How to refinish interior plastics?

[xxaarraa]

Searched and didn't find anything. The back of my T4R is well used to move a lot of stuff. I frequently have motorcycle ramps, suit cases, crates, etc. back there.

Between me and the previous owner, we have made quite a few scratches/blemishes on the gray plastics of the rear cargo area, wheel arches, etc. Any way to fill them in or refinish them somehow? I could live with it, but would be good to clean it up if possible.

 

[CookieRoe]

Never heard of "refinishing" plastic. Best bet is to repaint the plastic or get another piece. The plastic lining is "textured" so any attempt to refinish it will look obvious.

Plasti-dip might be a good option too.

 

[scottydoo79]

Never heard of "refinishing" plastic. Best bet is to repaint the plastic or get another piece. The plastic lining is "textured" so any attempt to refinish it will look obvious.

Plasti-dip might be a good option too.

X2. And plasti-dip is awesome!!!!!

 

[Nathana92]

Maybe something like a carbon fibre vinyl. Like this http://www.carbonfiberfilm.com/. I have thought about doing mine.

 

[talonjade]

crazy idea

i have always wanted to paint (Rhino liner/bed liner) and make it super tough. no idea if it could work but to dream of the ruggedness it would achieve!

 

[NJshadow93]

i have always wanted to paint (Rhino liner/bed liner) and make it super tough. no idea if it could work but to dream of the ruggedness it would achieve!

That's a good idea. How would you do it though? Seems like a major PITA for all the prep/masking etc.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

That's a good idea. How would you do it though? Seems like a major PITA for all the prep/masking etc.

Take the trim parts out, clean and prep them and spray

 

[talonjade]

Send my regards!

I think as far as rugged durability, the roll on bed-liner will be hard to beat... I know they can also color match so that's not a big problem.

If I was gonna do it i would do a kind of 2-tone effect (needs more BLACK accents)

If the bond was strong enough I think it would be a 1 and done job, enjoy never having to worry about scratches in the plastic...also when you get a nick the bed liner is easy to just paint over again... they usually have a rubbery textured surface so less sliding around too.

anyone know if anyone has done this before (doesn't have to be a Toyota) I will begin the hunt!

 

[2StepsAhead]

Be careful with plastidip on the interior...I did it on my forester and the black was so prone to smudges and dust that it drove me INSANE. I would possibly do plastidip as a base and then maybe paint over it with some type of gloss imho.

 

[xxaarraa]

Plastidip is nearly useless for any surface that you need to touch.

I was wondering if there were ways to fill in the scratches with some kind of filler or use a heat gun to smooth over or something. But a roll-on bed liner might do the trick too,

 

[Dougtoms01]

Check with a local detail shop. I looked at a 4Runner at the dealer with quite a few scratches like your describing on the passenger dash side and in the rear. They had a detail guys come in and it looked like new. I would guess they used a heat gun and some textured release fabric. Just a guess, but the technique exists. I would also search Youtube. Sees like I seem a plastic dash repair on there. Best regards, Doug

 

[crashman]

My friend does allot of radio installs when he had to cut plastic he would use a heat gun to smooth the plastic it would just make the sanding disappear.
If you try and lightly sand out the scratches then hit it with a heat gun
If this doesn't work try plasti dip