Huge scratch

Hey all,

My truck is not even 3 weeks old and there is a huge scratch across the entire hood. I signed up for delta sonic yesterday for unlimited car washes and I think the employee at the end when she was drying it her coat or lanyard scratched the entire way across when she was walking across. I have a claim in but I feel i know what's going to happen. The corporation wont do anything. I have to wait a few days for them to review the footage and get back to me. So with that being said if they dont fix it what is the best way to repair a decently deep scratch? I plan on having this truck for more than a decade i do not want to look at that on the hood every day. Fyi the picture doesnt do it justice. so frustrating.

 

Does it catch your nail?

 

yeah.

 

I feel your pain, I got my DoubleCab TRD Sport and got a scratch at my door handle and took it to Toyota and it cost me $120 to fix it.
The sad part now, I found another scratch and I need to go get it fix again, its so hard not to take it back to get fix when it is so new... Sometimes I feel like I should of bought used so I don't mind the small scratches. But since it is so dang new, I have to get it fix again.

Report back if you get it fixed and how much it cost.

 

i definitely will. now is the hard part is waiting..... i have no patience when something is on my mind.

 

Hard to tell from that angle, but it doesn't look very deep. Do the soapy water test to see if it goes away.

 

ok i will try this when i get home from work today.

 

To me that looks to long for a lanyard or coat. I would say something in the car wash. Does it utilize brushes as you go through?

 

most of it is touchless. there is one section where there are cloth strips but those go over the length of the car but not sideways. the reason i think it was the lanyard or coat is because she walked across the entire front arm stretched to reach up as far as she could to dry, but i may be wrong. that is the problem with human memory is the brain fills in parts that it does not remember. Like i tell my clients there is your story, my story, and then what really happened so i guess i'll have to wait to see what the video shows.

 

From the picture it doesn’t look too bad. You said your nail catches in it though?

I’m guessing you don’t have access to a DA polisher, so grab some Meguair’s Scratch X from Walmart or an auto parts store. It’s cheap, and at the very least it will lighten up most of it. It’ll take some elbow grease, but you can definitely mitigate it a good bit. I’ve gotten some pretty good scratches out that way.
Any deep spots will likely take a machine to fix though. I’d imagine any decent detailer in your area can get it out without charging you too much.
And yeah, it sucks getting a scratch on your brand new truck, but try not to obsess over it. It’s going to happen, plain and simple. I had mine fully corrected in January, and I’ve alre got a few back on it.

I’d try and cancel that membership though and get your money back. If they’re using a drive through machine with brushes, this won’t be the last time it happens. If you’re obsessive over scratches, the last thing you want to do is use one of those places.

 

Could have been something in her towel. I’m extremely careful, and I’ve still done it.

 

ya this is the first time i used it. before i never really cared as i had inexpensive vehicles so i thought i would be proactive and try to keep everything pristine. i guess i'll have to go back to doing it myself. ill try that as well. i will post the results (either if they do anything or i have to myself) but it will be a week or so before then.

 

@MotoTundra @NewImprovedRon its not a full nail catch but i can definitely tell the transition so it may be able to be buffed out. *fingers crossed*

 

Same here. I always used them until I got my new Tundra a couple of years ago.

 

Let me know if you need assistance spending your money.

 

X2

 

The nail catch is usually the rule of thumb.

A reputable detailer in the area may be able to buff it out. If not, it's touch up, which would look horrible for a long scratch, or respraying the whole hood, which I would avoid if possible.

Good luck!

@ColoradoTJ I splurged a few years ago and got everything needed for a full detail, buffer included.

Comes out great when you do it yourself, down side is it takes forever.

 

I’d love to have a place indoors to work. My truck wont fit in my garage. I’ve been telling my wife I need my own wash bay like Matt with Obsessed Garage has. Even has the overhead pressure washer festoon thing.

 

If you do the soapy water test and it goes away, you could probably polish it out.

Chemical Guys is having a 25% off sitewide sale. I just bought the Porter Cable 7424XP Detailing Kit to remove scratches.

https://www.chemicalguys.com/porter-cable-7424xp-complete-detailing-kit-13-items/BUF_209.html

 

i went home on lunch to try the soapy water test. The scratch goes away...its slightly darker on the scratch line but its definitely not as obvious as when it is dry. so looks like some elbow grease is in my future this weekend.

 

Wow i cant even imagine what a setup like that cost him. its amazing though.

 

That’s a smoking deal. Did you get an additional 25% off?

 

That’s only the outside part. His setup is crazy.

https://www.obsessedgarage.com/pages/garage-the-compromise

 

No, $149.99 was with the 25% off. Been wanting to get one for awhile and this deal made the decision for me.

 

Awesome, I have the

$139 7424XP PORTER-CABLE Car Polisher and Buffer, 6", Orbital, Variable Speed (7424XP)

7424XP. I love it. I had zero previous experience with a buffer and used it on my black truck for the first time. Came out great, zero problems. It is very forgiving.

 

That's good to hear. I have zero experience with machine polishing and buffing. Since this was a 'new to me' 2014 Tundra, I want her to be extra purty again.

 

Good luck!

I like it. I went with all Meguiars stuff to start. Meguiar's Clay Bar (With Quick Detail Spray), Ultimate Compound, Ultimate Polish, Ultimate Wax.

I went with all the CG pads I got in the kit. Watched some CG youtube videos for application, etc.

I am slowly picking up some other brands to try, CG has so much to choose from I was lost, still am.