Plastic trim rubbing off paint

Yeah I am just trying to figure out what the best plan to fix is. My dealer took mine off and felt the door edge on paint and in back garnish was beat idea. They did not like spacer idea as it may lead to too much dirt or water issue.

Unfortunately they knicked my paint while taking off garnish ams they were honest, apologized and offer to repaint. Stuff happens and accidents happen.

My goal now is just to try to find a fix that is working for most people. I am in no rush since someday I may repaint although I am going to try to touch up the Knicks near I can and take car Xanax for a while.

My dealer thought there bad batches of warped garnish. They ordered a new one and there were burrs on the corners so we did not use it.

Unfortunately toyota does not appear to want to help us and I would suspect they are less interested now as the 5th Gen nears it end

 

Toyota will have to continue to deal with claims until the warranty runs out on the last 2024. I think most people don't know. Most people do not come online to find out that there is a widespread issue.

I have to go to Lowe's this afternoon to get screws and washers for my new dashboard speakers and a tap to try to fix the threads on one skid plate bolt, so I have added a roll of the Scotch 2228 tape to my cart. They do have it in stock. It's $15 per roll, but compared to the cost of a repair later, I'll pay the $15. So I'll get stuff for three 4Runner fix items in one trip. If I can get the dash speakers done then I can move on to the tailgate and do the garnish while I have the tailgate apart. Waiting for dealer and Toyota to fix another problem that prevents me from doing the front door speakers so I will work on these projects in the meantime.

 

Don't forget about the license plate issue folks. I got a black silicone license plate holder on Amazon for $8 that is nice and soft to protect the paint from the plate.

 

All,

I am going to write a note to a contact I have at Toyota and see if this person can forward our garnish repair concerns to anyone that can give us advice or hopefully better yet issue a TSB on how to properly repair. It appears that we have all have been given different advice by dealers and after many call this week even I got different repair suggestions from multiple dealers.

I was thinking that in my email if you would like I could list the names of forum members here who are having the garnish issue. If you would like to be included on my email please send me a private message with your full name, year and model of your 4Runner, and city/state (or province).

I have no idea what sort of help we may or may not get, but I would hope that someone at Corporate would help us in getting an official repair/TSB if they saw several of us just on this forum alone (let alone other enthusiasts on other media types).

For those that send this information I will include you on the email and list the names of all of us impacted at the bottom of my email.

 

There's a gasket that goes around the edge of that trim on my 2013. I need to install mine, but no paint wear. I was wondering if a body could split a 1/4" vacuum hose and use as gasket to line the edge with. Factory fit closer, but aftermarket 4th brake light trim doesn't touch. You might remove hatch panel and tighten or loosen. Easy to get to.

 

I wondered if you couldn't use door edge protector trim around it.

 

It's really easy to get to. The top under Toyota emblem pushes and snaps into a hole behind it with a square plastic molding piece and small screw for tension. 4 nuts on studs underneath. If you use old gasket you will have to glue on with RTV the way it's made. I wonder if you can actually buy separate from molding? I have already been through parts catalogs showing one thing and it's not actually available.

 

That is what my dealer suggested and is trying (3M door edge guard tape on the painted surface and then also on the back of the garnish where there is not rubber gasket. Time will tell I guess unless Toyota can give us a better official solution.

 

Can you use RTV lightly, let it dry for a compressable gasket or get generic gasket material and make it. I got 1/16" rubber mat from Lowes and made new inner fender splash guards that work.

 

PM sent. Thanks!

 

Over the weekend I used Scotch 2228 to make a gasket to go behind a grille badge that I didn't want to cut into the plastic in case I ever remove it. I think it's ideal for the task at hand. It's reasonably thick and soft, adhesive-backed, can be cut into strips with a razor blade, and UV and weather resistant for exterior use. I bought it at my local Lowe's.

 

I might try that myself. That's better idea than RTV or trying to glue another gasket to it. I have some of that.

 

The only way I could cut it straight into thin strips was to remove the slippery waxed paper that covers the adhesive side and stick it to a VERY clean plastic kitchen cutting board so it would not slide around. I then put a ruler over it to use as a straight edge. The razor blade must be brand new I quickly discovered as the Scotch 2228 is tough stuff.

 

Pm sent

 

Bump

 

Which silicone plate holder? There are many? Thanks!!

 

This one:

$7 Aujen Silicone License Plate Frames Black, 1 Pack Car License Plate Frame, Universal US Car Black License Plate Holders Brackets Rust-Proof, Rattle-Proof, Weather-Proof Car Accessories(Black)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X5XCYX7?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

I like it.

 

Yup. Thats exactly the one I purchased also.

 

I can confirm that a 2024 off road premium has the gasket on the garnish however, as you can see, it is not preventing the garnish from rubbing on the paint

 

The problem in my opinion is the paint. In just a few weeks, I have noticed in a couple of places now on my new 2024 Offroad that the Toyota paint just flakes and chips off if you so much as look at it sideways. It also scratches if you touch it at all with almost anything other than a cloth. I haven't ever seen anything like it. The paint on my FJ Cruiser chipped, but never like this.

 

This is my first Toyota, and I agree the paint is the part of my 4R Im most unimpressed by.

 

Are you putting washer to create separation between gasket and paint?

 

I put on a new garnish gasket but placed it closer to the outside edge. There were pathetic foam washers between the 4 garnish bolts and the body that were almost already worn away. I am swapping them for rubber washers. I am also adding the scotch 2228 tape around the edges

 

This is the exact area I was told to check for rust before my original factory warranty expires because rust will not be covered under the remaining 7 years of the Platinum VSA that I purchased.

 

That's disappointing.

Thinking through this a little more in light of my earlier comment about the poor quality of the paint. I wonder if a rubber gasket vibrating against the paint will damage it by simply wearing it down over time. It might. There would be three solutions to that.

1) Hold the rubber gasket and garnish very tightly against the paint so it cannot vibrate.
2) Space the entire garnish away from the paint so there is no gasket required because there can be no contact.
3) I don't see this one proposed yet. Apply a thin strip of Scotch 2228 to the paint not to the garnish. This way there can be no wear on the paint because the Scotch is stuck to it with adhesive. This would be sort of a pain to install because the tape would have to be cut into strips that are easly bent and then applied exactly following the outline of the garnish so it doesn't look bad.

 

I did the 2228 tape on the body. Only messed up placement on one side. I'll have to keep my eye on it
I wasn't able to use the rubber washers between the garnish and body. I think they were too thick and the clips wouldn't lock into the tailgate. I used new foam washers on top of some made out of a shampoo bottle. I put the rubber washes on the other side of the bolt and used a small amout of lock tight. Not sure if that will work.

 

That ought to be a permanent fix. No way for anything to damage the paint because the rubber tape is stuck to it.

If the bolts are secure, there should be no wear there. Your plastic shampoo bottle washer ought to be just fine.

Loctite will hold forever.

I think you are all set so long as everything stays in place. This will be a test of the Scotch 2228 adhesive. It's rated for outdoor use and UV exposure.

Now all you need is black bumper valances!

 

Oh, and don't forget the silicone license plate holder. Are you going to do the hood scoop too?

 

Thank you. Yes, the valances are on the list

 

I did the hood scoop a few weeks back but might remove it to add some 2228 tape to it.

And yes, have the silicone license plate holder