Scratch on the door is one of the most recurring problems people face regarding their cars. No matter if you park your car to the parking lot or if you park it in your own driveway then one of the most vulnerable parts of your car remain the doors of your car and it doesn’t matter whether you drive a mid-size car, full-size car or even SUV you will sooner or later experience that your car door will be bumped by another car or limited object.
The good news is, you don’t always have to go to a car dent repair shop to get these fixed. Quite often it is possible to pop out a ding and make a small body repair all on your own thus making it a much faster and cheaper solution. If you do not have time or equipment, there is also relief in a mobile auto mechanic who provides quick mobile car repair service.
In this guide we will show you how to get rid of door dings on your car and tell you the difference between repair door dings yourself and taking your car to the car mechanic mobile service. You will also learn the expenses incurred on it and how to avoid them in the future.
What Causes Door Dings?
Car dings typically occur when another person has left their car door a bit open and has hit your car and left a small dent or scratch. The small dent on car door repair can also be difficult to find. They can be due to shopping carts, bicycles or even an accident of some sort. Although these dents may not pose a risk to the proper functioning of your vehicle, they definitely impact your vehicle’s looks and thus decrease its market value.
Is It Possible To Repair Door Dents With Your Own Hands?
Yes, is it possible to repair the door dings on cars at home if you feel comfortable using simple utensils. However, minor car body damage or scratches can be fixed independently but for a severe case or if one fears worsening the situation, they should call a professional mobile car servicing. In minor cases the following procedures can be of immense use;
1. The Plunger Method
It is also one of the simplest methods to repair car door dings without necessarily having the correct tools. You have to clean the plunger if it’s dirty and that is all that you need to use.
First of all, one should wash the territory surrounding the ding. Both the plunger and the dinged area should be dampened with a little amount of water. For an accessible dent, position the plunger over the dent and ‘pull’ it out.
This method is more effective for those dents that are large but not very deep on the car body. However, for such small dents, that small hole, you’ll need something more sharper.
2. Introduction of Boiling Water on Plastic Bumpers
Cars which have plastic bumpers can be repaired using boiled water for dings. You can just rinse the hot water over the dent then via the interior, apply pressure and push it out. After the ding has popped back, wait for some time and then pour cold water so that it keeps its shape.
Although, you should not try this on metal car doors it is very effective for plastic like the car bumpers Using boiling water for car bumpers
Another simple trick for correcting the dings is using boiling water for the cars with the plastic bumpers. All you need is to pour the hot water onto the dent then compress it from the point inside. Once the ding pops back apply cold water on the affected area for it to take the shape.
That will not work on the metallic doors of cars but is rather useful when working on plastic parts.
3. Hair Dryer and Compressed Air
Another method of car body repair is making use of hot and cold treatment to fix small door dings.
If possible, turn the bathroom light on and shine several minutes with a hairdryer to the surrounding of the ding.
Finally, use compressed air which when held upside should be sprayed quickly on the area to cool it.
It is also revealed that due to the changes in temperature, the metal shrinks and in the process the dent can simply pop out.
When to Call a Professional
And even though one can ‘fix’ almost any scratch and dent situation at home, not all dents can be treated this way. If the dent is deep or you see it has broken the paint, or you’re not in a position to do it yourself, you have to call a mobile car repair shop. One can tell if the door requires more professional services such as fixing or simply repainting the door. Such companies include mobile autocare and mobile auto mechanic firms; which can fix your car at your convenience without having to visit the shops.
Cost of Repairing Door Dings
Prices for auto body repairs such as fixing small doors dings will depend on the size of the dent, its depth and its location. Here’s a rough breakdown:
DIY kits: The price of noodles ranges from $30 to $50 based on the quality of the noodles.
Professional repair services: It costs approximately $75 to $200 per dent. Mobile car servicing opportunities are cheaper because they reach out to the automobile owners directly thereby sparing their time and that which would have been spent on transport.
Fix door dings cost: Bigger and complex dents are likely to be best dealt with at a car dent repair shop and might set you back up to $500 depending on the extent of the need to repaint the section of the car affected.
Conclusion
No matter if you choose to do it with a pocket knife or invite a mobile auto mechanic, fixing small dents is easy. You can easily find various do it yourself products or avail the mobile car repair services and get back the original looks of the car. However, if the damage is deeper or you have no materials to bring the car back or if you lack this expertise, a mobile mechanic repair professional will come to your aid and do the job in the most efficient way possible.
Mobile car servicing can help in a situation when a car owner has no idea what techniques should be used to remove a scratch or a dent, and when a person doesn’t have enough time or energy to search for a good workshop.