Help with cleaning door jambs/wheel well area that has not been cleaned/rust spots

[johnsonsteve]

I was washing the truck the other day b/c it finally a warm day here and it was really dirty. I thought I would look at the door jambs and the painted area that is near the wheel wells just outside of them and those areas are so dirty. like never been cleaned dirty. The dirt is like baked on. I scrubbed and scrubbed but wasnt really making a difference. Most of it is these little black spots that go away eventually. I think it is tar or something but anyway has anyone never cleaned these areas before and then gotten them looking like new eventually? Should I just keep scrubbing them once a week or something.

Also I have two rust spots. There is a very small one on the roof and another small one on near the left headlight. I have some Toyota touchup paint but I guess they need to be sanded first? Kinda dont want to do that b/c I dont want to sand off a lot of paint trying to do it or anything. These spots are pretty small. I guess I need to fix those spots though somehow?

 

[Orc]

Probably best to wax that area when new and clean it like new maybe once or twice a year then wax it again. Rust isn't going to hurt anything but it will diminish value if left unchecked.

Crazy idea I just had, post a craigslist add wanting a body shop guy to help you with it. You won't have to pay as much as going to the shop, these guys love side work for extra cash. You will even learn how to do it again in the future!

 

[wnelax04sr5]

hey [MENTION=105591]swapmeet[/MENTION] didn't you figure this out?

 

[jonesmw10]

That's the tough part about owning a 4Runner. It seems like if they don't get chipped/scratched they hold up great, but especially up here in the north, you have to look for paint chips like crazy and tend to them right away. If you don't surface rust comes with a vengeance. I had a few stone chips on my hatch that within a week, had a good amount of surface rust. I took a rag and actually buffed it to where it was clean and put touch up on it. Will it last forever? God no. But it will hold it over until spring when I can have it addressed.

Edit: Also, how big are the spots? I mean if they're small and not bubbling, I would just buff it and put on touch up. Just monitor it very closely.

 

[swapmeet]

[MENTION=118823]johnsonsteve[/MENTION] I had a similar complaint. Everytime I went offroading here in Texas (which 99% requires driving through some soupy mud) I would end up with nasty door jambs and doors.

I don't know if this will help, or what color your truck is, but give this a shot (once you have all your rust fixed and mud cleaned off.) Go get some of that Rustoleum Never Wet stuff.
Before you put it on, i'll tell you right now that its not pretty. It leaves a chalky almost purple residue wherever you spray the final coat. That's what water proofs everything. It looks like a sack of wet dicks on black paint, I can tell you that much. But nothing sticks to it. Its crazy.

It'll wash off. I put some on my sliders and its already gone after a drive through car wash. I did the sliders more as a test than anything else.

Post some pics man. It'll help us help you.

 

[johnsonsteve]

When I get home I will. I am guessing I will just have to wash the door jambs again and again until I beat that dirt! I don't off road ever. Its just dirty from 9 years and 208K miles lol! My color is silver.