Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Although most vehicle owners worry about the appearance of scratches and chips on their paintwork, very few stop to consider the effects of natural materials. Dirt and grass in particular can easily find their way onto car bodywork, and if left unattended, they can compromise the integrity of the paint itself. Understanding why grass and dirt can damage auto paint will give vehicle owners insight into chemical reactions and encourage them to be proactive in keeping their cars free of potentially harmful materials.
Gelcoat covers the outside of boats and recreational vehicles. The glossy coating is made from hard polyester resin applied over fiberglass. It protects the fiberglass and provides a smooth, shiny appearance. Wax applied on gelcoat regularly can help it maintain a glassy look for years after you purchase the vehicle. The wax can also protect and restore weathered gelcoats. You can apply wax to gelcoat in a few minutes with no special equipment or materials.
Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or impacts. They can occur in any form of fiberglass, including cars, boats and swimming pools. Small cracks form in the outer surface of the fiberglass, spreading out from a central point like a spiderweb. These cracks do not affect the structural integrity of the fiberglass, but are an aesthetic issue. Fortunately, spider cracks are not difficult to repair.
Many motorhomes, or recreational vehicles, are constructed from fiberglass -- a lightweight, durable material that will withstand the elements and requires little maintenance. In order to effectively paint a fiberglass motorhome, the area first must be properly prepped; this involves sanding the area, allowing the final coat to effectively adhere to the surface. The surface is then covered with a specialized gelcoat paint. This gelcoat paint comes in a variety of colors and is purchased in a two-part kit from a hardware or home improvement store.
The automatic transmission on most vehicles uses a series of lines to transfer the fluid through a cooler and back into the transmission. The lines are located beneath the vehicle and are subject to some abuse. If something should impact these lines, creating a large enough dent, it can lead to problems down the road.
A gelcoat is a hard resin that is applied over a fiberglass body, such as that of a recreational vehicle or boat, to provide a glossy finish and to protect the vehicle. In order to keep a gelcoat looking smooth and shiny, it should be cleaned and waxed. A power buffer can take out a lot of the strain.
Your car's paint job protects the underlying steel from rusting. Keeping your paint job in good condition plays an important role in protecting the integrity of your vehicle as well as keeping it looking good. Natural elements can damage car paint over time, while the effects of a car crash or angry ex's baseball bat are more immediate.
Discovering a scratch or chip in the paint of your car or truck can be frustrating; it mars the surface and can reduce the value of the vehicle. It is possible to repair a small chip or cover up a minor scratch in your automobile paint finish without causing further damage. This project should take less than 1 hour and is relatively inexpensive in comparison to a professional doing the job.
Gelcoat serves as an exterior finish for boats, RVs, cars, jet skis, aircraft and even countertops. It is an artificial resin colored with pigment and very lightweight. If you permit the object coated with gelcoat to sit in the sun for extended periods of time, the sun will bleach out the pigment or coloring of the gelcoat and dull the shine. You can bring back the shine of your original purchase with the right products and a little hard work.
Clean radius and straight cuts are achievable on gasket material with the proper tooling. Thinner types of gasket material require nothing more than sharp blades and hollow gasket cutters. Gasket material over 1/4-inch thick require specialized mechanical tools to create the precision cuts necessary to seal a piece of equipment and is best left to professionals. Properly securing the gasket material and ensuring the tools used are in good condition will allow you to cut thinner gasket material efficiently and precisely.
Taking your dinged or dented car to the automotive repair shop can be a costly and time-consuming affair. For small- to medium-sized dents, you can repair the damage yourself without a great deal of effort, and using items that are found in most households.
Once you decide to sell your used Toyota Corolla, settling on an asking price should be one of your top priorities. Plan to invest a little time researching the value of your car. You want the price to be competitive so that it's marketable and fair to you as well. Even though used-car prices may seem random at times, there are actually fairly reliable strategies to help car buyers and sellers determine fair market value based on several factors, including the year, model, trim, market region and condition of the car.
Eggs are the arsenal of choice for vandalism due to the almost irreversible damage they cause to painted surfaces if not dealt with immediately. House paint, car paint, painted signs, mailboxes and any other painted surfaces of value are all susceptible to damage caused by eggs.
Rain, sprinklers and splashes from puddles can all ruin your car's pristine shine. The spot or stain left on your car is from the minerals remaining after the water has evaporated, not the water itself. The amount of sodium in the water also affects the severity of water spots. In general, quick drying or wiping of water from your car is the best way to avoid water spots.
Car dents are an unsightly blemish on the exterior of a vehicle. The dents and dings are usually a minor issue and don't need immediate attention. While most car owners usually fix minor dents to keep their vehicle looking its best, there are times when dents can trigger significant structural problems and should be corrected.
Maybe your car is a casualty of the storm that brought baseball size hail the last time. You might have caused the dent yourself pulling out of the tight spot at the busy supermarket last week without realizing it; or maybe someone else did it for you. Whatever the reason, the dent is still there, and you want to fix it yourself but don’t know how. Follow some easy steps that will help you repair minor dents even if you don’t know much about body repair.
Sand out car paint damage carefully to smooth out the damage using 400-grit sandpaper before repainting your car; learn how from our expert custom-car mechanic in this free auto-maintenance video.
If you have some scratches on your car due to a minor accident, you might want to make some repairs. You'll need to sand the damage to the car's paint to fix these scratches. There's a bit more to it than simply grabbing some sandpaper and rubbing over the spot. Here's how to sand out car paint damage.
Age, dirt and wear can damage a car's paint job, which can damage the body as well as hurt its appearance. You need to repair any fading, peeling or scratching of your car's paint in order to preserve its look and durability. Read on to learn how to repair car paint damage.
