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Home » How to Repair Hail Damage on your Car

How to Repair Hail Damage on your Car

October 12, 2012 By Brad Mackey

How to fix hail damage

Damage to your vehicle from weather is almost always difficult to prevent and can be extremely frustrating. Hailstorms can be potentially fatal for a vehicle, resulting in dents, exterior scrapes, and even a cracked windshield.

Here at Pat McGrath Chevyland in the Cedar Rapids area, our dealership will provide you with the best maintenance service to get your car back in quality shape. But to save you a little cash, we have some DIY tips that may fix some or all of your damage before having to resort to a professional.Driving Conditions on snowy roads

DIY Tips to Remove Small Dents

For this home dent repair, all you need is the sun, a hair dryer, and dry ice. First of all, note that this works best when your car has been exposed to concentrated sunlight for a long time. When exposed to heat, the metal will expand thus making the dent go back into place.

If you notice your car isn’t getting enough sunlight to create any potential heat, use the blow dryer plus the sun for a higher heat level. However, don’t get overexcited; keep the blow dryer at least two inches away from car, as it could damage your car’s paint.

If the dent is still not budging, using dry ice could help. Metal expands when the temperature radically changes from cold to hot, popping the dent back out.

Use a Dent Repair Kit
Dent repair kits have tools that could help you remove those shallow dents. Luckily you can buy them for $40 or less at most auto stores. If you aren’t sure what to do, most kits have step-by-step instructions on how to utilize each tool for various size dents.

Most kits include a hot glue gun, different size stems, and a knockdown tool. If you are having trouble getting the dent out, your may want to take a step back and call an expert. Sometimes you can go too far and do more harm than good.

Seek Professional Service for Large Dents

If your dent is too large and damaged or the above tricks are just not working, call your auto body shop and have someone fix it for you. Even though it might cost you a bit more, you can know for sure the results will be successful. Drive over to our service center serving Cedar Rapids, and let us help you fix the problem. Our service department is open Monday-Friday from 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM and Saturday from 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM.

Filed Under: Maintenance Tips Tagged With: Chevy

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