Discoloration on 4Runner Dash

Hello - I purchased a used 2019 4Runner about a year ago and it has some discoloration on the plastic on the dash. Looks like black water marks but I have tried to clean it with everything and it won’t come off. Any ideas on what could help or what it is?

 

Weird. Was this a new or used purchase? Is something you notice recently, or did it come that way? Looks like whatever it was, splashed all over the place.

I dont have any specific recommendations for cleaners, but i would stick to automotive interior cleaners that just clean (no gloss/grease). Soak it for a bit in it maybe?

 

Looks to me like those stupid vent scent things leaked. A lot of scent things are notorious for discoloring/damaging plastic, so much so they warn not to let the smelly parts touch anything.

What so far have you tried to use to clean it?

 

It is a used vehicle that came with the marks. I’ve used armor all, commercial interior dash cleaner, and avoided windex because I read somewhere that it can cause discoloration on 4 runners.

 

Ooo good call! I wonder what it smells like? Grape? Black Ice? Tiger musk? Maybe the internet has ideas on removing those spills, if they are that common.

 

I'm not sure there is a way to clean it up. Those scent things use volatile chemicals in order to disperse the smell, many of those chemicals are damaging to plastics.

 

Good time to upgrade to the carbon fiber trim.

 

I like simple green

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@PVT Pablo is most likely correct. If you look at the location of the marks it looks like it ran down from the vents above the radio. Never use a liquid air freshner folks. Get one of those tree ones or better yet just keep the car clean.

My guess is the chemicals either removed the silver finish or are dried on and need a "like" corresponding solvent to remove them. Most interior car cleaners are water based. You need an oil or organic based solvent to try and remove the stains.

This is problematic because those solvents will most likely also remove and or discolor the finish if they are too strong. I would try some goo gone (you can get it at Orielly's) with a soft rag and first try it on one of the center stack trim panels on either side of the HVAC control. Do a small area first, then asses.

Worst case scenario is you upgrade the head unit or pick up an undamaged OEM one of eBay for a decent price, and replace the trim panels below on either side of the HVAC panel.

 

On a small location try using a Q-tip and Simple Green, then Formula 409, then isopropyl alcohol. Be gentle, don’t abrade the plastic finish, let the solvent do the work. If that doesn’t work the plastic damage is probably permanent. Then you have the choice of replacing it, covering it up with vinyl or paint, or living with it as is. Good luck.

 

Its already messed up. Try alcohol. If it makes it worse, pull it off and have it painted cerakoted or just replace the trim pieces.

 

Given it’s messed up already an idea that came to me is to use some very light paint polish and buff it a test spot and going gentle….
The part is painted plastic so

 

plasti dip it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4Xibi5vfd4

 

You can try a magic eraser on a small area to see if it changes the finish. If you throw everything at it on the chemical side and it doesn't work then a mechanical solution is all that's left. I've used magic erasers to great effect on interior fixes but I'd test it out first. They can dull gloss plastic but that's an easy fix with a rubbing compound and some elbow grease. I don't really recall fixing matte plastic like that with one. Since it's already "dull" due to being matte, it might work without any correction needed at all actually. But if you have a small spot you can test, always do that first.

What you don't want to do is scrub it too hard only to find out you wear it down to what is likely a white plastic underneath. Of course you can always pop it off and repaint it if it came to that.

 

Thank you everyone! I’ll try out a few things and keep the group updated!

 

Unless the formula has changed, Goo-Gone will melt plastic. Ask me how I know.

 

I would recommend against a magic eraser. That will cause scratches.

 

Hmm, you might give this a go… grab you a small pale of warm water (2cups, 1 cup of white vinegar & a squirt of blue Dawn Dish soap) mix it up a bit and grab you and old cotton wash cloth and gently go over areas, rinse out cloth with another pale of cold water & repeat as necessary … when your done … wipe of with dry cloth and then go over with 303 Marine Aerospace Protectant or whatever you normally use …
Good luck

 

Goof-off or Goo-Gone? This is the stuff I'm talking about. I've used it gently without issue in the past. It's mostly citrus oil.

Now Goof-off (metal tin) is a strong organic solvent (I think its >50% paint thinner) and that would definitely melt certain types of plastic. Don't use it.

 

No amount of cleaning is going to fix that. Whatever caused it, it etched the clearcoat (if they coated it) or etched the plastic itself. It is permanent. The only way to fix it is remove/sand/paint/reinstall or replace all together. Carbon fiber knockoffs are less than OEM and look tits.

 

It may well have been Goof-Off. I know it wasn't in metal tin, and there is still a partial bottle of Goo-Gone in the cabinet. This was 20+ yrs. ago, memory isn't what it used to be. The dash in my pick-up looks like it has acne. I haven't used the stuff since.

 

I was thinking of goo gone as well. It’s funny because it is my Moms go to for so much. I have never tried it on a car interior but at this point what do you have to lose. Just keep the door open for some ventilation.