Scratches on a 14TE - What would you do?

[hearno]

So I found two decent scratches on the passenger side rear door by the sill. Dealer offered to have it corrected, read: painted. The left most line is not a scratch but a film that helps to prevent scratches.

Would you:

1. Try to have them buffed
2. Let your brand new truck go to a body shop
3. Suck it up and get over the first damage and hope karma keeps others away
for the next several years.

 

[1engineer]

Can you catch your fingernail in them? As they are white, they are probably not through the clear coat. I would hit them with a buffer and call it done. Mine is close to two years old now and I have about 100 scratches so far, mostly from brush and briars. I shine it up best I can and move on. Good luck with it and get it fixed to your standards.

 

[JET4]

After I finished crying I would buff it.

 

[Martinez_Runner]

Same as 1engineer.... buff it out if its not too deep... if you can't it's time to suck it up buttercup. Then again, I just payed 280 to fix a small i.e. 1 inch dent scratch. fml. *******s at the mall. pays to be a mallcrawler. lol:mad2:

 

[Canon_Bob]

I'm with 1engineer on this one. Clean it up best you can, and consider the first one over with. FWIW....I got my first one three days after getting my 4Runner (brush scratch on the right fender). Shrugged my shoulders and decided it was the first of many to come. Only ones that piss me off are the ones that someone else caused (door dings, etc.). I don't seem to mind the ones from the trail.

 

[8086bruce]

I would wet sand them first then buff them. If they are not all the way through the clear you should be able to make them go away. But the wet sanding is the key!

 

[Nolarola]

I would wet sand them first then buff them. If they are not all the way through the clear you should be able to make them go away. But the wet sanding is the key!

I wouldn't wet sand unless you know what you're doing. Tons of people have tried this and messed up - including me.

I'd see about buffing, etc. by a good shop and if that doesn't fix, let em paint it. I'd guess you're never going to see any issues with paint from a body shop - the fears are WAY overblown.

 

[Canon_Bob]

BTW - Those look almost like someone "keyed" your vehicle. Most trail scratches either run horizontally, or are much shorter if they're vertical. If they're vandalism, then fixing them might invite a repeat offense (assuming it wasn't random). I'd spend some time thinking about how it happened (and then dealing with the suspected vandal appropriately if that was the case) before spending money to fix it and then just having it happen again. Just a thought, and I may be completely wrong.

 

[Ky4Runner1]

I have issues when it comes to door dings and scratches that others have caused.

I am sure there are meds I could take.... to help my condition.

I would get that fixed.

If I have to park in a parking lot I go way out to try and avoid.

People don't have respect for other peoples stuff.

Drives the wife nuts.

I don't let bugs dry on the front end etc....
Wipe them off at the end of the day.

Always have been that way with my vehicles.

 

[diverscale]

those scratches are probably through the basecoat, as you can easily see the gray primer which is below. I would get the truck to the paint shop, no amount of buffing will make this disappear.

if no dis-assembly is required, a blend would not be that expensive, we are talking in the 300$ territory.

 

[kpd1999]

Judging by the car in the reflection and the direction of the scratches, I'd guess those are intentional. I think I'd first try to find out who might have done it (if possible), before I got them fixed and have it happen again. :bash:

As far as how I'd fix it, I don't have any experience in body work so I'd go with the suggestions above.

 

[8086bruce]

I wouldn't wet sand unless you know what you're doing. Tons of people have tried this and messed up - including me.

I'd see about buffing, etc. by a good shop and if that doesn't fix, let em paint it. I'd guess you're never going to see any issues with paint from a body shop - the fears are WAY overblown.

I agree I would have a shop do it as well. If done well you can make some pretty good scratches go away.

 

[Sheabutter]

As someone mentioned above those look intentional. Not much you would do that would cause vertical scratches like that. If you can feel them or catch ur nail on them they need to be painted. Call your insurance company a file a claim. Will be a comprehensive claim and your deductible maybe lower than your collision deductible. It is a 14 trail and you've spent a lot of money to get that truck. Nip it in the butt and get it repair properly I say.

 

[cbielat]

If it was done by the dealer, I would have them fix it and not at your cost.

 

[1engineer]

those scratches are probably through the basecoat, as you can easily see the gray primer which is below. I would get the truck to the paint shop, no amount of buffing will make this disappear.

if no dis-assembly is required, a blend would not be that expensive, we are talking in the 300$ territory.

Clear scratches white...

 

[twoburgers]

'13 Ltd was keyed New Years Eve - triggered liberal...

BTW - Those look almost like someone "keyed" your vehicle. Most trail scratches either run horizontally, or are much shorter if they're vertical. If they're vandalism, then fixing them might invite a repeat offense (assuming it wasn't random). I'd spend some time thinking about how it happened (and then dealing with the suspected vandal appropriately if that was the case) before spending money to fix it and then just having it happen again. Just a thought, and I may be completely wrong.

I wanted to add that my '13 Ltd was keyed New Years Eve while parked in my driveway! I have the pearl white, and properly repairing the drivers door will cost $908. Ouch! I checked with a detail shop and they said they could not buff it out. The net was that my Trump sticker on my rear window apparently triggered a neighbor to key F*** You on my drivers side door. Not to mention he ripped my mail box off the post and keyed my neighbors Jeep even worse. I say neighbor, because I back my truck in every night and the sticker was not visible.
So, alarm did not go off. I'll be adding two cameras to my home. Ridiculous!
Chris
Richmond, VA

 

[gbarr]

Don't you love it, they, you know exactly who I'am talking about, just can't seem to get over it.