How
The automotive industry is facing a unique problem. Technology has evolved to the point where auto manufacturers are struggling with how to make cars ever more efficient and safe, while still retaining their current use cases for consumers. Whether it’s autonomous driving or ride-sharing apps like Uber, technology seems poised on changing how we travel in our vehicles (and even get around town). And yet car usage continues its slow decline; people are opting out of owning them because they no longer feel necessary.
How is a word that means “what” in Hindi.
The inside, like everything else on a vehicle, will develop scratches and blemishes over time.
The majority of scratches on a plastic vehicle inside are caused by children, pets, groceries, baggage, or carrying basic objects from point A to point B.
Many of them may be avoided by covering up the plastic panels or securing loose stuff in the rear of your vehicle.
But don’t panic if you’ve already passed the preventative stage!
In this article, you’ll discover how to remove scratches from a car’s plastic inside and restore it to original condition.
Scratches on a Car Interior: How To Remove Them
There are three methods for removing scratches from your car’s interior.
It is entirely up to you to choose a solution. Each option has advantages and disadvantages; all you have to do is balance them.
Purchasing a plastic repair kit will enable you to conduct basic repairs at home, with all of the necessary tools included in one tiny box. However, they are quite restricted, and the colors given often do not complement your décor.
A factory finish would be guaranteed if you entirely replaced the panel in issue.
To disassemble and reassemble the panel, you’ll need tools. You’d also have to purchase the new panel, which is significantly more costly and unfeasible for many.
Unfortunately, replacing the panel in circumstances when it is significantly damaged with cracks and holes may be the only sensible option.
Finally, you have the option of doing a “conventional repair,” as I’ll call it. This is the fix I’ll walk you through in this post, step by step.
Continue reading to find out what tools you’ll need and how to fix your plastic vehicle inside.
You’ll need the following equipment:
The majority of the equipment, tools, and goods you’ll need are self-explanatory.
The Razor Blade and PDR Kit may have grabbed your attention, but rest assured, they’re essential to a flawless repair.
You may remove the high areas and superfluous plastic in the target region using the razor blade. You’d most likely rub part of the surrounding region if you used sandpaper or a rubbing block.
The PDR Kit, on the other hand, will enable us to reproduce the panel’s precise texture. You can use a grain pad, but you’ll have to spend a lot of time looking for the right texture, and even then it may not be perfect.
The Repairing Procedure
The repair procedure is straightforward. It could take a few tries to acquire the perfect finish, but it shouldn’t take hours and hours of your time.
You may do repairs while the panel is still on the vehicle if you like, but you’ll need some masking tape or paper to cover the surrounding regions.
Removing the panel and setting it away while working on it is the safest option. You’ll need a Plastic Trim Removal kit and, more than likely, a Torx set to remove some screws for this.
If you don’t know how to remove the panel, there are lots of videos on YouTube that will show you how to do it for your specific vehicle.
- Remove the high areas from the damaged region – Scratches in plastic often cause additional plastic to be pushed away from the affected area.
Before applying filler, you must first remove the extra plastic, which forms a rough edge and a high point.
This may be removed with a razor blade or sandpaper. I like to use a blade since it allows me to be more precise; just make sure you have a steady hand.
- Clean the panel and apply prep spray – Always clean the surface area before applying any body filler or paint. This will remove any oils, dust, or other contaminants that may have been trapped in your repair.
You might use a 99 percent alcohol cleanser, degreaser, or even a dashboard cleaner to fully clean the panel.
You’ll want to use some prep spray once you’ve cleaned the panel. This will greatly improve the adhesion of the body filler and paint to the panel.
After you’ve done that, wait for it to dry before proceeding to the actual repair.
- Recreate the texture using Glue Tabs – You’ll need a DIY Dent Repair kit with glue tabs and a glue gun to achieve this. You could purchase them individually if you wanted, but I doubt it would save you any money.
To reproduce the texture, look for an undamaged region on the panel.
To prepare the panel for your adhesive tab, spray some dashboard cleaner on it and wipe it off.
Once clean, use your glue tab to add PDR glue to the undamaged textured area, allowing it to dry somewhat.
Allowing it to dry for too long will cause it to cling to the panel.
It’s critical to get the glue tab strong enough to preserve the form and texture, but not so hard that it sticks to the panel.
- Putty the damaged area using plastic putty – Apply plastic putty evenly to the damaged area using a razor blade or a spreader.
If there is any remaining surplus product on the repair, be sure to remove it with your blade.
Once the putty is correctly placed, use the “texture tool” you made in step three to carefully press down into the repair to reproduce the texture.
Allow the fix to dry once you’re pleased. If you’re in a hurry, you may use a heat gun to quickly warm it up. Make sure you don’t overheat the plastic; otherwise, you risk burning it and causing further damage.
- Paint the repair — Now that you’ve successfully repaired the plastic, it’s time to give it another coat of prep spray before painting it. But don’t go overboard; this is simply a light application to aid in the acceptance of paint in the repaired area.
There are two additional things you need do before you begin spraying. Find the interior trim color code and delete or mask any parts that are a different paint color or material to get the right paint color.
Simply spray the plastic in light bursts from left to right after you’re confident you have the proper paint and the panel is suitably primed.
Allow the panel to dry completely before handling it or attempting to reinstall it. You can speed up the drying process with a heat gun, but I like to wait the recommended drying time from the paint manufacturer.
If you’re not pleased with the repair, you’ll have to start from the beginning. Remove the paint and plastic putty with a paint thinner before repeating the procedures above.
Interior Plastic Trim Protection
It’s only natural that you want to make the panel appear its best after you’ve invested the time and effort to actually fix it.
Scuffs on your car’s interior are just as crucial to remove as scratches.
While I am not a fan of “trim restorers,” I do feel that using a trim dressing or fast wax can assist to restore its color while also providing shine and protection.
Meguiars Hyper Dressing is my favorite. My plastic trim has never looked better since I began using it. It’s also a lot less difficult to keep clean.
The “how’d” is a car that has been around since the 1920s. It was originally designed to be used in the military. The “how’d” was discontinued in the 1950s, but it still remains as one of the most iconic cars ever made.
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