Category: Car

TOOLS NEEDED:

SOFT HAMMER
(or Ball Peen Hammer)
BODY HAMMERS
HAMMERING DOLLY
(or Solid Metal Piece)
TORCH or LIGHTER
VICE-GRIP PLIERS
36-120 GRIT SANDPAPER
600 GRIT WET/DRY PAPER
SMALL WOOD BLOCK
METAL FILE
SUCTION CUP
DRY ICE
RULER
DRILL & GRIT DISK
SPRAY PRIMER

Auto body dents come in all shapes and sizes, from a large crease, to a shallow depression or just a little ding. One quality they all share is they distort the original shape of the sheet metal. The general definition of a dent is any place where the metal of the cars body has been stretched. So, in order to repair the car body, one has to bring the dent back to its original shape by un-stretching the metal. Depending on the type of dent, one can pop out the dent or pound out the dent.

If youre the DIY (Do It Yourself) type, then you’ll try to repair dents in your car’s body yourself. Before attempting this, compare the costs of hiring a professional with your confidence of doing the job properly yourself…and be honest about your auto body repair experience and ability. If youre one of those people that starts a car project and then gets frustrated half way through because its harder than you thought, (YOU know who you are!) then it is probably best only to risk a dent repair job yourself with an older, less expensive car. That way, the repair costs might already be more than the car’s actual value. Even then, you may only be able to repair fender dents, as they can be removed without anything from the car’s interior getting in the way (IE inner door panels).

There are two main types of car dent repairs: paint restoration repair and dent repair without paint. The first type of dent repair is for minor dents and dings, and paint restoration dent repair is for when serious damage was inflicted on the car body part(s). Many car owners, especially in this economy, are looking for ways to get around paying to take their car to an auto repair shop. With this in mind, Ill cover both DIY small dent removal and large dent repair. Ill put a disclaimer right up front that the following methods with not work for every dent, every time. Yet, there is no harm in trying them to save a buck.

Small Dents & Do It Yourself DIY Fender Dent Repair

SOFT HAMMER DENT REMOVAL:

Most cars today feature a car body so thin and flexible that dents can be created accidentally…by simply leaning on your car! Most very small dents can be easily repaired with a soft hammer. Always aim for the center of the dent, to avoid making new marks on the outer circumference of it, and pound out the depression. NOTE: you may have to view the dent from the underside of the car. With a fender dent, this can only be done by raising the vehicle and removing the wheel under the dent. Then, while hammering with one hand, you can feel the outside of the fender with your other. This allows you to check that the dent is evenly pushed out. If you *still* cant remove the dent, jump ahead to the large dent removal section of this article, as you will have to remove the fender from the car.

TORCH, LIGHTER & HAIR DRYER DENT REMOVAL:
http://metacafe.com/watch/963248/remove_car_dent_with_a_lighter/

You can heat the convex (dented) portion of a car dent with a torch, lighter or hair dryer, until it glows a dull red. Then stop heating it and let the dented surface cool. As the metal cools, the dent will shrink back, and hopefully pop out, leaving the surface very close to original.

SUCTION CUP DENT REMOVAL:

If you are not able to pound out your small dent easily, you may have a medium dent in your car. In that case, you can attach a large suction cup with a handle to the dented car part…and pull out the dent. How does this work? As you squeeze the cup against the car bodys dented surface, you are actually squeezing the air out from underneath it. The resulting vacuum you create causes the suction cup to stick onto the surface. Start by placing the suction cup along the edge of the dent, pulling it out, and slowly working your way inward. If youre still having trouble, you should try tapping the dent with a soft hammer, from the inside, while you pull out the dent from the outside.

DRY ICE DENT REMOVAL:
A How To Video of DRY ICE DENT REMOVAL:
http://metacafe.com/watch/yt-ab5PdrAIKeo/how_to_cure_car_dent_with_dry_ice/

Dry ice may be used to repair a small car dent, and is sold by many grocery stores. (Always remember to use gloves when handling dry ice!) Simply place the dry ice in the center of the dent, wait for it to attach firmly to the car body, and gently pull out the dent. You may have to repeat this procedure several times for the dent to be totally removed.

Large Dents & Do It Yourself DIY Car Dent Repair

OK…the Intro To DIY Dent Removal 101 class ends HERE. The following techniques are for large dents, requiring more car repair experience and skill. Start by removing all bolts from the fender, and taking it off the car body. If you cant remove the fender, there is at least one hidden bolt left intact…find it and remove it. NOTE: Never force the fender off a car. (*Some* mechanics also recommend you drill a hole in the center of the dent, using a 1/8 inch drill bit. This is entirely up to YOU. If you are using a dent repair kit, you will most likely find a plastic adapter and glue gun included, and these would be used for that task.) Once the fender is lifted off, use a heavier hammer to pound out the dents from the fender’s underside. Always start from the CENTER of the dent and use short, small taps on the dent, not long, hard ones. As you pound out the dent, hold a hammer dolly against the outside of the fender to prevent making new protrusions around the dent. If the fender supports are bent, be sure to straighten them back out with vice-grip pliers. After youve successfully fixed the dent, simply re-attach all the bolts and put the fender back on the car.

