I hope it's okay to ask so many questions here. Can someone recommend a product that will restore the blackness to my plastic trim on my 99 4runner? It's faded from the sun and it's more of a gray color now. It'd be nice to darken it back up.

 

Armorall?

 

You could use mother's back to black

 

I've had pretty good luck with that Mother's stuff too. I used to use it on my old Civic bumpers and mirrors (before they all came body colored)

Andy

 

just wax it and get one of those things that buffs the wax in there (spinny thing that you put on a drill)

 

I've always used 303 Aerospace protectant. (available at most marine supply stores). Armorall seems to dry out the plastic more than anything else.

If that doesn't bring the color back, I think your only other option is to get another set of interior trim. Once the sun fades it, it's almost impossible to get it back to original condition.

 

There is better stuff than the Mother's back to black. It works awesome. I don't remember what it is though. I will look tomorrow and get back with you. I used it on my wife's 4Runner for the flares, and all the other faded plastic and it made it a real nice black. Really changed the look.

Paul

 

If this is the textured trim, I find the Kiwi black shoe dye works very well. Be sure to get the dye and not the shoe polish. Comes with a nice applicator in the bottle and last for a year or two in my experience:

 

uh no. Bad idea. Armorall will only make it worse.

Mothers back to black is the stuff I have found to work best. Lasts a little while.

The only true solution I know of is to paint it, or replace the trim.

 

this stuff made the abs plastic on my mom's 1st gen crv look brand new!!! highly recommended!!!

 

Sounds like back to black is the stuff to go with. Thanks for the recommendations!

 

I used the mother's back to black and it looked great for 2-3 months but fadded and turned to a whitish sheen on most parts.

4Crawler - That is a very interesting idea to use the dye. Will it ruin the paint if you get some on it and wipe it off in a reasonable amount of time? Does it fad leaving a bad residue? Does it "bleed" after the first rain. Could you expand on your application method? Thanks.

 

Have had no problems with the dye fading, bleeding or getting it on paint or chrome that I can recall. The bottle comes with a foam applicator top and you squeeze out some dye to soak it then just dab it on like a big felt tipped pen.

 

the stuff I used is Forever Black Bumper and Trim. I thought the Mother's was great, but this stuff seemed to make the black more rich and original if that makes sense.

 

The flares turn white/grey from oxidation. The best thing to get rid of it is a heat gun. I have done it on my jeep. I do it once every 2 years and they look brand new. Armorall and wax can turn black plastic green.

 

X2! Forever Black looks good and lasts a pretty long time. I didn't feel that the Mothers product lasted very long. If there is any chance it will get on your paint, tape the area off first. It's kind of messy.


I'll have to try this...

 

smear peanut butter on them and work it around with a soft tooth brush, them wash them off. If you don't like the peanut butter idea then use Vinylex by Lexol , good stuff.