What Did You Do To Your 3rd Gen Today?
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Wedgy
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Was getting a few drops of water in the drivers compartment, suspect it's the grommet thru the firewall so I siliconed a piece of plexiglass in the corner above it to deflect any water from above. I noticed a bit of crud in the trim piece under the windshield wipers so I popped that out and cleaned out 21 years worth of pine needles and dirt. Glad I live in SoCal or this would be rusted out for sureI should have taken a picture before I vacuumed out the pine needles. There's a gap between the trim piece and my windshield because the glass was replaced(I can see a couple scratches in the frame around it) and there's excess silicone bead that doesn't allow the trim piece to fully seat. Trimmed it with a razor and now it sits flush against the glass, the gap was filled with pine needles. The 4 clips pop out with a body panel pry bar. The trim piece is badly oxidized and I would like to repaint it if I find the right paint color for plastic.
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Brian.
Member
FWIW, vinyl dye would be better than paint. This is the stuff the "pros" recommend...
Solution Finish Black Plastic & Vinyl Restorer 12 oz.
But plain ole black shoe polish will achieve the same results (maybe not for the same time though?)
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
I used something similar - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00FIU54BW/ref=twister_B07XGFJCLK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I used it on both the cowl and rear bumper trim pieces. It came out really good, although is you look super closely, you'll see the brush marks. So I don't look too closely.
Brian.
Member
Ahh yes, fun with OEM rear shocks.
Trust that your misery has been shared by countless others already, and will be shared by more in the future. Time eases the pain...eddielasvegas
Member
The real question is how long does that good look last?
I use 303 Protectant and it does a good job for a few weeks, but then it must wear off and the trim is back to its tired looking self.
Eddie
I use 303 Protectant and it does a good job for a few weeks, but then it must wear off and the trim is back to its tired looking self.
Eddie
I used something similar - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00FIU54BW/ref=twister_B07XGFJCLK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I used it on both the cowl and rear bumper trim pieces. It came out really good, although is you look super closely, you'll see the brush marks. So I don't look too closely.
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
The real question is how long does that good look last?
I use 303 Protectant and it does a good job for a few weeks, but then it must wear off and the trim is back to its tired looking self.
Eddie
I should have mentioned that - mine's been on there for two years, and it looks as good as when I put it on. And my truck is not garaged, so it gets the full CA sun exposure.
Brian.
Member
The real question is how long does that good look last?
I use 303 Protectant and it does a good job for a few weeks, but then it must wear off and the trim is back to its tired looking self.
Eddie
That's the difference between a Dye, something that has color of its own, and something like 303 which is more along the lines of a colorless wax that temporarily restores some of the oils to the plastic. 303 is a failure at restoring faded plastic because it has no color of its own.... might help plastic from degrading as quickly and it does a fair job at cleaning plastic without stripping out the oils, but that's really the limit.
I'm just about to embark on the same plastics treatment. The product I used last time is no longer available, but it lasted for ~4 years before I sold the car... hoping that the Solution Finish is even half as good. Just be very, VERY careful to not get it on anything you don't want black. Remove the part if possible (as you have with the rain guard), or at the very least use plenty of masking tape.
G_Raw
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Looking forward to this...lift kit coming my way.
eddielasvegas
Member
Thanks all for the trim restoration comments.
I'm going to try the $13 special. I noticed the other product was $40. A bit steep for my liking, but $13 is right up my alley.
Eddie
I'm going to try the $13 special. I noticed the other product was $40. A bit steep for my liking, but $13 is right up my alley.
Eddie
Brian.
Member
Erm... that was the "industrial size" for pros who do dozens of cars a month and want a decades supply....
Solution Finish Black Plastic & Vinyl Restorer 1 oz.
That's your lifetime supply, most of your kids lifetime too. $14. Or, if you need to buy from Amazon (or just want to check the reviews):
https://www.amazon.com/Solution-Fin...id=1577065888&sprefix=solution,aps,180&sr=8-4
eddielasvegas
Member
heat
Member
They also list a grey, which is closer to the original color. Whichever,
this is a good find.
I've been experimenting with the heat gun as a way to restore the
plastic, and it ~works. I need to pull the panel to finish.
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Griffin4Runner
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Installed my sleeping platform/shelf with 12 volt power supply....and cup holder.
Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
Do you have blueprints for this?
Brian.
Member
I've tried heat before (colored plastics, dirtbikes) and it does sorta work, but it's still short term. Months instead of weeks for things like 303, vasoline, baby oil, etc... but there's a bit of skill involved in raising the oils without warping/distorting the panels. And it tends to lead to "tiger stripes" (looks like it sounds) as you heat a section at a time, usually more noticeable after those oils have faded away and it's back to looking sun beaten.
I had meant to ask if the plastic trim was originally Deep black or more of the grey-black.
Wedgy
New member
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Scoop'02
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Thanks Leon. This is good to know, been looking for something that will last.
RMGulchin1
New member
Plasti dip the completely worn/chipped grille
RMGulchin1
New member
Looked at my drivers seat in disgust and have been searching google for a replacement since.
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