1G3 Gray paint key scratch - how to solve it?

Simoniz Fix It Pro Pen - Billy Mays Fix It Fixit Scratch Repair Pen

Billy Mays is the man!

 

For deep scratches, unless you are extremely handy, you're looking at a decent charge from the repair shop. Unless you are planning to trade/sell the car or just can't live with the scratch I'd hold off on the repair. Sounds like in your area you have several more scratches to look forward to in the future...might as well wait until you are ready to sell/trade before considering the expense of fixing a scratch every time it happens.

 

On my 1G3 gray Prius, I've used several things:

1. Touch Up Paint pen/brush, like the one available here: Genuine Toyota Touch-Up Paint Magnetic Gray Metallic Color Code 1G3

2. Clear Coat Paint pen.

3. That Simonize Fix It Pro Pen that Matt mentioned: Simoniz Fix It Pro Pen - Billy Mays Fix It Fixit Scratch Repair Pen , which seems to be basically a clear coat paint pen.

If I use any of the above three, I try to wax the area as soon as is reasonable, in order to smooth out the touch up.

4. Felt Tip Permanent Ink Markers like the popular in the US "Sharpie".

5. Artist Felt Tip Markers available at art supplies stores. Note however, that while these artist markers use permanent ink, they are less permanent than "Sharpies" and do not bond as well to plastic as the "Sharpies" do.

 

if you are down to bare metal i suggest getting the panel refinished, rust will show real fast and spread not to mention eating through the metal

 

I can buy a dupli-color scratch-fix kit made by dupli-color at Walmart. It contains sandpaper, a little bit of patching putty, primer, buffing sheet, and clearcoat.

Then, you buy a little matching touch-up paint, which can be toyota genuine or dupli-color. Instructions are included in the packet. It was intended for small scratches or dents, but may work in your situation. However, unless you are VERY good with a brush, don't expect factory-quality finish. You may be a little rough or see brushstrokes.

I have used it on smaller dings, but not a key scratch.

Total cost: about $20-$30

Dupli-Color: eStore

-->Adam

 

what is g3?

 

This is not for someone that doesn't know what they are doing but this is what a body shop would charge you an arm and a leg for. Here is what I would do.... WARNING: I take no responsibility for any damages you may cause, I'm just trying to help and save you a buck or two without switching to Geico.

1. VERY LIGHTLY wet sand the area with 2000 grit to get it to a smooth and even finish.

2. Apply Genuine Toyota touch up paint in your paint code to get a guarantee color match.

3. Apply the touch up paint till it's smooth and level with the surface of the other paint then let dry.

4. After paint has dried, wet sand again, VERY LIGHTLY till it's even with the surface then apply clear coat.

5. When clear coat has dried, VERY LIGHTLY wet sand till the clear is smooth.

6. Since your car is a dark color, pick up a product called 3M Perfect it 2 for dark colors.

7. With a rotary buffer, buff out the scratches with the 3M that were made by the wet sanding and the panel will look as good as new.

8. Polish or wax with a product of your choice.

 

i see
thank you!

 

Here ya go . . .

www.automotivetouchup.com

Will match your color in a bottle or pen, along with primer and clearcoat, etc.

 

And you might also try . . .

www.drcolorchip.com

Claim is that the process "blends" the paint for a superior result.

 

i'm not a big fan of the pen except for clear coats, for which it is great! usually i add in some clear as the touchup paint dries after i smear it flat w/ a credit card.

 

my wife's 08 dark grey hycam got keyed on the drivers door in a parking garage. there are people out there who are threatened by hybrids. not down to bare metal but white showing. body shop wants $3-400. u.s.

 

You should be able to get a touch up paint and laquer kit from a Toyota dealer. Cost in the UK around £25. However instead of using the applicator to put a thick splodge of paint to cover a thin scratch which would make it appear worse, if you use a fine artist's brush then you should get a better result. There are a few videos on You Tube that provide useful tips on these sort of repairs, although ultimately a respray may be the final solution if you get a lot of scratches.

 

I know this is an old thread, but I am trying to fix some scratches on my magentic gray prius of the same color code. The dealer sold me a touch up pen and said there was no clear on this car. I was shocked. I know I could test with some polishing compound and I may do that soon. Anyone know how to verify the no clear coat claim without removing paint from the car?

One of my goals is to repair the rocker area where there is a rusty dent from the previous owner. My plan is to sand/prime and then airbrush the paint from a touch up pen. Not sure how this will turn out, but if anyone has prior experience I would be interested to hear how it went.

Thanks !!!

 

Metallic paints almost always have clear on top of them. You can tell by just looking at it if there’s clear on top of color. This video (from this point on) tells you about it:

But I don’t see why Toyota wouldn’t use clear on it.

Probably they sold you the type of paint that is designed to match (pretty close to) the factory color without having clear on top of it.

Probably would be easier just to paint a bigger area and you paint+clear (even with spray can). Whole rocker panel? Remember to put at least cavity wax inside of that rocker to slow down the rust in it so that it won’t rust trough now that paint is cracked from the inside as well. Paint the areas where you sanded to bare metal and/or used filler with stone guard paint to achieve the rippled finish that factory has down there (they used stone guard paint as well) and of course it protects against stone chips as well.