Water marks on leather...

[st8rocks]

I've noticed these spots coming up on my leather. I have cloth seats. Never left the windows open, the truck is always outside, I live at the beach on the NC coast. I took my roof rack off and replaced it with factory nonroof rack parts, sealed it well. I can't see any water leaks in the truck.... Only 3 months old.

couple other things:
-no sunroof
-smells and feels dry inside. Doesn't feel humid in there, I had a Camry with a leak and it smelled awful.
-I've felt all around the doors and I can't find a drop of water inside
-the marks are on all 4 doors

I have a Rav4 and the rear seats are always out of the car so there are open holes on the bottom where the seats bolt in. There is no water smell in the Rav so I don't think its just the climate. Water is getting into the Runner somehow.

 

[buchaja]

That is truly bizarre. Condensation?

 

[RickC5]

Yes, truly bizarre. However, that material on your/our door panels (We also have a '14 TE) is NOT leather. It is a man-made phony leather, more like naugahyde, made of some sort of plastic material. If, for some odd reason, you don't want to take it to your dealer for resolution, I would try some vinyl/plastic treatments rather than use products designed for real leather.

 

[MAXISTYLES]

Mold?

Mold? Maybe try cleaning a small section with 30% alcohol, 70% water solution. What do you normally clean that area with?

 

[st8rocks]

Great info and fast response, THANKS!

Good to know that this is not leather, but interesting that it has similar characteristics to water damaged leather...

So as far as cleaning:
-30% alcohol/70% water solution
-Plastic/vinyl cleaner, I have Mothers VLR(vinyl, leather, rubber) cleaner at the house. Any other suggestions?



I have a bad feeling that the dealer is just going to tell me I left a window open and its my fault. But the white spots are evenly dispersed on all four doors.

 

[badhabits]

I had some weird stains on one of my panels after leaving my windows open purple and green spots, Armor-all leather cleaner did an excellent job of removing them. The only difference with mine the spots were only a fer days old. Also if that does not work go to a quality shoe store and get a high end leather cleaner, I know the panels are not leather but this should work. :washing:

 

[Alex T4R]

Does anyone know if 2014 Limited has phony leather on the door panels too? Because when this thread first came up, I notice some but was not significant enough for me to bother. Yesterday it rained really hard and all of my 4 door panels look like someone was pouring water on my door panels. All windows were closed all the way and no leaking of water have been notice. When I place my arm on it and rub it, it disappears.

 

[VoodooTitan]

I know this is nuts but taste it... does it taste like salt? It could be if you drive out there with the windows down. Salt deposits from sea spray.

I also noticed that using crap like armor-all or other "cleaners" will leave markings like this. I used them 1 time and immediately wiped everything down with a wet wash cloth to remove that crap. But if you've ever used any of those interior wipes, it could be that as well...

 

[VoodooTitan]

Does anyone know if 2014 Limited has phony leather on the door panels too? Because when this thread first came up, I notice some but was not significant enough for me to bother. Yesterday it rained really hard and all of my 4 door panels look like someone was pouring water on my door panels. All windows were closed all the way and no leaking of water have been notice. When I place my arm on it and rub it, it disappears.

There could be some a layer of something sitting on the top of the material. Most likely when you place your arm on the panel the oil from your skin gives it the natural appearance whereas everything else looks dirty or spotted.

I honestly think it has to do with the temperature change inside the vehicle. Same way when you have to use defrost in the winter on the windshield... I can't explain the science behind it or the cause, but I think it's the same concept. I don't know enough about that material or the environments to intellectually come up with a theory and solution.

 

[Alex T4R]

There could be some a layer of something sitting on the top of the material. Most likely when you place your arm on the panel the oil from your skin gives it the natural appearance whereas everything else looks dirty or spotted.

I honestly think it has to do with the temperature change inside the vehicle. Same way when you have to use defrost in the winter on the windshield... I can't explain the science behind it or the cause, but I think it's the same concept. I don't know enough about that material or the environments to intellectually come up with a theory and solution.