Body hammers and hammer dollies come in many shapes, sizes and weights. First, examine the dent closely with a ruler for depth and length. Then, always choose the best-shaped and smallest size hammer that will do the job, and the dolly that has the closest curvature to the dented panel. If you don’t have body tools, you can try to use a ball peen hammer and solid scrap metal piece as your dolly. This will take a lot of taps, but wont do as much damage to your car body panel. Since all dents are unique, so is each dent repair, and you truly have to use your own best judgement to get the metal straightened. Start by placing the dolly against the top side of the dent and, swinging the hammer from the underside of the dent, begin tapping with MANY short, small taps.

The fender pictured above has a typical dent in the side: oval-shaped, 3 inches long and 2 inches wide. In that case, they used a hammer with a large, flat round top, to be sure the overall force of the blows would be evenly transmitted over an area of a couple square inches. This helped pound out the dent without creating unsightly, little pin-sized mounds. The head of the hammer should strike the sheet metal flat against its surface, as, at the same time,
you hold the dolly directly over where you are striking.

Note that, after every few taps, you must lift the dolly and examine the dent to be sure the taps are reducing the depth of the dent AND not resulting in little convex dents. If the taps are leaving little mounds on the surface, you must start using a hammer with a larger head. If the dent hasnt moved at all, put the dolly down and hit the inside of the dent harder. After the dent popped out, it left a slight raised section, which is easily seen under the straight edge.

If you pop out the dent, but end up with one spot that stands up too high, dont worry. This is common, and there are two ways to fix this reverse-dent. This time, put the dolly underneath the fender and gently tap the convex (raised) area with the smaller head of the hammer. Repetitive, small hammer hits should level the surface completely.

How To Tell If The Repair Conforms
To The Original Car Body Surface?

Using the body file, you can find the high spots that need additional attention, and very lightly tap them down until the surface returns to its original shape again.

You can now file the once dented area, scraping off the etching primer coating. As you file the surface, take note of which areas are still a little low and which are now a bit too high. Go back and re-do one of the above methods until the dent is removed enough to meet your standards. Then, use a medium grit disk mounted on a drill to grind the paint down to the bare metal for at least one inch around the dent. Next, fill the area with a high quality body filler. Allow that to dry completely, then sand the area with a block of wood wrapped in sandpaper. Prime the area with 6 coats of automotive spray primer. Be sure to allow each coat of primer to dry completely before applying the next one over it. Sand the primer using a 600-grit wet and dry sandpaper to remove scratches. Touch up the area with a matching automotive paint. When applying automotive paint, do so using a spray gun and in a brisk, fluid motion. If the newly painted area is not smooth, re-sand and re-paint it until it is.

How good you need your dent repair to be is really up to each individual. You can keep working the dent until your file shows the metal surface is perfect, or you can leave little low spots to be filled later with body filler. NOTE: Overworking the metal can leave it brittle, and it might begin to crack instead of bend.

Sometimes…Less IS more! *smile* Generally, if you are considered (by yourself or others) to be a Perfectionist, then its probably best to have your car professionally repaired to its original, perfect self. Otherwise, you might find yourself endlessly obsessing and working the dent until it cracks. If your standards are more flexible, youre on a tight budget, and are handy with a hammer, then try our dent repair methods and let us know how it goes…GOOD LUCK!

Whether you lease a car to get into the latest models or have better purchasing flexibility, getting a good deal is always bound to give you a lift. Use these guidelines to help you spot one:

Check incentives:

Be on the look-out for factorysubsidized lease car deals. Car manufacturers realize that consumers who lease vehicles from them are more likely to be repeat customers than those who simply purchase vehicles. Through their leasing companies, they adjust the residual value and offer low financing charge. Other auto-manufacturers are also starting to give incentives on leasing, called leasing subventions. They offer these subsidies to put slow-selling models on the street, saving you even more money.

Set up a competitive:

Bidding environment to get the lowest price. If you already have an idea in mind of the make, model and trim level of your desired car, attempt to calculate your own lease payment before you go shopping to avoid paying through the roof. Check online comparison tools or use a lease calculator to check your lease payment based on purchase price. This gives you greater negotiation leverage as you solicit quotes from various leasing companies.

