Sun damage

[newme36]

I just bought a used 91 red toyota pickup and the paint is very dull. Is there a product out there that would bring the luster back?

[ibeapoet]

I'm just going take a guess here... is the truck red?? I know red paint on a toyota from that model year doesn't last for some reason.

You could try to wax and buff the paint, if it still has the clear coat. That will help a little. McGuires makes a really fantastic line of waxing products. They are more expensive, but worth the cost.

If the clear coat is gone but the paint is still in good condition, buy a small container of clear coat with at walmart (it's under $5 and looks like a bigger thing of nail polish). Paint a little in a corner somewhere let it dry and see if that gives you the result you looking for. If if does you can have the truck re-clear coated at a very reasonable cost.

Considering it's age, maybe a macco special is in order. They run specials up here for $299 to paint an entire vehicle without any body work, back to the original color.

[newme36]

Thanks, but at one time I remember seeing something on an infomercial about restoring sun bleached vehicles and can't remember the name of the product. You maybe right by going to macco and getting it re-painted. Just trying to avoid something I can't afford.

[ibeapoet]

Was that the thingy with the drill attachment?? That "buffed you paint like new"?? That's the only thing I can remember seeing. And that's been at least two years ago. good luck.

[SSIAnkie]

I'm with Amanda on this one, my hubby swears by McGuire's wax. He has used it for several years. It is worth the extra expense. His car is red and fades too. He uses the McGuire's wax and then puts a buffing compound on it and buffs it out. Makes it much more shiney. Your local parts store might also have some recommendations for you. Hope you get your truck the way you would like it to be.

[notyard]

Agree with ibeapoet and SSIAnkie on the Meguiar's products--their products are top notch.

The person "KB" who answers the dull paint question on this forum does a nice job, step by step, recommending which Meguiar's products and methods to use for each step: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...3110136AAmmRua

The clay bar method that he mentions in step 2 really cleans up and smoothes out your vehicle's paint. I used a Turtle Wax Ice clay bar kit on our highest mileage vehicle, and it made the paint smooth like brand new. Polishes and waxes go on much more easily now after using a clay bar on the surface, the shine and color look much deeper and richer like new, and the wax jobs last longer. Well worth the elbow grease and time to clay bar the vehicle!

Here's another good detailing site recommending Meguiar's products and showing pictures and videos of how well the products work on faded vehicles: http://guidetodetailing.com/damage-r...repair-clinic/

[Cpogie]

Jude, thanks for the sites, esp the car detailing site...great info!

[powens]

My car has the dull foggy looking headlights but I saw that Wal-Mart even has a treatment for that. What I really NEED is a carport!