Find solution

Stray rocks flying up from the road can easily chip the paint on a car. Ignoring rock chips leaves you more than the unsightly nicks; the chipped areas can get bigger and start to rust, too, leading to greater problems down the road. Fixing the chips is, however, a task that is neither onerous nor exceedingly time consuming. The sooner you fix the chips, the better your car will look and the more protected from rust it will be.

Instructions

1

Clean off the area of the car that has the rock chips in it. Use soap and water to remove debris. Allow time for the car to dry.

2

Sand down the chipped area with sand paper that is 1500- to 2000-grit. This will help to remove any loose paint from the chipped area. It will also help the paint to adhere to the area.

3

Wipe off the sanded area with a damp, lint-free cloth. Using the lint-free cloth will help to make sure that no threads or cloth get stuck in the chipped area.

4

Apply paint that matches your car color. Paint stores can match the color using a small chip, or you can call your car manufacturer to find out what colors were used on your car in the year that it was produced. Paint the chip and paint the area around the chip as well. Allow time to dry between coats before applying another coat. Three to four coats is typically sufficient.

5

Sand down the area. Use sandpaper to get the paint in the chipped area level with the rest of the car surface. Avoid sanding any area to which you have not applied paint, as those areas do not have the extra paint applied that you need to sand down.

6

Apply rubbing compound and buff the area with a soft rag. This will help the paint to blend in better and have a polish to it.

7

Apply wax or polish to protect the new paint.

Many vehicle owners dread paint scratches because they detract from a vehicles appearance. Scratches are caused by door dings in parking lots, flying rocks from passing vehicles, bumper scrapes and intentional acts of vandalism. Many scratches form when objects gouge a vehicles protective coating and base color. Exposure to the elements can eventually cause scratches to rust.



Repair automobile scratches promptly to restore a vehicles appearance and prevent structural damages. Although scratches are unavoidable, most of them are reparable with the right supplies.

Instructions

1

Mix two tablespoons of liquid dish detergent with one gallon of water in a plastic bucket. Wash the scraped area of the vehicle with the soapy solution, using a microfiber cloth. Remove all dirt and grime from the scratch and surrounding paint.

2

Rinse the paint with water from a garden hose. Dry the paint thoroughly with a microfiber towel.

3

Wipe shoe polish over the scratch, using a microfiber applicator pad. Use a color of shoe polish that contrasts with the color of the vehicles paint, to better visualize the scratch. Apply enough shoe polish to fill the scratch.

4

Place ultra-fine 2,000-grit wet/dry sandpaper on a rubber sanding block. Fill a bowl with cold water and two drops of liquid dish detergent. Dip the sandpaper into the solution.

5

Sand the scratch with the sandpaper, using short, slow strokes at a 60-degree angle to the scratch. Apply light pressure on the sandpaper, until the shoe polish dissipates. Frequently dip the sandpaper into the solution, keeping it wet at all times.

6

Dry the sanded area thoroughly with a clean microfiber towel. Apply a generous amount of rubbing compound directly to the area. Buff the area, using an oscillating power buffer with a rubbing compound pad.

7

Wipe off the haze from the area with a terry cloth towel. Apply swirl mark eliminator compound directly to the area.

8

Remove the rubbing compound pad from the power buffer and replace it with a foam polishing compound pad. Buff the area with the power buffer and foam polishing compound pad to remove any remaining traces of the scratch.

9

Wipe the area thoroughly with a terry cloth towel to remove any remaining compound residue. Buff the area with car wax, using a clean microfiber cloth. Apply the car wax according to the manufacturers directions on the products label.

Getting an exact match for your GM vehicles exterior paint requires specific information from the manufacturer, according to Paint Scratch, an automotive touch-up provider. GM paint codes are usually three- or four-digit numeric codes beginning with the letters "WA" stamped onto labels or plates located on the vehicle itself. There are three places to look for a GM vehicles paint information.

On the Vehicle

GM places the paint code in a variety of locations, depending on the make and model of the vehicle, according to MicroFinish LLC, a provider of specialty paint products. Check the spare tire cover, underneath the drivers seat, inside the glove box, under the passenger sun visor or the drivers side door jamb.

Owners Manual

Check your owners manual for the location of your GM paint code information. According to Express Paint, a car paint provider, GM owners manuals will not provide the paint code, but they will give you the specific location of the label or plate where the maker stamped the paint code.

Dealer

Call the dealership where you bought your GM vehicle to find the paint code. Express Paint notes that most dealers will require the Vehicle Identification Number from your vehicle to provide either the paint code or the paint codes location on the vehicle.

A paint ding happens to your parked car when someone in a parked car next to your car opens a car door too quickly or too far and the car door touches your car. Sometimes your paint is scratched. Other times, theres a small dent. Almost always, a streak of paint from the other persons card winds up on your door. These problems are structurally insignificant but aesthetically displeasing and frustrating. Fortunately, there are ways to significantly improve the appearance of parking lot dings.

Instructions

Steps for Surface Marks

1

Wash your car. Sometimes the act of washing alone will remove some of the offending paint and will help buff out any scratches made to your paint job. Regardless, washing your car removes dirt and dust so that your efforts will be more effective when you focus on addressing the ding directly.

2

Pour a small amount of acetone on a soft rag and lightly rub the ding. Observe to see if anything happens. If acetone removes the ding, then stop here and proceed to step 4. If acetone does not work, then proceed with the use of rubbing compound, available at automotive supply stores.

3

Spread rubbing compound on the ding. Rub with a clean cloth in a circular motion. When the ding disappears, begin rubbing from side to side to get rid of the circular buffing marks.

4

Clean the affected area with polishing compound and then seal with wax.

Steps for Deeper Scratches

5

Wash the car and then spread black shoe polish over the affected area.

6

Sand the panel using ample water and 2000-grit wet/dry sandpaper. Continue sanding until the shoe polish disappears.

7

Buff out sanding scratches using rubbing compound and a soft cloth.

8

Seal the affected area with wax.

An accident can leave your vehicle without a functioning side mirror. It is simple to replace a side mirror, but whether you buy a new replacement mirror or a used one, the mirror probably will not match the paint color of your car. A few coats of paint can transform the replacement mirror and make it look as if it was the original.

Instructions

1

Locate the factory paint color code for your car. This is the key to getting the best color match for your replacement mirror. Check the records for your car or contact your local dealer to find the code. Buy the paint and primer from an auto parts store.

2

Lightly sand the plastic on the replacement side mirror with fine-grit sandpaper. Wipe away the sanding dust from the mirror with a damp cloth.

3

Tape off any areas of the replacement mirror you do not want painted, using painters tape. Set the replacement mirror on a drop cloth in a well-ventilated area.

4

Spray the mirror with aerosol automotive primer. Apply the primer in two light coats. Let each coat dry before handling or applying paint or primer.

5

Spray the mirror with aerosol automotive paint. Again, apply the paint in light coats. Apply three coats of the paint, letting each coat dry before applying the next. Give the mirror 24 hours to dry before handling it. Remove the painters tape.