I was able to but at certain angles you can see where it was. I know I might be a little anal about it but it's my new car and I love her and all but just because she doesn't get attached to material things does not make her right either.

Well the way I looked at it is that the outside has scratches and gauges from shopping carts, car doors, rocks, and one time I backed up to close to my utility trailer and was slights off I put a mark near the license plate. But my wife made a good point, all those marks are signs that you love your car for you drive it and use it all the time. She's right, I had a 84 Blazer, 98 Jeep Wrangler, 99 Honda CRV, 2000 Honda Passport, and now a 2003 Toyota 4 Runner. The difference between those cars and this one (except for the CRv) is I all those cars had so many problems, new or old, that it got to the point I said to hell with it and got a replacement. But the 4 Runner is the best car by far. But I have to admit, even though the CRv is not a true SUV compared to my baby, it's an awesome recreational vehicle, and it NEVER gave one single problem in the 50k miles I put on it in two years. I was a PC field engineer so I did A LOT of driving.
 
OK Gregg, just read your list of gripes, damn - you must have really been pissed off.

I, like firsttoyz, really wonder why you bought the truck. Can you tell us what type of car you like to drive? It sounds to me like you're comparing the ride in your 4-runner to your lazy boy in your living room. It's a f@#4ing truck not a spa! And just how big are you? I know the 4runner is lil tight inside but you sure seem to get aches from driving, my guess; any car is going to make you ache
 
Long - but you asked - I think...

Well I had intended to just forget about this subject and not reply to this thread anymore, as I am sure some/all of you are getting sick of my whining. However some questions came up so I can't resist... Here's the deal:

My wife and I need a weekend vehicle to haul our stuff to go kayaking, backcountry and lift skiing, mountaineering, hiking, and just get where we need to go. I figure, it may be winter, night, and the worst storm of the winter, but if the road is open, we are going. And I don't want any white knuckles on the way. We bought this vehicle as a compromise in several areas:

Vehicle - I wanted a used Mercedes ML320 that somebody else paid the first two years depreciation on. My wife wanted a new, reliable vehicle. So the choice was between the 4Runner and the Honda Pilot. I think we made the right decision based on available facts, however the results have been less than satisfying. Believe it or not, I have always wanted a 4Runner, I just wanted the MB more.

Price: We didn't want to spend more than the $31k ($34k with WA tax, license, etc) we paid. This is not a daily driver for either of us. So we ended up with the SR-5 model. Many of you have a fully equipped Limited, we don't. Believe me, an SR-5 is missing a LOT of things you'd expect in a $32k vehicle.

Appearance: We didn't care for the plastic body cladding. But didn't want to pay for a Limited and figured we would get used to the plastic boddy cladding. and hey *all* the SR-5's have that. We haven't gotten used to it, but it's not really a big deal. What's more of a big deal is that Toyota couldn't sell the cladded vehicles so stopped making them. So those of us who bought them with cladding now are looking at a reduced resale value, cause most '03's have body-colored fenders. I was offered $26k trade-in recently, which is a whopping hit on a $32k MSRP in 9 months. (They figured I could get $27k myself, but would lose over $2k on sales tax then.)

OK, so how come I didn't see all the things I don't like on our test ride? Well, come on, how much can you notice on a test ride? You don't know what it feels like to sit in it for three hours until you do that. You don't know how cold a cheap plastic steering wheel can feel until you come back to the car in the dark after skiing all day in a blizzard and THEN have your hands go numb from the cold wheel. You don't know you're gonna get less than 14 MPG on your first winter highway trip until you do it. And some problems did not appear at first, like a number of plastic parts that broke or fell off. And there are some things you wouldn't check, like who would believe the '03 4Runner does not have a mist cycle on the wiper switch? Haven't seen that in 30 years. My sister's $17k '03 Rav4 has that, the switch is otherwise identical. Why did Toyota have to pay engineers to remove that on the '03 4Runner???