The picture you saw is actually passenger side, and no one puts their arm there, I only had the truck for the month. I agree with you about temperature changes, which is fine with me, if it won't ruin the leather/phony material. My seats don't have this.

 

[VoodooTitan]

The picture you saw is actually passenger side, and no one puts their arm there, I only had the truck for the month. I agree with you about temperature changes, which is fine with me, if it won't ruin the leather/phony material. My seats don't have this.

I can't recall 100% but I do believe that I've experienced this as well. Just try some water and a cloth and see if it works. It could be from the toyota care treatment as well. It could be some chemical residual from the toyota care product.

 

[T4Ranger]

The picture you saw is actually passenger side, and no one puts their arm there, I only had the truck for the month. I agree with you about temperature changes, which is fine with me, if it won't ruin the leather/phony material. My seats don't have this.

this is very interesting, as I have the exact same issue. My gf pointed it out the other day. Only thing I can think of is that it may have occurred when we took a long road trip during the 4th of July weekend, went up through the OBX, windows down the entire time. I'm wondering if it was something in the air??? I planned on detailing it this upcoming weekend, if it doesn't come out, I'll be heading to the dealership.

 

[dhuthsing]

Brand New 2015 6 days off lot with same problem

Same exact problem. I will re post if I find a solution.

 

[txbonds]

My 2015 trail does the same thing in all 4 door panels when it's humid outside. I planned to try cleaning it with a few different things but haven't had a chance yet.

 

[usmaan]

Brand New 2015 4runner limited

I bought this car about 2 months ago and I am having same issues. Did anyone find a solution for it?

 

[adoihcj]

Does anyone know if 2014 Limited has phony leather on the door panels too? Because when this thread first came up, I notice some but was not significant enough for me to bother. Yesterday it rained really hard and all of my 4 door panels look like someone was pouring water on my door panels. All windows were closed all the way and no leaking of water have been notice. When I place my arm on it and rub it, it disappears.

The only leather on the Limited is on the seating surfaces. The back of seats, headrests and doors are vinyl.

Another posted mentioned it could be something that was on the surface of the vinyl, and water washed it off. Just wipe it with a damp cloth and see what happens.

 

[-dustin]

anyone ever find a fix for this? I noticed it in my 4Runner the day I picked it up...simply assumed it was because it was raining that day and the interior got wet. I've since wiped it off with microfiber and water, but it comes back.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

New vinyl "breathes". That is why a new car gets that annoying gray haze on the inside of the windows.

If the humidity is high it can cause spotting like you are seeing. It's harmless and will lessen as all the vapors in the vinyl start to evaporate.

Also, various brands and qualities of vinyl will emit more vapors than others.

Source: Me.

My Dad ran a plastics manufacturing company most of my life and I learned a lot about this type of stuff from an early age. My first new car was a Subaru and the windows in that thing (it sat outside) would haze so bad in a month you could hardly see out of them at night.

Use mild cleaner (a little diluted white vinegar) and wipe it off. Bet a dollar your windows are hazed too. ;-)

Also, if you treat it with something like Mothers or Meguirs plastic conditioner/Back to Black it should help.

 

[-dustin]

Interesting, and now that you mention it, you're right. I notice the spots in high humidity, which has pretty much been every day since picking it up. Got some Meg's Quick Interior Detailer at home, but I suppose I'll let it do its thing a little longer before cleaning with that stuff.

And yeah, windows are hazed. I just assumed it was dirt.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Interesting, and now that you mention it, you're right. I notice the spots in high humidity, which has pretty much been every day since picking it up. Got some Meg's Quick Interior Detailer at home, but I suppose I'll let it do its thing a little longer before cleaning with that stuff.

And yeah, windows are hazed. I just assumed it was dirt.

Thanks for the info.

Try Mothers Back to Black sometime when you get a chance. I have nothing but good to say about it. I use it on all my plastic (interior and exterior). Running board covers, rear bumper/tailgate plate, rack plastic ends, etc... Its good shit.

If I thought it would knock 20 years off me, I'd drink it.