Did you return to the parking lot of your car and notice an unmistakably fresh scratch or dent? Any number of items may be the culprit, but a rogue shopping cart or a free-swinging car door from the next room over is possibly to blame. Your first reaction, if so, maybe to dismiss it. The purpose of your car is not important, and you may be afraid of how much it would cost to repair it.
You are not alone in coping with repairs or maintenance gives you a headache. “Two out of every three drivers are distrustful of auto repair facilities, based on factors such as overcharging, bad experiences, and needless” fixes, “according to a survey conducted by AAA. Given the inconvenience of taking your car somewhere, and then being without it for a while, you may find it’s just not worth it.
Due to several factors, it is not recommended to take this route. For one, a drop in the resale or trade-in value of your vehicle can be caused by ignoring the damage. The dealership will take the damage into account and will give a lower valuation if you swap your dinged-up car for a newer vehicle.
Second, the car is left vulnerable to corrosion by unattended dents or scratches. If this process begins, your vehicle’s exterior will begin to rust.
This is an irreversible chemical alteration that decreases the vehicle’s protection and value. Depending on whether you live in a dry environment or whether your vehicle is continuously exposed to the elements, rust will accelerate or decrease.
What is paintless dent repair?
The most cost-effective, easiest, and most environmentally friendly solution for vehicle dent repairs is generally considered to be paintless dent repair (or PDR). A slight scratch on your arm compared to a more serious cut or laceration would be a fair comparison. A comparable care choice to stitches or surgery would be conventional auto body repair. The care choice for the more moderate injury will be PDR, in this analogy.
Usually, PDR is accomplished through a sequence of key steps:
· Analyzing the affected area and accessing it.
· Removing the damaged area panel to gain access to the dent’s backside.
· Continuous pressure (without overcorrection) is steadily applied on both sides to iron out the dent.
How long does it last?
Fortunately, paintless dent repair is a faster alternative compared to conventional fixes or replacements, since it is built for smaller and less invasive impacts. Although conventional repairs can include ordering factory parts and paint, and an overnight stay for your car in the shop (or longer), paintless dent repair is completed the same day and no additional parts are needed.
The waiting period is close to that of having the tires patched if the dent is slight. It will take a time of a few hours. However, the process could take several days if there is significant damage, such as what could occur during a hail storm.
DIY – What tools are needed?
PDR Kit # 1
The first is a full Super PDR 200-piece kit containing a range of color-coded rods, a vacuum suction cup, and a dent lifter. If you want to dive, head into PDR first, and learn the trade, then you will have all the required resources.
PDR Kit # 2
Gliston’s improved, 45-piece kit is another good option and is the top choice on the list of the best PDR kits for your car from AutoGuide. AutoGuide notes that 16 different sized tabs are included in the car dent puller, which can patch dents in as little as 30 minutes.
PDR Kit # 3
Finally, Manelord’s more budget-friendly kit, including a bridge dent puller, black and blue glue puller tabs, and two glue shovels, is affordable.
Though not as many parts as the other two, when it comes to repairing accidental dents, the Manelord kit still has strong reviews on Amazon.
What dents qualify for the PDR?
Paintless dent repair is a procedure for most mild dings that is ideally suited for low force impacts. Light or minimal hail damage, impacts in the driveway from stray balls, and other “door dings” normally qualify for PDR.
The body store will check at how much the metal on your car has been “stretched” because of the dent when you take your vehicle in. They can analyze the dent’s form and depth. The smaller and shallower the dent, the more viable alternative is PDR.