Make sure you know all the fees involved at the beginning of your lease: you may have to pay fees for licenses, registration and title. Other fees include acquisition fees, freight fees and local or state taxes. At lease-end, you may have to pay a disposition fee and charges for extra mileage and any excess wear. Be aware that some of these fees like acquisition and disposition fees are negotiable.

Know your mileage needs:

Almost all leases limit the number of miles per year by imposing typically 10 to 20 cents per excess mile over 15,000 miles a year. If you are the kind of high-commuter who puts 40,000 miles a year on his car, then you might end up running thousands of dollars in hefty penalties at the end of your lease. Be smart and negotiate a higher-mileage limit or pad you excess miles at the beginning of your lease to avoid robber tax rates for excess miles.

Almost all leases limit the number of miles per year by imposing fees typically 10 to 20 cents per mile over 15,000 miles per year. If you are the kind of high-commuter who puts a lot miles on his car, then these costs can add up quickly. Negotiate

Include GAP coverage:

Make sure your car lease includes GAP coverage. This covers you in the event of the vehicle getting wrecked, stolen or totaled. Without GAP insurance, you leave yourself wide open to thousands of dollars in leased obligations. Check if the GAP coverage is included so you dont pay it twice.

What is the reason for the fascination with cars all about? Whether it’s transportation or vehicle games, lots of people are captivated by cars.

Men and cars go together like ladies and footwear! Guys like engines that twinkle and have a pleasant sound getting started, and people who get attention. Vehicles were really designed by males and are still considered the greatest aphrodisiac for guys. The super charged mini is a good choice for young men which like to impress the women. The 4 wheel drive vehicle is favored by middle aged men who still desire to be a little adventurous. The hummer or 4X4s of the bigger type are often seen as status symbol of success and prosperity.

Most people, women and men, would prefer to travel in a large vehicle because of its safety and comfort features. People who want to buy and journey in mini style cars are usually sensitive to environmental needs of the Earth and creating a picture of trust.

Even youngsters often become fascinated with automobiles while very young, whether or not they observe them on the road or highway, on television, or riding in one. Children often play games involving automobiles when traveling on longer trips. Most everyone is acquainted with the game “punch buggy.” Punch buggy is a game played by youngsters and sometimes adults in which participants punch each other on the shoulder when they see a Volkswagen Beetle. Some adaptations of this game may need players to shout out the colour of the car.

An additional version of a automobile game is named Woodchuck or Beaver Whack, which allows punches based on viewing a car with wood paneling on the doors, for example a Station Wagon. The game faded away over time because there were not many cars created using paneling; however, the game returned in with the release of the PT Cruiser that included wood trimming.

Car games, particularly video and computer-based types, appeal to people of every age group. Auto racing video games are extremely well-liked. Everyone likes the thought of speed, making automobile racing games among the most popular. Car racing game titles have become a lot more advanced; many of these games allow the player to modify the car or exchange it for another. Car racing online games are as close as possible to the real live experience of driving fast vehicles.

Playing video games of most any type enable people to escape and have a good time for a time. The video and sound of those games are so life-like that they’re simple to become interested in. Games brings families closer together, permitting the family to have a good time, from the comfort of their house. Since online games of the car type are often not violent in any way, parents approve them for kids to play.

Nowadays, playing a car game on the web is the preferred method to play for most. You won’t typically need any unique equipment, as owning a pc and Internet link is often all that is required. You can find racing games, drifting games, rally races, and other driving games. Parking games are tactical and use managing skills.

These games are simple to learn how to play.

The fascination of cars will certainly carry on all through the years and generations. Cars not simply offer a mode of transportation, but also comfort, fun, and a feeling of accomplishment.

If windshield repair is not feasible any longer, you will have no choice but to agree to windshield replacement. To make the most of your windshield replacement, though, you should know about the various types of car glass used in auto glass installation. These are dealer car glass, original equipment manufactured (OEM) distributor car glass and aftermarket car glass, with each one having its own pros and cons.

The most expensive kind of car glass is dealer glass which is made available from authorized car dealerships. This means your dealer glass will depend on the brand of your vehicle. Dealer glass is made by the manufacturer of your vehicles own car glass and bears the stamp of the brand. It is actually your vehicles original car glass. Those who never want to veer away from anything original and branded will choose nothing else but dealer glass.

Similar in quality to dealer glass but much less expensive is original equipment manufactured (OEM) distributor car glass. It may not be made by the original manufacturer of your vehicles car glass but its manufacturers are authorized to produce car glass according to the exact specifications of dealer glass. That means they have the same durability, size, thickness, color and shape as dealer glass. Manufacturers of OEM distributor car glass are highly respected in the automotive industry and their products are highly regarded as being of the highest quality, which is why they are trusted by vehicle manufacturers. The most well known manufacturers of OEM distributor car glass include Pilkington, Carlite, Pittsburg Plate Glass (PPG), Safeguard/Mopar, Ford, AP Tech, Asahi, Sekurit, Triplex, Scanex, Sicursiv, Guardian and Crinamex. If you decide on using original equipment manufactured (OEM) distributor car glass, make sure you stick with the reputable brands.

