ARGH - Something Ate Through My Clearcoat! [56K Beware] - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

islandboy57 · 05-13-2006, 10:48 PM

I live in an apartment building, and the back portion of my stall hangs out under peoples' balcony. A few weeks ago, I came to my car to find a bunch of white liquid spilled all over my trunk (I reverse in, so my trunk is what sticks out) and splashed all over the side and back window. I went to my friend's house to wash my car and all was well.

A few days ago, there's more white liquid splashed on my car (something different) but I didn't have time to wash car cuz I was busy with finals. I should have wiped it down completely, but I figured I'd do more harm than good without some good car wash soap and a soft microfiber cloth to wipe it off. It really didn't look bad at all which is why I was not concerned. I had also polished it last week so even more so I figured it'd be fine. In hindsight, I should have wiped it off anyway. I prefer spider webbing than something eating through my clearcoat!

Now that finals are over, I went to my friend's house to wash car and there's 5 small spots on the trunk where the clearcoat was eaten away by whatever was spilled on my car. What do you guys suggest? Touch up paint? I don't want it to get worse.. I waxed the car today, so hopefully that'll help a tiny bit if it happens yet again.

Anyway, here's the pictures.. I'm also including pictures of the OEM Valor exhaust tip I got from eBay. I think they sent me the wrong one (it's probably for a V6) but it still looks nice. The last two pictures are just for fun

^ It's not that big, but still noticeable

^ They're all about the same size.. This one isn't as big as it looks.

^ Entire trunk..

^ Exhaust tip

^ Exhaust tip again

^ All clean!

^ I just like this one..

Thanks for any help or advice you give.. I'm guessing touch up paint wouldn't be pretty but it would stop it from getting worse. It looks like the clearcoat would come off even more if given a reason to!

ekim55121 · 05-13-2006, 11:18 PM

take it to toyota and tell them that you just washed it and didnt notice it, new as your car is, it will have a paint warranty on it still

pcgeek · 05-14-2006, 01:46 AM

Or use the comprehensive insurance that you are paying big bucks for. That is vandalism and should be covered.

pcgeek

islandboy57 · 05-14-2006, 02:44 AM

Hmm..maybe I'll give Toyota a call. I dread having to take it down to the service center because it's not exactly close to work/school. I wish they hadn't consolidated their service center to just a few places - I prefer each dealership being able to service cars. I'll have to read up on the warranty and see what the details are. They clearly can see that I don't abuse my car, I wash it every weekend and it's clean almost all the time.

I'd like to avoid going through insurance for fear of my premiums going up. Being young and having a car = big $$ especially with comprehensive and collision added on.

ekim55121 · 05-14-2006, 03:35 AM

like i said you dont know wtf happend just tell them that you were washing it and you found that the cleat coat is peeling, its kinda a white lie, shit i work with warranty claims all the time some of them have to be pushed through it just depends how hot she is...........

dna59 · 05-14-2006, 08:43 AM

I know it's small and probably not that noticable, but I'm pretty sure you notice it everytime you look at it.

arcimpulse · 05-14-2006, 03:37 PM

by any chance, did you buy that exhaust tip from trdparts4u.com cause I have the same one as you. it did not look like the one in the picture, but the part number was the same. I was hoping for the SE exhaust tip, but I kept mine anyways. It looks ok.

islandboy57 · 05-19-2006, 11:19 PM

Alright, just talked with the building board president - they're going to run it through the building's insurance most likely. I have to go and get estimates. The same crap was on my car AGAIN last so as you can imagine I was ticked off. Apparently it's from somebody upstairs renovating and all of their cement and concrete is falling off to the bottom. My car, the lady next to me, and the lady after that - all three of our cars have damage.

The black SUV's damage is by far the worst - she never washes/polishes her car so the crap is stuck on good. The whole car is going to have to be repainted. The lady next to me, looks like her hood has to be repainted. My car has the least damage because I wash/polish it every weekend.

Anybody know what's involved in getting my car fixed? I'm not taking the cheap way out; I want the car to look how it was before the stupid lady renovated and all of the junk fell on my car.

PS: I got the exhaust tip from eBay

cuttooth · 05-20-2006, 02:37 AM

ahhh...if an apartment is renovating, that homeowner should be responsible for the damage. either that or the company thats doing the renovation. they're bonded and should be held liable for the damage on all the cars involved.

try taking the car to Autotech for an estimate, they're in kalihi off of waikamilo, look'em up in the phone book. i always take my cars there if body work is needed. they do alot of insurance work and do really good work. i know the general manager there and he's a really knowledgeable guy.

islandboy57 · 05-25-2006, 03:21 PM

^ Yeah, I guess the two insurance companies (buildings' and contractors') will fight it out.

Sounds good, I'll check out Autotech. I went to Punchbowl Fenderworks yesterday since I had time and they're nearby. My estimate was $1700+ for everything, plus an additional $300 to get my reverse sensors reinstalled. There's a small spot on my rear bumper where the paint peeled off and because of that, they'd have to take the whole bumper off, cut the reverse sensors and repaint the bumper. Even if I don't do the bumper, it's still going to be ~$1200. What's funny is that if the lady was nice (she's not, and she doesn't care about the cars she damaged) I'd be inclined to just forget about the bumper..but at this point, I'm thinking about just having the bumper done

All I know is.. I'm not going to be without a car. Either she personally or her contractors are going to pay for a rental - even if I have to drag her to small claims court. My car won't be in as long, but the other lady's black SUV needs to be entirely repainted.

Waghle · 05-25-2006, 03:31 PM

you should find out what that stuff is, who done it, and return the deed.

but if it was an accident..........

CamrySExxx · 05-25-2006, 04:04 PM

id say go to teh dealer ... btw nice exhaust

94camryxle · 05-27-2006, 04:00 AM

Fyi, Servco takes their cars to Masuda's in Kalihi. I hear they do excellent work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by islandboy57

^ Yeah, I guess the two insurance companies (buildings' and contractors') will fight it out.

Sounds good, I'll check out Autotech. I went to Punchbowl Fenderworks yesterday since I had time and they're nearby. My estimate was $1700+ for everything, plus an additional $300 to get my reverse sensors reinstalled. There's a small spot on my rear bumper where the paint peeled off and because of that, they'd have to take the whole bumper off, cut the reverse sensors and repaint the bumper. Even if I don't do the bumper, it's still going to be ~$1200. What's funny is that if the lady was nice (she's not, and she doesn't care about the cars she damaged) I'd be inclined to just forget about the bumper..but at this point, I'm thinking about just having the bumper done

All I know is.. I'm not going to be without a car. Either she personally or her contractors are going to pay for a rental - even if I have to drag her to small claims court. My car won't be in as long, but the other lady's black SUV needs to be entirely repainted.

islandboy57 · 07-12-2006, 08:54 PM

I'm going to buy some touch up paint and see what I can do in the meantime.. I still haven't heard back. One lady just had her car professionally detailed so I guess they paid her for it.. The car next to me has to have its hood repainted and that hasn't been done yet so I'm not sure what's going on with her.

Anyway, good or bad idea to see what I can do with touch up paint? Those dumb spots are bothering me every weekend when I wash car. Thanks for the suggestions on where to go. Maybe I'll take a spin out to Kalihi later.