DO NOT install a Bug Guard on your X

[K2]

My truck (seen at the header of the site) had a bug guard on it the very first time I saw it sitting in front of the dealership. I never thought much of it and actually grew to like it after a while. I mostly like the black along the top of the hood - not so much the "guard" or what it "did."

After having Rob hound me time after time, I figured - what the hell - I'll unscrew it and leave it off for a few days and see what I think. If I leave the protective strips on there, I can put it back on if I want.

So I took it off and the two "protective" strips above my headlights looked like this:

I thought to myself.. hmmm, those don't look like they're in very good shape. After a couple of days I decided to leave the guard off and try something different (for me anyway). I had talked with Rob and he said that since it had only been on a year that there likely wouldn't be any paint damage. I removed the middle three protective strips and although there was a lot of adhesive residue on the hood, there really wasn't any damage. Some Goo-Gone cleaned it right up.

BUT, when I remove the two strips show above.............

I was all :motz::argh: - F'in pissed off to say the least. It was a Saturday so I called Oak Ridge Toyota and spoke with the manager. He told me to bring it in on Monday and he would look at it.

When I took the truck in he checked the log and verified that the Bug Guard was in fact installed AT THE FACTORY!? :stupid: It worked out good for me b/c after a 4-5 minute phone call at most, the service manager got Toyota to cover all the cost to repair the damage. I took the truck in Wednesday for an estimate and it looks like they're going to repaint the entire hood. :top: No questions - no difficulty. Just the way it should be.

So Oak Ridge Toyota, you get a big :top:.

Now, I'm just trying to figure out if I should have the inner part of the hood scoop painted black while it's in there....? I'm thinking yes. :biggrin:

 

[Jonathan]

thats what you get for having it there in the first spot! LOL jk nice its taken care of...

 

[nctourer]

Glad Toyota covered that for ya. What a pain otherwise.
Guess I fall in line with most others - dont care for the bug guards.
Most looks like a unibrow :biggrin:

 

[XDsm]

That sucks good thing Toyota is taking care of it for you. Those shields and auto bras do more damage than protect IMO. I don't know why people get them. Plus they look ugly.

 

[X-Rizzo]

Eeek I would freak out if I saw that on my truck.

 

[midwest_X/Z]

I have one on my truck no problems, it is atached on the underside of the hood with 4 clips. No adeshive at all. what brand my I ask?

 

[K2]

I have one on my truck no problems, it is atached on the underside of the hood with 4 clips. No adeshive at all. what brand my I ask?

No brand. Toyota OEM. :thumpdown:

 

[midwest_X/Z]

ok mines aftermarket AVS so that maybe the difference

 

[morcheez]

same thing happened to my truck :thumpdown: ...not as bad though ...just used some touch up paint and i cant even tell :top: ...but im never putting that thing back on and it sux cuz i cant sell it to anyone cuz i know what it will do :thumpdown:

 

[RedXRunner]

sux...bug guards are for lazy people to wash their cars

 

[XRobber]

My truck (seen at the header of the site) had a bug guard on it the very first time I saw it sitting in front of the dealership. I never thought much of it and actually grew to like it after a while. I mostly like the black along the top of the hood - not so much the "guard" or what it "did."

After having Rob hound me time after time, I figured - what the hell - I'll unscrew it and leave it off for a few days and see what I think. If I leave the protective strips on there, I can put it back on if I want.

So I took it off and the two "protective" strips above my headlights looked like this:

I thought to myself.. hmmm, those don't look like they're in very good shape. After a couple of days I decided to leave the guard off and try something different (for me anyway). I had talked with Rob and he said that since it had only been on a year that there likely wouldn't be any paint damage. I removed the middle three protective strips and although there was a lot of adhesive residue on the hood, there really wasn't any damage. Some Goo-Gone cleaned it right up.

BUT, when I remove the two strips show above.............

I was all :motz::argh: - F'in pissed off to say the least. It was a Saturday so I called Oak Ridge Toyota and spoke with the manager. He told me to bring it in on Monday and he would look at it.

When I took the truck in he checked the log and verified that the Bug Guard was in fact installed AT THE FACTORY!? :stupid: It worked out good for me b/c after a 4-5 minute phone call at most, the service manager got Toyota to cover all the cost to repair the damage. I took the truck in Wednesday for an estimate and it looks like they're going to repaint the entire hood. :top: No questions - no difficulty. Just the way it should be.

So Oak Ridge Toyota, you get a big :top:.

Now, I'm just trying to figure out if I should have the inner part of the hood scoop painted black while it's in there....? I'm thinking yes. :biggrin:

You make it all sound like It is my fault!!! :motz:
Yeah man.... paint that scoop black.

 

[K2]

You make it all sound like It is my fault!!! :motz:
Yeah man.... paint that scoop black.

No, no... I wasn't ensenuated that. I meant it more like - you have me confidence that the paint wouldn't be faded.

But, now that you mention it - dammit Rob it's all your fault you damn bastard! :motz:

And yes, I really think I'm do the scoop black. I'll probably have to pay for that out of pocket, but as small as it is --- how much could it be?

 

[rpmspeedyblue]

I thought to myself.. hmmm, those don't look like they're in very good shape. After a couple of days I decided to leave the guard off and try something different (for me anyway). I had talked with Rob and he said that since it had only been on a year that there likely wouldn't be any paint damage. I removed the middle three protective strips and although there was a lot of adhesive residue on the hood, there really wasn't any damage. Some Goo-Gone cleaned it right up.
[/B]

I have the same bug guard on mine. I was fortunate that I caught mine in time before it started to rub into the paint. I replaced the plastic screws and holder with better screw mounts for the brackets and added more protective strips so far so good. I need the protection from the guard or else I will have a lot of chips on the hood from flying rocks.

 

[K2]

I need the protection from the guard or else I will have a lot of chips on the hood from flying rocks.

I may end up having that problem and putting it back on. But I'm going to wing it for a while and see what happens. I had it like that since I bought it (a year ago), but it's growing on me not having it on.

 

[X-Rizzo]

No hood chips here..:dontknow:

 

[nxrunner]

same thing happened to my truck :thumpdown: ...not as bad though ...just used some touch up paint and i cant even tell :top: ...but im never putting that thing back on and it sux cuz i cant sell it to anyone cuz i know what it will do :thumpdown:

Finish your story Morcheez and tell them where you got it.... J/K:eviltongue:

 

[DOGSTOY06]

TOO BAD K2, MUST HAVE BEEN THE BRAND THEY INSTALLED.TOOK MINE OFF AFTER 15 MONTHS ,ONLY 4 SCREWS UP UNDER THE FRONT LIP OF THE HOOD.YES I WILL GO BACK TO MY BUG SHIELD COME LUV BUG SEASON.NOT LAZY,JUST DON'T NEED THE ACID IN THOSE BUGS EATING MY PAINT ALIVE.:top: :biggrin:

 

[bartkwan]

thanx for the warning man

 

[rpmspeedyblue]

I may end up having that problem and putting it back on. But I'm going to wing it for a while and see what happens. I had it like that since I bought it (a year ago), but it's growing on me not having it on.

There are other after market protectors that don't have the brackets.

 

[rpmspeedyblue]

No hood chips here..:dontknow:

You're very lucky. The first week I got my truck I got three chips. Once I put the hood protector on I haven't gotten any since then. Have a lot of highway construction going on here. I was thinking of putting the clear plastic paint protector on but the hoodprotecter also deflects the rocks from hitting the windshield.