Don’t Be Afraid to Try Fixing Your Own Car
It doesn’t take much of a collision to seriously damage or even total a car, because manufacturers have designed sheet metal and suspensions to crumple as an energy-absorbing safety feature. Even minor accidents can leave cars seriously scarred.
Seemingly trivial damage to a hood or trunk can cost a thousand dollars to repair. As a result, more and more motorists are leaving their cars unrepaired because they are unwilling to risk an increase in insurance premiums by filing a claim or because they do not have collision insurance.
In some cases, home repairs offer a way to cope with the otherwise unaffordable. Some repairs to minor damage will actually cost less than the deductible on your collision coverage.
A home repair is not for the timid, the impatient or the clumsy. And no matter how careful you are, the job is not going to look like it was done by a professional body shop. But you may save hundreds of dollars and get an adequate result.
You shouldn’t attempt to repair major damage, such as when the frame has been knocked out of alignment.
When damage occurs to a single body panel, such as a hood, trunk lid or door, it can often be replaced at home, according to Ken Zion, an instructor in body repair at El Camino College in Torrance. Replacing an entire body panel can be much easier and quicker than filling or pulling out dents, he said.
“With minimal mechanical aptitude, you can easily deal with a hood,” Zion said. “Typically, a hood is held on with four standard hex bolts.”
An original-equipment hood can cost a few hundred dollars and knock-off brands can be as cheap as $100. Used hoods from junk yards can start at $100, though they are often hard to locate.
Few professional body shops would consider used body parts, but if your car is five or six years old a used part may be adequate. If you can find a used part painted in the original color, your job will be easier yet.
Transporting the new hood to your home might require a truck, and you will need somebody to help move the hood into place.
Hoods and trunk lids are the easiest major parts to replace, Zion said. Doors can be difficult for novices to align. Rear panels are beyond the scope of most beginners, because they must be welded into place. And many front fenders are now bonded with adhesive, making them tough to replace at home. Grilles, front lights, taillights and trim are often the only parts damaged in minor accidents. They are quite easy to replace and easy to find at junk yards.
Any mystery will be answered if you buy a manufacturer’s body-service manual from a dealership at prices starting at $20. The manuals tell you step by step how to repair virtually any body part on your car, even windshields.
The final problem is paint. Most new body parts come primed and ready for a finish coat, though for a better job you may want to apply another coat of primer. You can buy paint that is custom-matched to your faded paint at many automotive paint-supply stores, which also package the paint in spray cans for a small charge.
One problem will involve blending the new and old paints, which most professionals don’t even attempt. Rather, they repaint entire body panels and often the adjacent panels, as well. If you have ever done any serious furniture or other home-refinishing work, you have some of the necessary skills. Spray paint can be tricky, but with some effort you should obtain satisfactory results.
