16 Jul 09 Auto Repair
If you do your own auto body repair then it is all too easy to get car paint on other parts of your bodywork. There is a quick and easy trick to remove it without taking off the original paint underneath.
Wash the car as thoroughly as you can, being sure to remove as much dirt and grease around the affected area as you can. Dip a very clean cloth into nail polish remover and squeeze off any excess. Lightly rub the area with the cloth until the unwanted paint lifts clear. Do this until all the paint is removed while being careful not to remove the original paint.
Wash the car again, paying particular attention to the affected area as there may be acetone still on the body work. Once dry, wax the car to a shine. The area should now resemble the rest of the car and the unwanted pain should now all be gone.
Alternatively, if you don’t have or want to use nail polish remover you can buy wax that contains a rubbing agent. Applying this was and rubbing it in over the affected area can also remove the paint, again, being careful not to remove the original paintjob in the process.
Using either method will return your bodywork to its original color scheme without affecting the paint around it.
16 Jul 09 Naples Body Repair
Even in the lightest auto accident a headlight always seem to a casualty. Even if the damage is at the other end of the car! Often, if the damage is minor it’s just the bulb that’s gone and there is no need to go to an auto repair shop just to have it replaced as it can be done fairly easily yourself. All you need is the correct bulb for your model and year of car, a flashlight and a spanner or screwdriver.
Firstly prop open the hood and take a look at the affected side. Depending on the vehicle the headlight unit may be secured by a bolt or screw. Find out which yours is and get the appropriate tool to fit. Remove the back cover of the headlight unit with a screwdriver and let it rest on something. Inside the housing will be a reflective backplate which is often held in place by a spring which also secures the bulb. Carefully remove the spring, and backplate.
You should now have free access to the broken bulb. There will be a wiring harness attached to it which can be pulled off to free the bulb. Remove the broken bulb and put it to one side. Get the new one and place it in the housing and re-attach the wiring loom. Secure the backplate again with the spring until it is snugly in place. Then refit the back cover until it is watertight again. Test the new bulb by switching on the headlights before putting everything away just to make sure.
If it all works nicely you can clean up and dispose of the old bulb happy in the knowledge that you just saved yourself a few dollars by doing your own car maintenance.
