Paint issues

[mreno02]

I just washed and waxed our 06 4runner this weekend and noticed some spider cracking on the roof paint. It doesn't appear to be hail related as there are no dents. I was wondering if anyone has seen this before?

 

[progress4m]

I just washed and waxed our 06 4runner this weekend and noticed some spider cracking on the roof paint. It doesn't appear to be hail related as there are no dents. I was wondering if anyone has seen this before?

I do not recall anyone having this particular paint issue… are you the original owner? Was it ever repainted?

 

[mreno02]

I do not recall anyone having this particular paint issue… are you the original owner? Was it ever repainted?

No, I'm not. I purchased it used about 5 months ago. I'm not sure about it being re-painted either. I'm starting to think it has something to do with the heat down here in Texas. I noticed the rubber trim around the hood grill is all faded and cracking too. I just don't understand how the paint could do that with the truck being silver.

 

[EdmundGTP]

Paint that's exposed to sun (especially in the southwest) without any sort of regular waxing or UV protectant WILL fade, deteriorate, and eventually crack. Even silver. Tops of my fenders are faded and "ashy" from clearcoat deterioration. Don't really care honestly since I consider the truck a tool more than anything. If the paint gets bad enough, eventually I'll just rattle can the whole thing tan or gray. Crappy thing though, is that once clear coat deteriorates to the point that it's visibly noticeable, there's no fixing/stopping it. Alternative is to repaint.

 

[mreno02]

Thanks for the input. I think I'll just try to keep waxing the crap out of it and hopefully it won't get worse.

 

[JEL]

I do see this a lot on cars in the desert SW, my advice would be to get some 3m Performance Finish and put at least a couple coats a year on. I try to keep two good coats on every car and have never had an issue myself, the 3m stuff is more of a sealant than a wax and lasts a lot longer, but it doesn't shine quite as well as carnauba wax.

 

[V8Man]

My money it's had hail damage repaired being from Texas. Repair guys don't work as hard getting it right. Lift one of the roof seam covers and look for a clearcoat edge. Factory will be smooth.

 

[preacher35]

I just washed and waxed our 06 4runner this weekend and noticed some spider cracking on the roof paint. It doesn't appear to be hail related as there are no dents. I was wondering if anyone has seen this before?

Yeah, it sounds like it has been repainted. I'm the original owner of my Galactic Gray '05 Sport Edition and I live in SE Texas. It has been exposed to the more than not and I definitely do not have that issue on painted metal. But, I wax and polish the paint every single time I wash it. Now, that being said, I do have the fading/spider webbing on the top lips of the painted plastic fender flares. I am assuming that the plastic is more vulnerable to the direct sun/heat than is the sheet metal. Go figure. Now that I have 105k miles on it, and for the first time, I REALLY LOVE the way it looks and drives, I'm thinking about getting the entire vehicle repainted. I have to choose between that or a URD Supercharger setup.

 

[mreno02]

My money it's had hail damage repaired being from Texas. Repair guys don't work as hard getting it right. Lift one of the roof seam covers and look for a clearcoat edge. Factory will be smooth.

Thanks. I'll check that out. JEL mentioned using 3m performance finish. I personally wash, clay bar, use mother's carnauba wax, then finish with meguiar's gold wax. What you guys do/use?

 

[ebg18t]

My process fir paint protection: Menzerna Fast Gloss followed by Menzerna Super Intensive Polish (if needed) then Menzerna Power Lock to seal it up. Everything applied with Flex VRG 3401.