Clear Coat Failure

[TejasRunner01]

I realize this is well documented, but how many of you have had the clear coat fail and had it repainted vs how many of you fixed it via an alternative method such as plasti dip or vinyl wrap? Are you pleased with your decision?

I'd love to hear your stories because I have never seen so many vehicles of one brand have clear coat failure like this. I see lots of 2nd gen Taco's with paint problems as well.

Post away!

 

[Joelzy]

i feel like i just saw this thread but i have decided to lean into the barnacle look for now. Maybe someday i'll do something but i don't plan on a nice paint job especially once I'm taking this offroad a lot.

 

[Atomic6]

I think you'll find all Evergreen Pearl's with clear coat issues....

https://flic.kr/p/2cUwNbp

I'll probably wrap my roof and hood at some point, but I embrace it for now.

 

[NegroTundra]

I love my 4runner. I love it because its easy to work on and I pride myself in knowing with 240,000 miles she is mechanically 95%. I love it cause its fun to drive and I feel like a kid every time I drive it. I love it cause it does everything I need it to (except pull loads, but see my sig for that). But most of all, I love it cause I dont give two shits if she gets scratched from bushes, dinged from shopping carts, or one more piece of clearcoat flies off.

Just my opinion on my favorite vehicle of all time. (I keep the interior flawless fyi)

 

[bim3]

My hood had pieces of clear coat flaking off. Had it painted this summer, no regrets. I think the roof paint is starting to go, but I don't have to look at it constantly, so I may let it slide

 

[Twisted Sid]

I'd love to hear your stories because I have never seen so many vehicles of one brand have clear coat failure like this. I see lots of 2nd gen Taco's with paint problems as well.

Post away!

Im not saying there isnt something up with the clear coat on these but, the factory paint is getting old on these things. Unless it was garage kept and never saw sunlight, the paint will be weather beaten and worn.

With that said, for the paint on these pushing 16 years or older, the majority I see are in good shape when compared to many cars of the same era. I'd say Dodges are the worst. Not a single one I see has good paint left on it if the paint hasnt flaked off by now

 

[jgue467]

Those 01's paint/clearcoats are all nasty.... :cowboy:

 

[Wedgy]

But most of all, I love it cause I dont give two shits if she gets scratched from bushes, dinged from shopping carts, or one more piece of clearcoat flies off.

Nailed it ! I bought mine to go hunting and drag me thru the brush, so yes it is going to get scratched up....a lot and I don't worry about it one bit.
I have a '97 Limited and a '98 SR5 both are green and both are peeling clear on the horizontal surfaces but the sides look great. They are both Cali cars and I will take peeling, not-so-clear-anymore, clear coat over rust anytime.

 

[Hockeyjock]

My evergreen pearl the whole hood and roof had no clear left and the tops of all the doors and fenders were all peeling too. Granted mine spent a lot of its life outside. I recently decided to give her some love and gave her a fresh new paint job. Here is a before and after.

 

[Mr. Goodkat]

I just got my natural white 4Runner a little over a month ago in Wisconsin but it spent most of its life in Colorado so it's pretty rust free. That said, the clear coat was very dull and I think it's starting to peel a little bit on the roof. I think it had been a long time since the finish had seen any kind of wax or sealant. Not long after I got it I went over it with a clay bar, a fine cut compound, a swirl remover compound, and a nice coat of Wolfgang deep gloss 3.0 sealant. I'm really happy with the results considering how dull it was. Colorado might not use salt but they must use sand mixed with pea gravel because the paint, light housings, and windshield have plenty of little rock chips all over.

You can see the improved since along the driver's side.

 

[sportscarfan]

Another Evergreen Pearl here - hood and roof have severe clearcoat peeling. I'm not too worried about it unless I start to see rust. I'll do something about it at that point.

 

[thegipper]

My 97 (desert dune) has zero clear coat issues. Spent most of its life in WI but also spent 7 years in AZ. My truck has almost never seen a garage either. I wish my Camry/Highlander paint/clear coat was even remotely as good as my 3rd gen.

 

[nchacon1984]

[MENTION=247287]Hockeyjock[/MENTION] what did that paint job cost you if you dont mind me asking.

 

[phattyduck]

I just got my natural white 4Runner a little over a month ago in Wisconsin but it spent most of its life in Colorado so it's pretty rust free. That said, the clear coat was very dull and I think it's starting to peel a little bit on the roof.

A lot of the non-metallic trucks are single stage on Toyotas... maybe yours never even had clear? (my original '90 Super White Camry was single stage from the factory too)

As for my Desert Dune 3rd gen... I am loosing the clear coat on my hatch top - but that was a body shop replacement part. The rest of the OEM paint is in good shape. It has been garaged about half of its life, but not ever really taken care of.

-Charlie

 

[zoombyu86]

I wish "lack of clear coat" was my smallest issue. The rust issue...

 

[Mr. Goodkat]

A lot of the non-metallic trucks are single stage on Toyotas... maybe yours never even had clear? (my original '90 Super White Camry was single stage from the factory too)

As for my Desert Dune 3rd gen... I am loosing the clear coat on my hatch top - but that was a body shop replacement part. The rest of the OEM paint is in good shape. It has been garaged about half of its life, but not ever really taken care of.

-Charlie

I think you're right and I wondering that as I was reconditioning the paint. Even while I was clay baring I was getting white residue that was suspect. I had to lightly wet sand a couple of spots where I removed my badges that also resulted in white residue. There is a spot on the roof where there are two slightly different shades of white and with the dull finish, I thought my clear coat was peeling. By 2000 I figured most if not all cars had a factory base coat/clear coat finish.

 

[Hockeyjock]

[MENTION=247287]Hockeyjock[/MENTION] what did that paint job cost you if you dont mind me asking.

View attachment 318456

I work in the auto industry so I used a favor. I got it painted with good quality paint from a reputable shop. I got a quote from Macco and they said around $1200.00, and didn't want a cheap Macco job that would have the same problem a few years down the road just to save a few hundred bucks. The invoice said $2800.00 but I paid about $1400.00. The shop that painted my car said the paint materials alone cost almost a grand.

 

[Pritch]

On my 2005, the clearcoat is starting to fade and get cloudy, but I didn't really want to spend a lot of money on a new paint job. Couldn't a paintshop just respray the clearcoat as a cheaper fix? The paint itself looks to be alright.

 

[sportscarfan]

Skip the paintshop, find out by spending $25 on a rattle can of 2K clear and some time wetsanding.

 

[pixologics]

i feel like i just saw this thread but i have decided to lean into the barnacle look for now. Maybe someday i'll do something but i don't plan on a nice paint job especially once I'm taking this offroad a lot.

I've also got some similar sun damage to paint but only on the rear hatch (tail gate) Can anyone suggest what would be good price to get the tail gate re-painted. It does not have much of space. Half of it is covered with glass.