B
32
Repair and Service Manual
BODY
Read all of SAFETY and this section before attempting any procedure. Pay particular attention to Notices, Cautions, Warnings and Dangers.
10002660
PAINTING
Follow the paint manufacturer’s recommendations for
specific painting procedures and information.
All painting must be done in an area
with adequate ventilation to safely
disperse harmful vapors.
Wear eye protection and respirator, following manu-
facturer’s instructions to protect from over spray
and airborne mist.
Provide protection from over spray
to vehicle and surrounding area.
Minor Scratches
To repair minor scratches, the manufacturer of the
Durashield™ body panels recommends the following
steps be taken:
1.
Thoroughly clean the surface to be repaired with
alcohol, and allow to dry.
2.
Use a brush to apply a minimum of two coats of
touch up paint to damaged area. Allow 30 - 45 min-
utes between coats; increase to 45 - 60 minutes in
higher humidity. The painted area should be slightly
above the surface of the part.
3.
Use 400 grit “wet” sand paper to blend the painted
area level with the surface of the part being repaired.
4.
Use a polishing compound (3M Finesse or automo-
tive grade) to renew the gloss and to further blend
and transition the newly painted surface.
5.
Clean with alcohol, and allow to dry.
6.
(Optional but recommended) Apply a clear coat to
renew and protect the depth of the finish.
7.
Wax or polish with a Carnauba base product avail-
able at any automotive parts distributor. Do not wax
flat finishes.
Larger Scratches
To repair large scratches, the manufacturer of the
Durashield™ body panels recommends the following
steps be taken:
1.
Thoroughly clean the surface to be repaired with
alcohol, and allow to dry.
2.
Apply tape to area surrounding damaged area to
prevent over spray of paint.
3.
Shake the aerosol touch up paint a minimum of one
minute to mix thoroughly and achieve the best color
match.
4.
Apply paint in light even overlapping strokes. Multiple
coats can be applied to provide adequate coverage
and finish.
5.
Allow paint to dry overnight.
6.
Use 400 grit “wet” sand paper to blend the painted
area level with the surface of the part being repaired.
7.
Use a polishing compound (3M Finesse or automo-
tive grade) to renew the gloss and to further blend
and transition the newly painted surface.
8.
Clean with alcohol, and allow to dry.
9.
(Optional but recommended) Apply a clear coat to
renew and protect the depth of finish.
10. Wax or polish with a Carnauba base product avail-
able at any automotive parts distributor. Do not wax
flat finishes.
Complete Panel Repair
In situations where large panels or areas must be painted,
touch up paint is not recommended. In such cases, pro-
fessional painting or panel replacement is necessary.
Body panel replacement is sometimes more cost effective
than painting. If the decision to paint is chosen, it can be
accomplished by any body panel repair shop with experi-
ence in painting thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) panels.
TPE is a common material in modern automobile body
panels. All body panel repair shops should be familiar
with the materials and processes required.
The finish will include an application of a primer coat, a
base color coat, and a clear coat.
Most paint manufacturers can perform a computer paint
match to assure accurate color matching.
