The Paintless Dent Mentor Blog

How to remove Honda – Acura taillights for PDR Video

Tim Olson — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:48:03 +0000

Removing taillights for paintless dent removal access on quarter panels was once easy. Pull back some trim, loosen four nuts and its out.
The biggest challenge then was Nissan's nasty, gummy black butyl sealant, which held those lamps in better than a crusty barnacle on a boat hull.
In the early 2000's however, Honda changed their design. Now if you want tail lamps out, you will first have to remove the rear bumper.
Many PDR techs cursed Honda for making our jobs more difficult, but the car maker had good reason. Adding a bracket to the tail lamp assembly makes for a tighter fit, better looking lines and fewer rattles.
It also put the bumper cover in its proper place in the world of car design.
Cosmetic cover. Eye candy fascia to hide the sturdy underbelly of impact resistance and uni-body structure.
Other automakers have followed suit, as you can see by the ultra large covers now resting on the rump's of late model Toyota's, Mazda's and Lexus.
Large booty beauty aside, as a dent technician, you still need those rear lamps out.
How do you get them off?
Watch the videos to see exactly how to remove a 2006 Acura TL rear bumper. The same basic technique will work with many Honda products.
Click the images below to watch video in two parts

PDR Training – Fixing Deep, Stretched Dents

Tim Olson — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:34:54 +0000

Have you ever worked a car with a dent in the roof, trunk, or hood
that is so big, it holds water?
Then you know what I'm talking about when I say
"Bird Bath Dent". You know, the kind where you have to pump the water
out before you can work it?
They can happen on the sides too, these we just call
"craters".
This kind of dent is so deep and stretched, there's almost
no hope of fixing them with paintless dent repair.

Until now.
If you're like me, you've fought these babies too many
times.
Is there a technique which will help you fix them with PDR?
Do you have to glue an ice cream stick to it?
Not any more.

Go watch the video and see what I mean.
Deep Dents Video

Oh yeah, I'm also going to tell you about a "must have" tool
for working on doors.

deeply yours,
Tim

PDR Training Case Study Uzbekistan

Tim Olson — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:54:20 +0000

Is paintless dent repair a form of art?
Must you be an artist to fix dents without painting?
When you see what TJ and Bakhodir from Uzbekistan have done, you might say yes.
Watch the video to find out how a process becomes art.

Know Your Panel Names for Paintless Dent Removal Estimating

Tim Olson — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:46:06 +0000

Do you know the difference between a bumper and a fender?
Which side of the car is left? Right?
Does this car have a "rail" or not? How can I tell?
When you write hail damage estimates for PDR, you want to be accurate.
Go to this page to watch the Naming Panels video.

Click to go to video

More on Know Your Panel Names for Paintless Dent Removal Estimating

Glue pull vs. PDR – Who Will Win?

Tim Olson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:17:29 +0000

There are two main methods of paintless dent removal, glue pulling or gpdr, and pushing from the back or pdr.
The differences are this: one is done from above and one from underneath. Which is better?
Watch these ambiguous videos for the answer.

Think I'm trying to sell you on glue pulling? Watch the next one.

If you are unable to see videos above, try these direct links:
Glue Pull
Pry Bar

Some say I'm old school, but I like to use glue pulling only when I have to.
I've always said a good pusher makes a good puller, so if you know how to push, glue pulling comes easier.
The requirements are the same for the tech. You must know how to read a dent well and know what is low and what is high. Where to push next, or pull or knock down.

With today's cars you will need to know how to do both, so be clear with your instructor about what you will learn.
There is a disturbing trend with some schools, where only glue pulling is taught.
This is only half (or less) of the full story of PDR.

Remember, push from behind dent repair has about 15 years head start on glue pulling.
But for those places with no access, glue pulling is a real complement to PDR.
What about you? Push or pull?
Tim

Make door repairs look good from a distance

Tim Olson — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:04:09 +0000

This post is viewable by members only. Please login

This is an excerpt.You do not have sufficient rights to view the full content.

Please login or become a member.

How to remove back glass for paintless dent removal access

Tim Olson — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:51:12 +0000

I once worked a hail storm at the number one Suburban SUV dealer in America.
Spent way too much time three feet off the ground.

Here's a tip which really sped up the repairs:
When using PDR for hail damage on an SUV, you want to work dents from the most angles possible. Removing the whole back liftgate is sometimes needed.

Some vehicles, like Suburbans, allow just the glass to be removed.

Watch the video and see how its done.