It happens to the best of us— you're backing up or squeezing into a tigth parking spot when.. *dink*! You hit a high curb or bump a concrete barrier, and your car is left with a minor bumper dent— and you have to figure out how to fix it.
If a dent is especially large, deep, or damages the body, there is, unfortunately, no home remedy—you'll have to bring your can in for a repair. But, if the dent is small, you might want to try fixing it on your own before you seek professional help. If you're looking to get out a minor dent, here are a few of our best tips.
Use a plunger.
Again, if the dent is small, you might be able to remove it with a plunger. Carefully pour boiling water over the plunger and over the dent and gently push the plunger up and down. Repeat this a few times until the dent pops out.
If it doesn't work,
don't force it. You'd rather spend a few bucks on a repair than damage your paint or another piece of your car's body work.
Reshape the plastic with boiling water.
This method is designed for plastic bumpers and other parts of your car that are both made of plastic and hollow inside. Boil a pot of water and pour it over the dented area on your bumper. Reach behind the bumper and gently pop the dent out. Then, pour a pot of cold water over the area to cool and set the plastic. Be extra careful to work slowly and avoic being too aggressive— if your movements are too fast or too harsh, you might break or weaken the plastic.
Avoid aggressive tactics.
If you decide to use other tactics, be careful not to be too aggressive. If you damage the paint or scratch the metal of your bumper in the process of fixing the dent, you'll need to have it professionally repaired anyway. And if you warp the plastic, you'll need to get an entirely new bumper--a misshapen or weakened bumper won't do its job in a crash.
Repairing A Bumper Dent At V&F
At V&F, we strive to provide our customers with a well-rounded knowledge of all things automotive; while we provide tips and tricks, we always recommend that you have dents professionally examined and repaired.
Since 1988, our family-owned and operated service center has been providing top-quality auto repair services to Agawam, Feeding Hills, Southwick, West Springfield and the surrounding Massachusetts communities. If your car is in need of dent repair, call us at (413)314-2280 or schedule an appointment online.
