Help - Black side Window Frames look terrible

It was faded and streaked when you bought the car? It's supposed to be flat, but something doesn't sound right.

 

Bill Merchant from the Portland HSD Meetup group started me using a product called 303 Aerospace Protectant. I use it on all the plastic and vinyl stuff inside and out because it offers UV protection. But it also makes stuff look better and works a lot better than some of the other products. Not slick or shiny like Armor All.

You can't get it a everywhere but some autoparts stores have it, I get it at Ace Hardware. The next HSD Meetup Group meeting is scheduled for Sept 19, if you want to wait until then I'll bring some and you can try it.

The Portland Area HSD Meetup Group (Portland, OR) - Meetup.com

Bill hasn't let us know where we are going to meet yet but if you PM him he will let you know.

 

Just looked very closely at mine (BTW in perfect condition, 10 weeks old). These panels are plastic, black matte with a very fine grain. Look to be of good quality. Have no idea why yours could be faded or corrupted somehow. And why the dealer blew you off like that?

The ONLY thing I could think of is that somehow wax or overspray of something as that is in the fine grain of those panels. Can you take a very close look at the finish to determine what it may be? If it's fine white streaky - probably wax.

I bought a bottle of Mothers Back To Black for my Lexus RX 6 months ago that had faded finish in the panels between the doors. Those were covered with a black vinyl tapelike material - semi-flat. The fade was probably from years of sun and oxidation. The Mothers made hardly any difference. However I used some many years ago on another car - black bumper strips and such - it worked great.

I have the bottle right here - it does state 'removes oxidation, wax residue, and surface film'. I bought it at Advanced Auto - any large Auto store would carry it. Probably $6 or so. I'd recommend. if you're handy a bit, pick one up and try it.

If we were closer - I'd ask you to stop by and we'd both work on it. But NW to SE across the U.S. wouldn't work. Sorry you have this problem and a terrible dealer.

Please let us know what transpires. We ARE here to help.

 

Yes. If you can't find it in the stores, you can also order it online from lots of places (google "303 aerospace protectant").

Also, you might want to consider getting 303's trial kit with samples of their products, including the 303 Aerospace Protectant. The trial kit costs $6:

303 Products, Inc.: 303 Products Free Samples

 

Reines RV and Camping World sells 303 here in Manassas. Amazon has a number of sellers:

Amazon.com: 303 aerospace protectant

 

Hi Pdxrose, The flat matte black bezel (frame) around my windows is a consistent color. No streaks or variation is shade of black. It looks like it will be difficult to clean when dirt get into the texture and if someone uses a cleaner, or wax on them it will be impossible to remove. --TK

 

As others have stated, my guess would also be that wax got on these parts (perhaps when the dealer detailed it) and you're seeing the white residue.

I'll second 303 Protectant--I've been using it for decades on my cars. Great on all exterior plastic/rubber, since it's got a nice matte finish and lasts a few washings. The best product for tires IMHO.

 

If it's possible to try just a spot on the black trim between the doors--use some Dawn regular dishwashing detergent, somewhat diluted, and see if it removes it. If it's a wax, that is the most aggressive thing I've found. Just watch the runoff down the side of the car, rinse thoroughly or even re-wax that part if the Dawn hits the paint.

 

Admittedly I have a high degree of paranoia, but here is what would worry me about how your situation seems to be playing out. #1. If it looked faded when you first picked up your auto, my "guess" would be poor detailing at the dealership. They probably did get wax on the part, or just waxed the whole thing, including the black part of the frames. That would explain them looking bad right from the start.

So you rightly complain. They put an all purpose Window Cleaner on them, which I would not of done. Personally, I'm not putting a product designed to clean off glass, on my black plastic. My fear would be that actually makes the whole thing worse. Drying out the plastic, mixing with the wax residue. Glass cleaners often contain ammonia, which I would not want on my plastic or mixing with wax residue.

So anyway, now you have black side window pieces and can't tell what the baseline look should be, you could try getting them stripped by carefully using Dawn detergent, but at this point it is possible and probable damage has been done.

It's pure speculation, but I am guessing the dealership, or bodyshop mistakenly waxed these side pieces, then in trying to appease you added insult to injury by using a glass cleaner.

Since the automobile is brand new, and you say the parts looked bad upon delivery to you, I'd push for replacement. Stripping, cleaning and using a repairative product like 303 aerospace might get them looking fine, but if damage has been done, slowly the bad look will just keep reappearing. I'd see if you can't get them replaced under warranty, I hope you complained about the look when you originally picked up the car.

Anyway, at this point I'd want new parts. Since it wasn't your fault if the parts were waxed, then sprayed with glass cleaner.

 

Agreed, that's what most likely happened, in which case 303 Protectant (which does leave its own streaks) won't do any good.

 

BTW, the black frames on the Prius II and III are different from the IV and V... The IV and V are flat black plastic frames...

 

Hmm, I didn't realize that.

 

Can you post some pictures of it?

 

Pdxrose, was your car treated with ToyoGuard paint sealant? Does it look like it could be overspray from that? My wife and I got our IIIs 6 weeks ago and do not have the problem. They do not have ToyoGuard.

 

FYI, mine does have ToyoGuard--applied at SET, no problems. With the number they prep, they can't afford to create any application issues. The OP is in Washington state, so not SET, but they may have some similar paint package, either port or dealer applied. I believe the "Toyoguard" name is just SET.

 

The frames on my Prius II are flat black also
edit.. But I think they are metal

 

I wonder why this is. It can't be because of weight reduction associated with solar roof or advanced technology package as you can get SR with III.