After raising seven children through their teenage years, I've had my fair share of experiences with selling used cars that have body damage. As a child saved up to buy a newer car, I was relied on to find a way to sell their old one for the most money possible. I have learned that fixing small dents and other aesthetic issues with your vehicle is a great way to significantly increase the sales price you ask when you put it on the market. But not all dents are worth paying to have fixed because it won't affect the value much. Whether you are just trying to make the money back that you've put into your vehicle or you're trying to make a profit, hopefully the pages on this website will give you some insight into what's worth putting your time and effort into fixing and what's best left untouched.
You've just gotten into a minor collision or damaged your car in some way and now you're worried about your repair bills. Before you start stressing out, exit your car and assess the extent of the damage. If it is nothing major, you may be able to skip the body shop altogether and just do the repairs at home on your own time. Knowing what you can and can't fix at home is rather tricky. However, if it is one of the three fender benders mentioned below, then you may be able to save money by taking the DIY repair route.
Scratch Removal
Although not necessarily recommended by professionals, you may be able to remove minor scratches from your car by using lacquer thinner and a wash cloth. Scratches that have created deep grooves in your car cannot come off, but paint streaks can come off with this process. Simply find the spot where the paint streak is, pour a little bit of the lacquer thinner onto the wash cloth, and then spread the substance all over the scratch by rubbing the wash cloth back and forth over the surface of the paint streak.
You may need to do several back-and-forth motions to get the streak to go away and may notice an outline where the scratch used to be. However, the mark won't be nearly as noticeable. Keep in mind that if you use this method, you will most likely take the clear coat off your car in this area, so you will need to reapply it later on.
Pounding Out Dents
If you have a dent in your car that is noticeable but doesn't require taking parts of the car apart to fix it, then you may be able to pound the dent out at home. You can try using a standard hammer and pounding the dent from the opposite side of the affected area. Or, you can purchase a dent repair kit from your local auto supply store and do it that way.
No matter which method you choose, you will need to drill a hole in the dent (preferably in the center) to start the process. Then use a plastic adapter or other accessories and tools to pull out the dent. Ultimately, it is a better idea to use the dent removal kit, as there they usually include step-by-step instructions that you can follow to prevent causing any further damage to your car.
Fixing a Cracked Windshield
As long as the crack in the windshield is minor, you can easily repair this from your own home without having to involve a professional. Simply clean the affected area with glass cleaner so that it will be easy to see. Then get a DIY windshield repair kit from the auto parts store. You will probably have to smooth out the crack with a razor blade so that there are no sharp edges and so that the crack can be filled in completely.
Once this is done, follow all of the instructions on the windshield repair kit box and you will have the repair done in no time at all, and you'll only have spent a few dollars.
If you want to save money on car repairs and think that you have the skills and the wherewithal to fix your car at home, then you can attempt to do so. These fender bender issues are by far the easiest to fix at home. As long as you are willing to pay money for any tools or accessories that you don't have and maybe do some research on your own time to get the repairs done, then you should be able to get your car back into proper working order and looking nice again fairly shortly.
When you want professional, hassle-free collision repair services, rely on the team at Jeff's Auto Body.
Share26 February 2015
