Curious "patches" on dirty doors

[T4RSpectreSix]

I haven't yet pulled apart my doors so I am not familiar with the electronics within, but when I got out of my truck the other day I noticed these "markings" or "patches" if you will on the doors. Not sure what causes them - (maybe a load resistor or something in the door?), but they look kinda funny.

You can see them on the lower portions of all four doors, and in this picture you can see 4 of them. Just curious as to what is generating the heat behind there to cause this. If nothing else I will pop the doors open when the weather warms a bit and have a look, but was wondering if anyone that knew could tell me.

Thanks!

 

[CRDT4R]

do you have side airbags.. wonder if its the sensors for them

 

[A10MileHusker]

Huh!? Thats weird! That's right where your speakers are as well.
Let us know if you figure it out!

 

[Dbone]

I haven't yet pulled apart my doors so I am not familiar with the electronics within, but when I got out of my truck the other day I noticed these "markings" or "patches" if you will on the doors. Not sure what causes them - (maybe a load resistor or something in the door?), but they look kinda funny.

You can see them on the lower portions of all four doors, and in this picture you can see 4 of them. Just curious as to what is generating the heat behind there to cause this. If nothing else I will pop the doors open when the weather warms a bit and have a look, but was wondering if anyone that knew could tell me.

Thanks!

Is it happening on both sides?

Cheers

 

[r32]

This is from the Repair Manual. The shape of the area in question on the front door looks similar to a piece on the Power Window Regulator Motor Assembly.

 

[r32]

That is definitely weird.

 

[jeremysoca]

My take

The lower portion of the doors (cladding) have some type of "anti-denting" properties. If you look closely when cleaned, the cladding has some wavy texture/dimple to it (best way I can describe it). Maybe it has something to do with your picture.

 

[Uneek]

I doubt it would be heat, because the cladding is another layer over the door skin. So there would be an air space in between, and any heat from the electronic components should not radiate that far.

But I'm interested to see what would cause this phenomenon.

 

[morphius909]

If it was knew, I would guess some remenents of glue from shipping film.

But it's an 04.

ODD!

 

[teamblend]

i noticed the exact same thing on mine on a recent trip to the mountains. was snowing a lot. mine is an 08, and they were more in the form of circles. was so strange!

 

[leftyguns21]

those do look weird, and wondering if it does show on both sides.

here is a pic (sorry not dead on) of mine coated in dirt and it does not appear to have the same markings. so it makes me wonder if someone, in a odd perfect markings way, brushed up against your ride??

 

[morphius909]

Call The FBI X-Files Branch! lol

I noticed I have the odd circular marks just like teamblend describes.

Pretty much evenly spaced out.

 

[T4RSpectreSix]

Yes, these marks appeared on both sides of the truck. I have since washed the vehicle and so they are no longer visible, but if they show up again I will snap pix of both sides. They appear on both sides in exactly the same spots.

I think I may recall seeing another 4runner with the same marks in a parking lot at one point, but I can't be sure on that so take it with a grain of salt.

I figured they were given off by heat simply because it was icy out that day and I figured if something caused the stuff sitting on the doors to melt it might have left a patch where it all ran off.

If not that, I really dunno where these would come from, nobody to my knowledge had touched the truck in those spots. Part of what got my attention was that very assumption, I thought I had been swiped by somebody's doors at first, but when I walked around to the other side and saw the other two, I was stumped!

Thought: I do occasionally use an automated touch-free car wash that sprays various protectants and so forth on the vehicle - could this be some sort of concentrated build up? Not sure, doesn't stand to reason, since why would it only be right in those spots and not run off even a little? Just an idea, I guess.

 

[leftyguns21]

Part of what got my attention was that very assumption, I thought I had been swiped by somebody's doors at first, but when I walked around to the other side and saw the other two, I was stumped!

you sound like me..if i come out and notice some 'weird spots' i walk around my whole car and make sure nothing was scratched.

weird. both sides too....maybe someone is playing a mean joke on you. the heat theory makes sense with the ice...ive never noticed on mine but now im going to pay closer attention.