How to Repair a Hood

The following guide will teach you How to Repair a Hood. Follow the instructions below.

Things You’ll Need:

• Emblem
• Sealant
• Polisher
• Clip Remover
• File Set
• Scraper
• Spray Bottle
• Spray Gun
• Standard Hammer
• Trim Panel Removal Tool Set
• Basecoat
• Clear Coat
• Masking Paper
• Paint Suite
• Primer
• Soapy Water

Estimated Costs

• DIY Costs: Est. $27.24 parts only
• Shop Costs: Est. $150.72 parts and labor

Instructions

To repair a hood of your car, follow these directions:

• Lift the front hood up, and take the entire hood insulator away, by removing the clips holding it in place. Also take out any moldings or emblems on the hood, washer nozzles, and seals.
• Take a rag and clean the hood properly to make it free from all sorts of contaminants like dirt, dust, grease.
• To remove any dent, use body hammer and dolly. In case you don’t have enough space to use hammer or dolly, you can also use a stud gun and nails to get the metal back into shape.
• The next step is to sand the damaged area. Take a sandpaper (high grit) to start the sanding process. Later, take the low-grit sandpaper and smooth the surface off. Now, take body filler and apply it on the sanded area. Wait for some time so that the filler gets dry and sand the smooth again.
• Prepare the hood for paint. Wash the hood properly with a solvent wash. Dry the surface and scratch the old damaged paint off with sandpaper. Clean the hood again.
• Next, you need to apply primer to the damaged area. Leave it to dry for some time.
• Once the primer is dry, apply the basecoat of paint to the affected area first and blend it to the rest of the hood, using the blending technique. Leave it for several minutes before it gets dry.
• Now apply the clear coat on the damaged area. This is the time to apply the clear coat to the entire hood. If you have sanded the entire hood then you have to apply the basecoat as well, otherwise clear coat is just enough.
• Leave the clear coat to dry. Now, examine the entire hood for any signs of nibs in paint.
• For large nibs, use the razor blade or nib file to take out the nibs.
• Take spray bottle filled with soapy water and spray the mixture on the surface. Now take 1500 grit sandpaper soaked in soapy water and sand the area with even pressure. Use circular motions to sand the area. Take 2000 grit sandpaper socked in soapy water and sand the surface again as you did with 1500 grit sandpaper.
• Now take a mixture of alcohol and water and wipe the area off. Now examine the area again for any sign of trash or nibs.
• To remove the swirl marks from the area, you need to use a three stage compound polish.
• In the end you need to install the new hood insulator. Secure the new insulator with clips. Also you need to have new emblems to install. You are done with your job.