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Many of these car detailing products are versatile, and you’ll want a second or a third for detailing around the house, RV or boat. Whether your teen had a hiccup learning to back out of the driveway, or a rogue shopping car happened to target your car door during a recent grocery trip, car scratches are quite frustrating to deal with. As one of the most common minor vehicular damages, they not only diminish the aesthetics of a vehicle, they reduce the resale value as well. The worst part is, these minor repairs can cost an upwards of $400 or more at the dealership, which means most of us choose to live with our blemished automotive paint.

However, if you are a handy person, it may be possible for you to repair a car scratch on your own, and for much cheaper than what the dealership or auto shop will charge. All you need is a little cash, some supplies, and experience using sanding and buffing tools. Continue reading for a quick guide to eliminating surface scratches in automotive paint.

What You Will Need for the Job:

Everything you need for this project can be found at any local home improvement or hardware store. Be sure you know how to use the tools necessary for this project in order to produce the best results. If you do not know how to properly buff and sand, you can risk damaging your vehicle even more. As for supplies, this is a list of mandatory and optional items to get:

Mandatory:

• 200 Grit Wet Dry Sandpaper
• Automotive Rubbing Compound (Clear Coat-Safe)
• Prep Solvent
• Microfiber Rags
• Dual Action Sander/Polisher
• Applicator Pads
• Car Polish
• Car Wax
• Small Bowl
• Warm Water

Quick Guide to Repairing a Car Scratch:

Start by washing your car. Take it to a car wash, or wash it manually.

Apply the prep solvent once your car is clean and dry.

Submerge your 200 grit wet dry sandpaper in cold water and let it sit for 10 minutes. This type and grade of sandpaper is specially manufactured to be safe for sanding clear coats. However, if there is residual paint on the sandpaper after sanding, you are sanding off too much clear coat.

After your sandpaper soaks fir 20 minutes, spray the scratch with a lot of water, and then begin sanding it gently. You may need to repeat this step a few times before it the scratch goes away, depending on the severity. Check the sanded area for smoothness between each round, but be very careful not to sand off too much clear coat.

Once the scratch is gone, the surface of the car should appear dull. Do not worry, this is normal. Continue by applying a small amount of your automotive rubbing compound to your buffing applicator pad.

Set your power sander at 1,800 RPM. Buff the dull area with your rubbing compound until it looks shiny. Be sure you keep your power sander moving in even strokes at all times to prevent paint burn. Finish by wiping away residual product with microfiber towels. You may need to repeat this step a few times for best results.

After you have finished buffing, set your power sander at 1,000 RPM. Then apply your car polish to a clean applicator pad and buff the work area until it the clear coat is glossy.

Your last step is to wax your car according to manufacturer directions. You will need some more microfiber towels for this part.

Sometimes you need to clear your car tire gently, I find wheel woolies product effective in tire cleaning. As a vehicle owner, you know that frustrating automobile problems are an all too common occurrence. By learning a little bit about automotive repairs, you may be able to be less stressed out. Use everything you’ve learned in the tips from this article has provided you with. It will come in handy later on.

Regularly check out your radiator’s performance.You should let your car run for a few minutes, shut down the engine and then open up the hood. You should never want to open up the radiator of a car is still running. Check radiator fluid by using a dipstick and remember to always mix the coolant with water before putting it in the radiator.

Go over your owner’s manual and make sure to mark important pages. You could even discover how to solve your car manual and fix the problem yourself.

You must keep good track of all your car’s records in a handy location. You want to store them in the glove compartment. The auto shop will want to see any records. This will help them assess the process go more precisely.

Always think of how to fix your car’s problems yourself before you bring it in for repairs. You probably know that a few mechanics will deceive you about your car repairs to charge you more.

Most shops are on the up and up, but others may try to slip in little extras which quickly add up. Look around for mechanics that specialize in your car’s make. These shops are better understanding of what you’re going to need done to your car has.

Speak with friends about auto repairs done for some good ideas. They have used mechanics before and can fill you in the right direction if so. You should still do some research on the person they tell you about. At least look for online reviews on the shops that they recommend.

Know what the lights on your dashboard and be aware of when they go off. These lights can let you know when your vehicle needs some maintenance. Ignoring those for a long time will only make the problem much worse than it already is.

It is important to have your oil changes. You should regularly to keep your vehicle runs smoothly. If your oil is not changed on a regular basis, your car could stop working much earlier than expected.

You don’t necessarily have to visit a car dealer in order to get your car fixed. There are several reputable technicians that may be closer in auto shops and at dealerships. Find a mechanic who you are comfortable with and stick with them.

There are a few different classifications that determine the quality of parts. New parts just mean that they are the specifications of the manufacturer. Refurbished or rebuilt parts ate those that these parts have been repaired.Salvaged parts are used parts that have not been fixed.

If you have been having minor car issues, you should take your car in to check it out anyway. A seemingly small problem can become a major one if it is left unchecked.

Don’t allow auto mechanics to persuade you that getting an engine is routine maintenance. This service and it isn’t necessary unless you have neglected engine care for some time.

Don’t buy parts from anyone claiming that say they’re going to last forever. This is total spin – just a way for unscrupulous parts dealers to get more of you. One example of this is transmission fluid will last a lifetime. While this does not need to be changed as often as typical fluid, you will still have to change the fluid every 80,000 miles.

Not many people invest the time in reading their car’s owner’s manual. You need to learn the manual so that important details are easy to find. Your manual has all that you need to know when it comes to maintaining your vehicle and doing minor repairs yourself.

Bleed your brakes before taking your car out on a test drive after you’ve worked on them and before you take your car out on the road. Make sure you test your brakes for leaks.You can then be ready to take a test drive in an area with little to no traffic. Start slowly to be certain you’ve made a good repair before risking higher speeds.

Original Equipment Manufacturer is usually referred to using the meaning of OEM. Remember this when you need to have parts on your car.You will sound like a mechanic you only want OEM parts. This will lower the chances of someone putting used parts on your car.

It can be a big nuisance to have to deal with car issues. They can be expensive too. When you do your homework on auto repair and use the tips from this article, you can avoid breaking the bank.