Ouchy on my 2010 ES!
11-02-18, 06:36 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Ouchy on my 2010 ES!
Hello, TIA!
Well, today, some lady forced me into the bike lane and my car hit those plastic lane separators... you know those plastic posts that move when you hit them. Well, eventhough the posts moved, it still dented my car door. I now have a dent on the front driver door about 4 inches long, right below the door handle. It's close to the edge but I think it'll come out. I was quoted $200 today to get it fixed but can't go there right now.
I was hoping that maybe I could access the dent from the inside of the door panel and work it out myself. I'm sure I can figure out how to take the interior door panel off, (done it on many other cars), but want to know if anyone knows if the "outside skin" of the door is accessible from inside the panel. It's not that bad, but it bugs the heck out of me!
The impact also pushed in a small area of my bumper. I've taken larger bumper dents out before, so I'm not so worried about this. I mainly gotta fix the door dent. Does anyone know if this is possible... getting to the outer skin? I'd hate to spend the $200, but I might have to. Dang lady driver!!!
Well, today, some lady forced me into the bike lane and my car hit those plastic lane separators... you know those plastic posts that move when you hit them. Well, eventhough the posts moved, it still dented my car door. I now have a dent on the front driver door about 4 inches long, right below the door handle. It's close to the edge but I think it'll come out. I was quoted $200 today to get it fixed but can't go there right now.
I was hoping that maybe I could access the dent from the inside of the door panel and work it out myself. I'm sure I can figure out how to take the interior door panel off, (done it on many other cars), but want to know if anyone knows if the "outside skin" of the door is accessible from inside the panel. It's not that bad, but it bugs the heck out of me!
The impact also pushed in a small area of my bumper. I've taken larger bumper dents out before, so I'm not so worried about this. I mainly gotta fix the door dent. Does anyone know if this is possible... getting to the outer skin? I'd hate to spend the $200, but I might have to. Dang lady driver!!!
11-02-18, 11:53 PM
#2
$200 isn’t too shabby for a paintless repair guy. You can try to do it yourself first, depends where it is if there’s a reinforcement bar or anything else in the way. You might get lucky but remember those guys are pros and use heat, pullers, helper tools, and experience which you probably don’t have.
11-03-18, 01:30 AM
#3
Gimme some pics, maybe I can help you with that.
11-03-18, 02:51 PM
#4
Rookie
Thread Starter
$200 isn’t too shabby for a paintless repair guy. You can try to do it yourself first, depends where it is if there’s a reinforcement bar or anything else in the way. You might get lucky but remember those guys are pros and use heat, pullers, helper tools, and experience which you probably don’t have.
Here ya go!
Looking at it, I think I might be able to do something. Whaddya think?
11-03-18, 03:07 PM
#5
I would pull it out with those sticky sticks.
11-03-18, 08:06 PM
#7
That’s a tough spot that’s not going to be open in the back. What I meant by experience is that pros have the mini suction cups with the sticky glue if necessary. They also use heat and a curved bar from behind. A pro will get it to 95% of what it previously was maybe better. You can probably get it to 80-90% maybe. If your fine with that then cool if not just get a pro because if you mess with it then he might not be able to fix it once it’s been altered.
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11-03-18, 10:00 PM
#8
11-03-18, 11:53 PM
#9
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Thread Starter
That’s a tough spot that’s not going to be open in the back. What I meant by experience is that pros have the mini suction cups with the sticky glue if necessary. They also use heat and a curved bar from behind. A pro will get it to 95% of what it previously was maybe better. You can probably get it to 80-90% maybe. If your fine with that then cool if not just get a pro because if you mess with it then he might not be able to fix it once it’s been altered.
Anyone got drawings that might show the door panel?
Thanks guys! Much appreciated!
11-04-18, 05:19 AM
#10
Unfortunately paint less repair isn’t guaranteed to be 100%. Even typical autobody replace door skin paint or body filler and paint will have to be blended and won’t be 100%. As in for me and you it might look perfect but an appraiser will look at it and within minutes will spot the body work. I hear you on being **** this was supposed to be my good looking but older cheaper car for 2/3 years. Knowing all this the cracking dash is driving me up a wall.
Last edited by ellocovg; 11-04-18 at 08:03 AM.
11-04-18, 06:13 AM
#11
The dent looks like it is close to the end seam which will make it difficult to get out. My bet is without the right tools and experience you will do more damage and stretch the metal or crack the paint. I suspect a body shop would want to pull and fill and repaint the area which if done right will look new. A paintless dent guy may be able to get most of it but as you get close to the edge it becomes difficult. Good luck.
11-04-18, 12:09 PM
#12
Rookie
Thread Starter
Unfortunately paint less repair isn’t guaranteed to be 100%. Even typical autobody replace door skin paint or body filler and paint will have to be blended and won’t be 100%. As in for me and you it might look perfect but an appraiser will look at it and within minutes will spot the body work. I hear you on being **** this was supposed to be my good looking but older cheaper car for 2/3 years. Knowing all this the cracking dash is driving me up a wall.
The dent looks like it is close to the end seam which will make it difficult to get out. My bet is without the right tools and experience you will do more damage and stretch the metal or crack the paint. I suspect a body shop would want to pull and fill and repaint the area which if done right will look new. A paintless dent guy may be able to get most of it but as you get close to the edge it becomes difficult. Good luck.
I'm one of those DIY'ers that attempts to learn anything I'm interested in. I wanted some leather cases for my knife, fishing pliers, and phones, so I bought leather, tools, dyes, etc and learned how to make them. I found out working with leather is not that difficult, but measure twice/cut once, certainly applies as expensive as leather is. I also wanted my mechanical watches to run better than +/- 1 minute a day, so I bought a watch timer and adjusted them. My Orient now runs +/- 7 seconds/day, and my Seiko is about +/- 5 seconds/day. Yup, bought the timer just to do 2 watches. Ended up doing about 9 watches for friends and family.
A little dent won't deter me! LOL!
11-04-18, 12:53 PM
#14
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Thread Starter
Thanks! Yah, for sure if I'm not satisfied, I gotta go another route.
I've had dash covers on my previous cars, Camry, 4Runner, and Avalon. For me it wasn't to cover up anything... I just like dash covers. I'm sure you're going to like looking at it more than the cracks in your dash. Post some pics in your thread when you get it installed. I'll be interested in seeing it. Good luck too!
I've had dash covers on my previous cars, Camry, 4Runner, and Avalon. For me it wasn't to cover up anything... I just like dash covers. I'm sure you're going to like looking at it more than the cracks in your dash. Post some pics in your thread when you get it installed. I'll be interested in seeing it. Good luck too!
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