So I now have fat weather stripping on two of the sharp plastic edges in the cockpit, a $15 seat pad, and a $7.00 steering wheel cover, just to be able to tolerate sitting in the vehicle. It's been a long time since I could go to my local discount store, spend $7 on an "auto accessory", and make a really big improvement in my vehicle.

And then there are the reliability/functionality issues. I seem to have the only 4Runner that has had an engine power loss problem, so that on five occasions I've had to pull off the road, shut the vehicle down, let it sit, and restart. Miraculously, it happened once a half mile from the dealer. A tech drove it, said, yeah, this is *really* screwed up, and then shut it down before he hooked it up to the computer. Of course, it powered back up fine. No problem found! How about the brakes, which I cannot believe others find "grabby". Mine require more effort as you stop, go almost to the floor, and I have almost rear-ended cars a couple of times when I looked in my rear-view mirror and then back to the front to find myself a LOT closer to the vehicle in front than I expected. Now they are making pulsing/vibrating noises intermittently, like the ABS is firing for a single cycle just for the hell of it. No problem found! Squeaks? Clunks? Got plenty. Sounds like somebody stuffed a shopping cart under the bumper on rough dirt roads. No problem found! VSC? Ha ha. Doesn't stop the vehicle from spinning 90 degrees in snow. Does activate over speed bumps sometimes, that makes me feel a lot safer. Adaptive transmission? That means you never know whether the vehicle is going to make a lot of whooshing noises and just sit there, or slam into gear so hard it snaps your neck. Also means you sometimes have to give it a lot of gas to roll downhill. Have anything to do with the horrendous gas mileage? Hill start assist? Don't make me laugh, doesn't even work in the driveway, and who could possibly need that anyway? Downhill assist? Do you really want to go that fast over boulders??? Otherwise, do you really want to go that slow or listen to all that electronic commotion? Don't even get me started on the "smart" HVAC...

As for my vital statistics and tastes in vehicles:

Size: 6' 1", 225 lb.
Other vehicles:
1) Daily Driver: 1989 Porsche Carrera 4, full-time 4WD, Bilstein shocks, Yokohama AVS Sport tires, 36/42 PSI (factory spec). Goes 120 MPH on mountain roads, in the rain, just fine, thanks. Very comfortable, fits like a glove. Bring Preparation H if you are sensitive to bumps - this is no mushy wallowing 4Runner.
2) 1990 Suzuki Samurai. Currently in storage in New Mexico, but one of my favorite vehicles ever. SUVs pull over to let it by on 4WD roads. Nice seats. A superb example of a purposeful vehicle. Unbelievably reliable, and incredibly cheap to maintain.
Last SUV: 1995 Ford Explorer XLT. I had never thought much of Fords but gave them a chance in '95. Turned out to be a wonderful vehicle. Extremely comfortable and capable, superb ergonomics. Great for sleeping in back at trailheads. Would possibly be dead now except for its incredible braking system, which stopped me in a perfectly straight line, in 2" of hail and rain, on an expressway, towing the second largest UHaul trailer made, when somebody just pulled onto the road directly in front of me. Excellent winter vehicle. Handles like a sports car if you put on good shocks. Fatal flaw - high maintenance costs over 80k miles. I'd trade the 4Runner for that vehicle in a heartbeat - except for the major financial consequences.

And of course, Windex works great on all those vehicles!

OK, so that is it. I'm REALLY signing off this subject now. I am not looking for sympathy, I really don't want it, and believe me I am really glad all of you love your vehicles. I'm even willing - in fact WANT - to believe that most or all of you have much better vehicles than mine, because of options, trim level, and mine is probably a genuine lemon.

Enjoy!
 
From the sounds of it, you must have got a lemon. Get it replaced, it won't cost you anything and if you still don't like it your resale will improve. Easier said than done but by the sounds of it something must be wrong w/ you car. (I'm assuming your dissatisfaction with the vehicle in terms of performance is not influenced by how much you don't like the way it looks.) Have you contacted Toyota?

I have an 04 V8 ltd and not one of these problems has cropped up, after only 700 miles sure, but I
 
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