hey everyone well i just got my '90 4Runner back from the repair shop after having the axel shafts and wheel bearings repaired/replaced. i'm happy to say that i'm quite pleased with the work that was done and the over all cost, but now i have a new issue. where my truck sat, before it was worked on, was apparently under some kind of sap-dripping tree. and it sat there for a week. and now the entire hood, roof, and a good portion of the sides have these baked on, thick black stains on what was previously pearl white paint in near mint condition (for a 14 year old vehicle.) well, i ran it through two different car washes, scrubbed it myself with various auto paint safe cloths and detergents and it was hardly making a dent it in. and i worked on it by hand for two hours alone yesterday. nothing's making a significant different. a little will come off, but not much. and there's still definite, obvious stains left behind. i called the shop today and asked them what they recommended to clean it up. he mentioned something called 'purple power.' anyone heard of this? and he also said to try a bleach solution. (one part bleach in ten parts water.) so could someone please confirm or deny this for me...is bleach on auto paint such a good idea? it doesn't strike me as something i'd put on my truck. nor am i ready to take it somewhere so i can pay a huge professional fee to get it cleaned. i'd prefer to do it myself. so i just want to get some options/opinions here. it's really got me pissed off because my truck went from looking really sharp, to looking like shit. and this is my pride and joy here. i'm sure all of you will agree that it's bad business to return a vehicle looking like that. so, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks. kerry

you might try using "bug and tar remover". that stuff usually works pretty well (with a little elbow grease sometimes). it can be found in your auto supply store... -also works well for bugs and tar ;) as well as bird crap, etc. mark hell_cat73

thanks, mark. i'll try that too. any other suggestions out there?

> all cost, but now i have a new issue. > where my truck sat, before it was worked on, > was apparently under some kind of sap-dripping > tree. and it sat there for a week. and now the > entire hood, roof, and a good portion of the > sides have these baked on, thick black stains > on what was previously pearl white paint This sounded promising: http://www.bmwworld.com/repairs/detailing/tree_sap.htm Ed