A driver's life in a sizable city like Jacksonville inevitably involves occasional car scratches or even the odd dent. If you find a few car dents or scratches in your pristine paintwork one day, don't fret. There are several ways to repair this kind of surface-level damage by yourself. And if you'd like a professional hand, you can always visit your local VW dealership.
What Should You Do if Your VW Gets Scratched or Dented?
How to Get Rid of Car Dents
You can find a dent repair kit at your nearest auto parts store. These kits usually use a suction cup of some design. Choose a kit that comes with a range of cup sizes, or find a cup that matches your dent in size.
To fix your dent, you need to apply the suction cup and heave until the dent pops out. Follow any extra instructions that come with your kit. One pro tip is to heat up the metal beforehand to make it more pliable. You can do this with a hairdryer on full heat and maximum blast.
Fill in Stubborn Dents
If a dent refused to pop out, another option is to fill it in with special body filler, which you can also buy at most auto parts stores. This job takes a little while but can effectively make your dent disappear. To begin, wash and dry your bodywork. You'll then need to remove the paint around the dent using sandpaper or an electric sander. When sanding, you want the paint to be rough around the edges of the dent.
Next, mix the filler and apply it to the dent in layers. Start with a thick filler layer, pressing hard to ensure no air is trapped underneath. Then you can carefully add thinner layers and sand the dried filler to make it match the bodywork's contours. Finally, spray on primer, paint the area, and apply paint sealant.
How To Get Rid of Car Scratches
Scratches can be far easier to deal with than dents, especially light upper-layer scratches that haven't removed any paintwork. You can use a scratch remover cloth to rub away the shallowest of scratches.
You can also use a scratch remover compound polish that uses wax to fill shallow abrasions. There's even a tool called a car scratch pen, which looks like a highlighter and applies a quick-drying lacquer to fill scrapes into clearcoat and primer. Whichever method you use, always clean the area well before you begin.
Have Your VW Dealer Fix It For You
More extensive scratches or dents from a collision will usually require professional attention. Not only will an experienced technician save you the time and trouble of attempting to repair it yourself, but they're also likely to do a better job.
Have your paintwork and bodywork made to look like new today at Tom Bush Volkswagen. We've been providing local drivers with fine-looking vehicles and repair work since 1970.
