Could Seem One Tell Me What This Part Is Please?

[siray123]

Hi,

Could someone tell me what this bit is?, its looks like a bit to stop gravel rash or something?

Anyhow haven't had the car long unfortunately I dont know if this has come off recently or was off when I bought the car, but i need to purchase the bit as it looks silly and i 'think' there could be the start of some rust.

I doubt it comes pre painted either?

1st pic of the other side with the bit on.

2nd pic of the side with the bit missing.

P.s looks like there's rust on the inside of the arches but its due to the poor camera quality.

http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?app=gallery&module=images&section=viewimage&img=6763

http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?app=gallery&module=images&section=viewimage&img=6762

Thanks.

[alfiejts]

sorry - can't see the attachments....

[sisaven]

sorry - can't see the attachments....

Ditto, Please try another attachment method.

[siray123]

Sorry chaps.

here is a pic of the side without: http://img138.imageshack.us/f/img0099l.jpg/

Side with the part: http://img412.imageshack.us/f/img0100yt.jpg/

thanks

[alfiejts]

Took me a while to work out what "bit" you were referring to, but I realise that you mean the "raised strip" about 1cm wide and 15cm long that's on the wheelarch edge at the front of the rear wheel.

I hate to say it, but that bit is "under the paint" and is an integral part of the bodywork. As its missing on your car, I can only think that the car has had some sort of bodywork repair - which the rust also points to.

That part couldn't fall off, as the car is "painted" over it and nor should that area of the car be rusting. I see a lot of black stuff around the wheelarch edge on that side too - which again, points to some sort of repair as that shouldn't be there unless it had some work done....

[stantheman1]

I agree with alfiejts, it's an integral part albeit a bit of 'mastic' to minimize stone chips, have a good look round for any botched repairs and if you don't find anything serious you could finish the wheelarch yourself very easily by using either paintable mastic or you could try to build up many coats of underseal then apply some touch up paint to blend in with.

Did you purchase the car privately or from a dealer?

[siray123]

Thanks chaps, appreciate it.

Damn :(

I purchased it from an independent dealer, I did think this afterwards (its maybe had a knock at some point) and thought I could simply buy the bit? and then get it painted and attached on.

I did see the bit and asked the guy, he said it looked like underseal. I did have a good nosey around the car and even underneath and could see anything, but i guess i should get it on a lift?

Surely it can be attached on, i see a similar thing on my car it will actually come off with force.

Do you think i could purchase this bit and then get a body shop to paint and finish the wheel arch off?

[sedj]

Looks to me like probably something got caught on the wheel and as it rotated it knocked off the trim on the inner wheel arch, but as it goes you have 2 choices.

Rub down the rust and apply a rust treatment which will convert the rust so it does not rust no more, or get a dealer to do the full replace the bit and spray it to match costing a lot more?

Price it up but i would treat the rust anyhow before it gets worse, for resale value purposes alone.

[moonstone mart]

Id say its had body work.

The passenger side is still as original as it left the factory.

The drivers side looks a right mess - poss had a rear quarter at some point (unless its just a very bad quality pic)

Ive never seen this seam sealer missing unless the vehicle has had bodywork.

Mart.