2022-2025 Toyota Rapgard Protective Film Removal TSB

What is Rapgard Protective Film?

Toyota vehicles are equipped with Rapgard protective film on horizontal painted surfaces. This specialized film is designed to shield the vehicle's paint from various environmental hazards encountered during transportation, such as acid rain, industrial fallout, and rail contamination. Its primary purpose is to maintain the pristine condition of the vehicle's exterior, ensuring that the paint finish is flawless when the vehicle reaches the customer. Understanding the function of this film is key to appreciating the importance of its proper removal.

Important Warnings for Rapgard Film Removal

Toyota has issued critical warnings and specific requirements for the removal of Rapgard protective film, emphasizing the need for meticulous care to prevent any damage to the vehicle's paint. Adhering to these guidelines is paramount for maintaining the vehicle's finish.

• The Rapgard™ protective film MUST be removed within 90 days from its initial application. This strict timeframe is crucial because prolonged exposure can lead to the film's adhesive transferring to the paint or leaving behind stubborn residue, which can be difficult to remove without damaging the clear coat.
• To prevent inadvertent scratching of the paint surface during the removal process, technicians are explicitly instructed to cover ALL shirt buttons, jeans or pants rivets, belt buckles, and watches. This highlights the extreme sensitivity of modern automotive paint finishes and the necessity of minimizing any physical contact that could mar the surface.
• If the Rapgard™ protective film has already been removed, the dealer will receive notification through Dealer Daily. This system helps ensure that the pre-delivery steps are correctly tracked and completed for each vehicle.
• Any problems encountered during the removal of the Rapgard™ film, or any damage to the vehicle caused by its application or presence, must be promptly reported to the District Service and Parts Manager (DSPM). This reporting mechanism helps Toyota monitor the effectiveness of the film and the removal process, addressing any issues proactively.

Rapgard Protective Film Removal Procedure Summary

The removal of the Rapgard protective film is a critical pre-delivery step for all 2022-2025 Toyota vehicles. While seemingly simple, the procedure requires careful execution to ensure the vehicle's paint remains unblemished. This process is detailed in the Toyota Camry Rapgard removal bulletin.

1. Vehicle Preparation: The first step involves thoroughly washing the vehicle using standard dealer procedures. This initial wash is essential to remove any transportation-related dirt, grime, or environmental contamination that might be present on the vehicle's surface. Removing these particles prevents them from being trapped under the film during removal, which could otherwise cause scratches or abrasions to the paint.
2. Film Removal: Once the vehicle is clean, technicians locate an uplifted or loose corner of the Rapgard™ protective film. From this point, the film is pulled up and back in a quick, continuous motion. This technique helps to cleanly separate the film from the paint surface without leaving adhesive behind. This action must be repeated systematically for all covered panels until the entire Rapgard™ film is completely removed from the vehicle.
3. Proper Disposal: After removal, the Rapgard™ plastic film must be disposed of correctly. Dealerships are directed to follow the instructions provided by TLS (Toyota Logistics Services) and utilize the preprinted UPS labels supplied specifically for this purpose. Proper disposal ensures environmental compliance and efficient handling of waste materials.
4. Post-Removal Inspection: A comprehensive inspection of the vehicle's paint surface is mandatory after the film has been removed. This crucial step involves using specific inspection methods, including the "3 feet 30° angle" and "straight on 90° perpendicular" techniques, performed under fluorescent lighting inside a building. The purpose of this detailed inspection is to meticulously identify any residual adhesive transfer or film residue that may have been left behind. If the vehicle's paint condition is deemed acceptable and free of defects, the Rapgard protective film removal procedure is complete. However, if any issues are detected, the cleaning and inspection process must be repeated until the surface is perfect. This thorough inspection ensures that the Toyota Camry Rapgard removal process is fully successful.

Warranty Information

It is important for owners to note that the procedure for Rapgard protective film removal is not applicable for warranty claims. This process is considered a standard and necessary pre-delivery task performed by dealerships to prepare new vehicles for sale, rather than a repair for a defect.

Superseded Bulletin

This current Technical Service Bulletin, T-SB-0061-23 Rev1, effectively supersedes and replaces the older Service Bulletin No. T-PG005-94. The information contained in T-SB-0061-23 Rev1 represents a complete update, and consequently, any previous printed versions of T-PG005-94 are now considered obsolete and should no longer be referenced. Owners or technicians searching for guidance related to the superseded bulletin T-PG005-94 should refer to this updated document for the most current and accurate instructions regarding Rapgard film removal.

NHTSA ID: 11005153