Problem with touch up paint

[Master Yoder]

I have a 2002 4Runner Sr5 Sport, the paint is Thundercloud color code = KF9. It is a gray silver looking paint. Today I went to the dealership to pic up paint for a few nicks and the paint they pulled up via the pin number was a black looking paint, could it be because he did not shake the bottle before testing it?

I searched around online and KF9 seems like the right color but when I try to buy touch up paint at a site it says that it requires two cotes, the paint and a clear cote. Is it possible to touch it up even if it requires a clear cote? Do I ned to request something specific from the dealership? I would think they would know exactly what I would need.

 

[Koz]

I've used the touch-up for my vehicle and it matched pretty well. You definitely have to shake it well and use two coats. I didn't use any clear.

Koz

 

[toto]

Are you sure about that color code? Most body colors usually start with a number, not a letter. But trim colors usually start with letters. If you've got plastic trim that's a different color than the body, that may be it.

To double-check the body color, look at the big label inside the driver's door jamb. There should be a line titled "C/TR", followed by something in the format "xxx/xxxx". The "C" means body color code, so the 3-digit number before the slash is your paint code. "TR" means interior trim color, not an exterior paint color. If you do have two-tone paint, the dealer would have to look up the trim color based on the body color.

Toyota part numbers for paint are in the format 00258-00xxx, where "xxx" is your paint code. I definitely wouldn't go aftermarket on paint!

 

[Master Yoder]

Yep it says "C/TR KF9/FR17"

 

[Uneek]

I'd recommend Toyota touch-up paint too. If not, try paintscratch.com. Many say clear coat are mixed into touch paint already. After touching up the spot, you can also try Langka to get rid of the blob.

 

[toto]

Then KF9 it is. Even if it looks strange in the bottle, it should be fine on the truck.

I use lots of very thin coats to just fill the hole left by the paint chip. You don't want to use one heavy coat - that's how you get bumps. It's a bit time consuming, but the end result is worth it. Depending on how deep it is, I'll do a couple of coats after each car wash until it looks right.

 

[Master Yoder]

Cool, I'll just have to get it then. I like the Langka stuff i will have to get that depending on what it looks like after I touch it up.

The dealer sells the paint with a pen or brush applicator so i am hopeing the pen will work the best. The chips in the paint are very small, probably no even worth messing with but i just bought the car so i want it to look the best.

 

[Uneek]

Cool, I'll just have to get it then. I like the Langka stuff i will have to get that depending on what it looks like after I touch it up.

The dealer sells the paint with a pen or brush applicator so i am hopeing the pen will work the best. The chips in the paint are very small, probably no even worth messing with but i just bought the car so i want it to look the best.

I haven't tried the pen side, but it looks like a ball point pen. I think if it was like a felt tipped pen, it would be better and more effective.

I would also recommend getting the Langka product first too. If I recall, 24hrs is the maximum you can wait up until for the Langka product to work effectively.

 

[<<<<]

Master Yoder, It's not just your dealer. I have Titanium Silver 2004 Sports; I bought touch up before and it matched fine, but last year they switched to the ball pin stuff. I bought one mixed it well and it was way to dark, I went back and exchanged that one to the same part and color number at dealer. Sales dude opened 3 containers of same paint and they all were slightly different shade of silver. I went outside and picked the best match out of 3. I think Toyota stoped using origional paint as a touch up, and the new stuff is outsourced due to $$$ savings.

 

[Uneek]

Master Yoder, It's not just your dealer. I have Titanium Silver 2004 Sports; I bought touch up before and it matched fine, but last year they switched to the ball pin stuff. I bought one mixed it well and it was way to dark, I went back and exchanged that one to the same part and color number at dealer. Sales dude opened 3 containers of same paint and they all were slightly different shade of silver. I went outside and picked the best match out of 3. I think Toyota stoped using origional paint as a touch up, and the new stuff is outsourced due to $$$ savings.

Like you, I also have Titanium and my other two Toyotas are silver as well. Even for my '04 Camry and I got the touch up paint (brush only) that very year as well, it was off. It also could be fade, but I doubt it since it's light color and it's so new.

The benefit of silver colors is it hides swirls and minor surface damage well, unlike dark colors. But any repairs to the finish is a royal major PITA. Silver is one of, if not the most difficult colors to paint and match, along with any metallic colors. FJC owners should be better off since Toyota chose to use non-metallic colors. The silver on all three Toyotas are a different color and all three doesn't match very well. Bummer.

 

[02sport]

check out that paintscratch site mentioned above. the touchup paint matched perfectly... i can't remember but i think the color code for my 02 thunercloud is 1D2.

 

[JP4RNR]

I was told by my local Toyota dealer that the factory and touch-up paint is supplied by Sherwin Williams. For best color match you can supply Sherwin Williams with your color code and they will mixup a quart which I beleive is the minimum order.

For metalic finishes depending on how large the damage area is for best looking results you should use the base metalic color which does not shine as it does not have clear coat blended with the base coat. After the base coat has dried apply the clearcoat so that the finish shines and then lightly wet sand with 1500 grit sand paper and polish for mirror like finish if desired. I have had great results following this method but it does take a lot of patience.

 

[<<<<]

Sherwin Williams? I did not know that. Is it Latex or Oil Base? JK

 

[Gromulus]

Sherwin Williams? I did not know that. Is it Latex or Oil Base? JK

Solvent-based modified acrylic ("oil base") enamel.

 

[infamousRNR]

with conflicting paint codes and potential colors...

who has experience with touch up paint they bought that WAS a perfect match..

sounds like a test on a separate piece of metal is a good idea before applying to the real thing..

[MENTION=7992]Ripcord[/MENTION] anyone with a thundercloud 4runner have any suggestions?

 

[T4RNightHawk]

I got my paint from www.automotivetouchup.com and if you disregard the fact that I'm horrible at painting and that I ran out and used duplicolor color matched paint(which is a HORRIBLE product) it looks great. Make sure to get the 2K enamel.

 

[ronnyg801]

There is a good chance the touch up will just NOT MATCH.

I work on the auto body industry (I am a paint supplier for shops, I have worked in and out of the store for ten years) I deal with this daily.

Touch up paint is designed to get closer to uniform color and help, HELP with corrosion protection. It cannot replicate a two stage finish (base coat, clear coat applied with a spray gun)

If you have a color that "matched perfectly" consider your self lucky, or that you are not as particular as the guy who's paint doesn't match, or both.

Sherwin Williams does not supply the paint at the factory, they may supply to the dealer in the form of a touch up bottle. But using another paint, BASF, PPG, Axalta(formerly Dupont) Akso Nobel does not mean it will match.

This is no ones fault, its not yours, the dealers, or the paint companies. It is solely a limitation of applying paint with a brush and hoping it matches a paint that was atomized by a spray gun, or more sophisticated technology at the factory.

You can definitely try to shake it well before use, that CAN help. Lighter coats or heavier coats MAY or MAY NOT be of any use. If it is that important try multiple ways on a test piece or take it to a body shop.