The previous statement is a warning of sorts. After all, there also are sources who claim to be OEM distributor car glass manufacturers but also produce substandard car glass alongside their OEM glass. Do not trust labels that say “from an OEM manufacturer” unless the car glass is specifically labelled as original equipment manufactured (OEM) distributor car glass.

The least expensive car glass is aftermarket car glass which is also referred to as original equipment equivalent (OEE) car glass. Its manufacturers are not legally authorized to make car glass according to the specifications copyrighted and licensed to vehicle brands. Aftermarket car glass, therefore, differs from dealer glass and OEM glass. It is also not covered by the same guarantees as dealer glass and OEM glass, and has been known to have a variety of problems including having a bad fit, leaks, visual distortions, poor solar performance and lack of protection against wind noise.

In comparing the three types of car glass, it is evident that original equipment manufactured car glass is the best option for consumers. You get all the benefits of dealer glass for much less dollars. In terms of quality, OEM glass exceeds even the standards of the US Department of Transportation. While the DOT calls for 80 percent windshield retention during frontal barrier crash tests, OEM glass provides a hundred percent.

When choosing OEM glass, also use OEM distributor car glass parts and adhesives for safety. In the case of mobile windshield replacement, for instance, low quality parts and adhesives are sometimes used. The prescribed drying time for the adhesive is also usually not observed, leaving the vehicle driver and passengers at risk with a windshield that is not properly fixed in place. Only professionally certified auto glass technicians will be knowledgeable enough on all standards that should be met in terms of products and techniques.

Whatever car glass you choose for auto glass installation in your windshield replacement, make sure all components and service providers pass the highest safety standards.

Do you have a car which is so old that even the rust peels of the body some times. How about a vehicle which is virtually impossible to restore? Most of the times you might be looking out for car wreckers who can assist you by towing it away. Well,before you organise this, here are some things you ought to know, because you might be throwing good money away.

Many people, without a thought consider old cars as a burden and try to get rid of them before understanding that even the old just car might sell well at the scrap metal yard. If you realise that the price will certainly depends on the condition of the car. The old car might still be of service to you because the price of steel and other metals do fluctuate from time to time. The main source of income for most car wreckers is tearing apart the old junk car into scalable pieces and sold individually as used parts of an automobile, all this before again being sold as scrap metal. Again, depending on it’s condition, the battery, catalytic converter, the rims, tires, radio or CD player may be worth money. The real catch lies behind finding the right kind of buyer who does not mind shelling out an amount between $50-$200 for your old junker. Choosing the right person to talk to also makes you be on the safe side as the price difference can be steep. You may even get a $100 difference while choosing from the top and bottom offres.

Before choosing the auto wreckers to come and collect your car, be sure to check inside the car for any tools, jumper cables, additives, or a spare tire which can be sold separately. Never forget to check beneath the seats and their covers for personal belongings like photos or cash. At times one or the other thing can be found down there.

It’s also a good idea to have a copy of the title for the car as this is required in some states to avoid stolen vehicles from being turned in. The car removal company is aware of whether or not the title is required when a car is sent to the crusher. If the car still runs but needs some repairs, you might run an honest advertisement in the newspaper to sell the car, to see if anyone is interested. An ad of this stature pays by itself when the car gets sold. If you consider the newpaper ads a hurdle then you can directly tell the car removal experts that the car is still in running condition to win their trust and increase the worth of the car. Better yet, if you can drive it in you may receive more money since they don’t have to recoup their towing expenses.

To find out where the car wreckers are in your locality, you can search the internet with the keywords “free car removal” in your state or use yellow pages to find out details under the “automotive” section or even check out the classified ads under “car removal”. You may also keep an eye on “car wreckers”. At times you may have even noticed signs along the road on the hoards advertising about the shops which buy scrap cars. Be aware that even if an advertisement says they pay “up to $300”, that doesn’t mean that’s how much money you’ll get. There is a lot of advertising in the junk car business, since some money can be made on old cars, so some unscrupulous operators rely on people’s ignorance and willingness to “just get that wreck out of here” to make more money. Always keep a check on different offers. If the car is so good that it can be driven to the wreckers then find out if you will get any extra amount.

Why do you want to pay for hauling the car away by the car removal service, when you can earn some amount by selling it away? Check out the classifieds or internet under free car wreckers melbourne and you might surprise yourself with what you can get for your car.