2024 Toyota Highlander — Paint Color Codes

Quick reference

Note: Toyota occasionally adjusts offerings mid‑year. If your color isn’t listed or you have a special edition, confirm the exact code using your VIN with a Toyota dealer or a paint supplier before ordering.

Where to find your paint code

On the 2024 Toyota Highlander, the factory paint code is printed on the certification label on the driver’s side B‑pillar/door jamb. Open the driver’s door and look on the body pillar for a white or silver sticker. Find the line that begins with “C/TR” (Color/Trim):

• The characters before the slash are your exterior paint code (e.g., C/TR: 1G3/FA20 → 1G3 is Magnetic Gray Metallic).
• The characters after the slash are the interior trim code.
• If you see multiple exterior codes (rare), it can indicate a two‑tone configuration; verify with a dealer or supplier.

If the label is missing or unreadable, your Toyota dealer can retrieve the paint code from the VIN, and most professional paint suppliers can look it up as well.

Best touch-up paint sources

• Toyota dealer: Genuine touch‑up pens/bottles for codes like 089, 218, 1J9, etc. Good for small chips and warranty‑friendly.
• Dupli‑Color Perfect Match: Widely available aerosols and pens matched by Toyota codes. Convenient for quick bumper or mirror repairs.
• AutomotiveTouchup: Offers primer, basecoat, mid‑coat (for pearls), and clear in pens, bottles, or aerosols, mixed to your specific code.
• Tcoat (custom‑mix): Local automotive paint jobbers can custom‑mix pro‑grade basecoat/clear or 2K aerosol using your code and a spectro reading from the vehicle for the closest variant match.

Always order by code, not just the color name—Toyota reuses names across models and years with different formulas.

How to use touch-up paint

1. Clean and prep
   • Wash and degrease the area; remove wax with isopropyl alcohol.
   • Feather any lifted edges. For rust, sand to clean metal and treat with rust converter.
2. Prime
   • Use a plastic adhesion promoter for bumper covers if you’ve broken through to bare plastic.
   • Apply an etch or epoxy primer to bare metal; follow with a high‑build primer and wet sand smooth (800–1000 grit).
3. Basecoat (color)
   • Shake thoroughly. Apply light, even coats, allowing flash time between passes.
   • For small chips, a fine brush or pen is fine; for panels, use aerosol or spray gun and keep the metallics “standing” evenly.
4. Mid‑coat (pearls/tri‑coats only)
   • Colors like Wind Chill Pearl (089) and Ruby Flare Pearl (3T3) are tri‑coats that typically require a groundcoat (tinted white or red base) plus a pearl mid‑coat. Apply the mid‑coat in controlled, uniform passes.
5. Clearcoat
   • Apply 2–3 wet coats of clear. Allow to cure fully, then nib sand and polish as needed to blend gloss.

Cure times vary by product and temperature—follow the label.

Color matching tips for pearls and tri-coats

• Confirm the formula variant: Professional suppliers often have A/B/C variants for a given code (e.g., 1G3 can skew lighter/darker). Provide your VIN and have a spectrophotometer reading taken when possible.
• Use the correct ground shade: Pearls like 089 rely on the specified white ground; using the wrong gray/white undercoat will shift the color.
• Control your mid‑coat: With tri‑coats (089, 3T3), the number of mid‑coat passes directly affects darkness and pearl warmth. Do spray‑out cards to lock in your pass count before touching the vehicle.
• Blend adjacent panels: Metallics and pearls blend best when you extend base/mid into neighboring panels and clear to a natural break (edge or body line). Spot‑in on the middle of a panel is risky for codes like 8X8 and 1G3.
• Match metallic orientation: Keep gun distance, overlap, and air pressure consistent to avoid mottling or tiger striping, especially on large, flat doors and hoods.
• Temperature and lighting: Spray in 65–80°F with good booth‑level lighting. Check color under daylight and LED; pearls can flip tone under different light.

If you’re unsure of the exact color or you suspect a special edition, confirm via VIN with a Toyota dealer or a reputable paint supplier before ordering.

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