How To Repair Alarm Remote Plastic

Fixing damaged plastic bumpers involves grinding, sanding, sculpting and painting. But it'southward worth the attempt for repairs that would toll less than your deductible.

There oughta be a law: If there'southward a mail service in a parking lot—any post—it should be loftier enough to see when you're backing up. Unfortunately, the constabulary we unremarkably see applied is Murphy's, and the resulting body-damage repairs will cost just a few dollars less than your insurance deductible. And that'southward precisely the scenario we were faced with later on trying to maneuver our trusty Honda Civic out of a tight space in a crowded mall parking lot.

A lot of people would first try to practice what y'all shouldn't: Head to the local auto parts store for some el cheapo body filler and a tin of matching spray paint. Surprise! The technology of auto body parts has changed—and y'all'll need a completely different assortment of supplies to repair painted plastic parts than you would use to repair sheetmetal. Fortunately, in that location are a number of companies making repair and refinishing materials for plastic bumpers, equally well equally plastic fenders and door skins fabricated from sheet molding compound.

Scuff, clean and prep expanse with plastic prep solvent to remove dirt and oil, and promote adhesion.

Bumper Mechanics

Today, the actual "bumper" part of a front or rear bumper is invisible. The role of the auto'southward construction that's used for saving the vehicle'southward body from damage is well hidden backside a fairly large semirigid piece of painted plastic. This plastic covering is designed to deflect and deform easily when bumped. The theory goes that you can come across it lightly and the plastic will pop dorsum into its original shape. However, actually wallop it, peculiarly with a hard or sharp object, and the plastic will abrade, cutting or tear.

Various carmakers use unlike methods of attaching these plastic bumper covers. Because they are held in place with screws and tabs that fit into slots in the body sheetmetal, you may have to do some hunting effectually for all the fastening points of a typical fascia.

On our damaged Civic, for example, there were screws behind metallic caps nearly the trunk latch, as well as screws under the taillights and at the cycle wells. Once they were removed, nosotros were able to slide the bumper'southward tabs off a number of slots in the rear quarter panels. Look for screws or bolts under the body carpeting between the wheel and the rear bumper. You may also observe fasteners hidden beneath or backside the bumper fascia.

Grind a "V" into the dorsum of panel to remove loose material and give more surface expanse for adhesion.

Fascia Facelift

You'll need a warm, dry place to work considering the repair adhesives and fillers cure within a adequately narrow range of temperatures. If you have the fascia off the machine, you tin piece of work indoors—but not in the basement because these chemicals can requite off some pretty baneful fumes. Read the labels carefully.

Non all plastic bumpers are made from the same stuff. But with the fascia removed, it'southward easy to identify the blazon of plastic because it's stamped into the back side. Stamps of PP (polypropylene), PPO (polyphenylene oxide) and TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) indicate plastics that smear hands when basis or machine sanded. (Our Civic bumper is made of polypropylene.) Stamps of PUR (polyurethane plastic rigid) and TPUR (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer) are plastics that powder when ground or sanded.

The type of filler you use to repair the bumper depends on the plastic type, and there are many different manufacturers. Consult with the counterman at the auto pigment store for the advisable products. While the specific brand you lot use isn't critical, information technology is important that you stay with that same brand throughout the unabridged repair to exist sure the products are compatible.

Regardless of plastic type, prepping the fascia is the same: Begin by slightly scuffing the damaged expanse and cleaning it with plastic surface cleaner. If the bumper is cut or torn through completely, make certain to scrub the inner and outer surfaces. After rinsing and letting the surface dry, wipe the area with prep solvent. When wiping with this cloth, go in only one direction because going in two directions but drags contaminants back into the repair.

Thoroughly mix equal amounts of hardener and repair adhesive on a piece of cardboard or paper.

After the solvent has dried, sand the surface area by hand with 80-grit newspaper. Next, you'll need to form a "V" groove in the damaged area on the front end and back sides of the fascia. The grooves permit yous to align the two edges more than easily. They also provide more surface surface area for the repair material to adhere to.

For plastic types that pulverisation when sanded, cutting the grooves with a 24-grit disc on a sander. For plastics that smear when sanded, brand the grooves using a cordless drill and a rotary file. This gives you greater command and slower speeds to reduce the chance of oestrus-generated smears.

Spread plastic filler over the repair. Don't slop information technology on heavily or you'll have more work later.

Repair tears and cuts from the back side of the fascia. If the cut or tear is big, you might have to align and then concur the edges of the repair with masking tape on the front end of the fascia. Use cocky-stick fiberglass-repair tape to add construction to the cut or tear. Side by side, mix the adhesive and apply it over the record with a trunk-filler squeegee. When the showtime layer of record is in place, use a 2nd layer so the threads run at a 90-degree angle to the first layer.

Once the textile has hardened (in near xx minutes), move to the front of the fascia and remove any tape (if applied). Next, using 80-grit sandpaper, remove any material that has squeezed through, and sand any spots that are above the finished level of the fascia. Fill the cut or tear and whatever low spots in the front of the fascia with the appropriate repair material, and squeegee it level. After it has hardened, sand everything level, offset with 80-dust, then 120-grit, and and then apply a light skim glaze of repair fabric to make full pits and surface imperfections, and to restore the original contour. Then finish sand with wet 400-grit paper.

Sand and contour plastic body filler with fourscore- and 120-grit, then stop with 400-grit waterproof sandpaper on a safety block. It will probably take two coats to restore contour properly.

PAINTING THE PLASTIC

When the repair is completed, employ two wet coats of flexible office sealer. Afterwards drying for xxx minutes, the fascia is fix for priming and painting. Once more, read the labels and follow the maker's recommendations for operator safety—this stuff tin exist very toxic if inhaled. Modern primers and basecoat/clearcoat paints are flexible enough to accommodate plastic bumpers without peeling or loss of adhesion. Prime number the fender with two coats of any two-part primer-surfacer, making certain to let the primer dry out between coats. In one case the primer has hardened, dry sand the repaired areas with 400-dust paper to level information technology and remove any imperfections.

Before spraying the bumper with basecoat, wetsand information technology and gently wipe the area with a tack rag to remove dust, and then spray according to the manufacturer'south instructions. You may need to repeat this process two or three times to cover completely. Once the basecoat is dry out (usually almost 30 minutes), mix the clearcoat with hardener. Apply two medium clearcoats, allowing each to dry in between.

Afterwards drying overnight, the fascia is gear up to be reinstalled. One time it'due south in place, lightly wetsand the painted surface with 1500-grit paper to remove dust particles and surface paint imperfections. Avoid sanding through the paint by staying away from creases and seams. When done, dry the fender and look for shiny areas, which point that more sanding is needed. To bring out the luster of the paint, use rubbing compound on the foam polishing pad of a rotary buffing machine, even so avoiding creases and seams. Go the final sheen using a fresh foam pad and polishing compound.

Before spraying the bumper with basecoat, wetsand information technology and gently wipe the area with a tack rag to remove grit, then spray according to the manufacturer's instructions. You may need to repeat this process ii or three times to cover completely.