How Can I Fix a Door Scratch?

[vaironl]

Hello Everyone,

Today I'm eating my sandwich when suddenly I get a call. I was told that my car had a scratch behind the driver's door, :eyebulge:.

I went to check it out and is where the 2nd door should be ( I have a 3 door liftback). Some nice person decided to add some color to my car and a very small scratch. The scratch I was able to wipe of with a damp cloth, but it's still there. It's so small it's almost not visible.

But it looks like the other car's door left some white paint on the Yaris. I can't believe this :cry: :bs:.

Does anyone know the actual best way to repair it? It's not a big area so i believe I can do it myself. Is this threat relevant http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42687, or do you have any other methods?

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Wash the area really well. Next, (properly) clay bar the area. Then use Meguiar's Scratch-X on it. It might take several tries depending on how bad/deep the scratch is. After you are satisfied, wax the area. I'm attaching the 7" deep scratch my mom put on my side skirt. I was able to blend in the scratch (that's really what Scratch X does), but at certain angles, you'll still be able to see the groove left behind by the scratch.

[bairjo]

If it is a deep scratch, it will need painted. Any blending or feathering will result in the removal of your clear coat and as well as the base coat. You will always see it.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

If it is a deep scratch, it will need painted. Any blending or feathering will result in the removal of your clear coat and as well as the base coat. You will always see it.

Yup, which I why I said it really just blends it. Also, as is the case for my car, my brother's car, and my friends' cars, touch up paint never matched. For my car, it actually makes the "scratch" more visible since it's lighter than my color (yes, I bought the correct paint code from the dealership). Same thing for my friends' cars. My brother's touch up paint is the closest one.

[bairjo]

Never said touch up paint. To clarify a little more what I was trying to say but didn't do a good job of, the scratch will need filled and the door section will need painted. Otherwise you will always see the blemish that blending leaves and will always see the mess touch up paint leaves. And yes, blending will leave a larger more spread out imperfection in the paint...but the concentrated the scratch will be gone. It all depends on what you are willing to accept visually.

[vaironl]

Never said touch up paint. To clarify a little more what I was trying to say but didn't do a good job of, the scratch will need filled and the door section will need painted. Otherwise you will always see the blemish that blending leaves and will always see the mess touch up paint leaves. And yes, blending will leave a larger more spread out imperfection in the paint...but the concentrated the scratch will be gone. It all depends on what you are willing to accept visually.

So do I have to do this with the dealer?

[bairjo]

No

[vaironl]

No

Allright, DIY time for me!!

[bairjo]

Well, if you have experience working with auto paintng go for it. Otherwise I would take it to a pro. You don't need to go to the dealer. Fact is, some dealers will farm it out to an auto body shop. If you have never painted a car before, having your new Yaris being serial #1 may not be the best idea....just a thought.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Keep in mind that having a scratch professionally painted can get costly. So if it's a small scratch like you said, I'd either just touch it up and hope it'll match, or just blend it.

[bairjo]

If it so small he can hardly see it, he may be better off just leaving it alone. I would.

[vaironl]

I was thinking about doing it myself, and I love learning new stuff. But this is a bit more complex than installing something, and if I'm not wrong I can decrease the value of the car if I mess it up. I was thinking about just waiting until something like that happens again or until I trade the car.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

I was thinking about doing it myself, and I love learning new stuff. But this is a bit more complex than installing something, and if I'm not wrong I can decrease the value of the car if I mess it up. I was thinking about just waiting until something like that happens again or until I trade the car.

It really isn't hard, and you're not going to rub off the paint. I don't know of anyone ever doing that with Scratch X. I've used Scratch-X many times, and I've never had any issues.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

^ and by that I mean completely rubbing off the paint down to the panel.