11
votes
Accepted
What clean, non-sticky lubricant can I use for door hinges?
Great question. My preference is silicone spray, as you suggested. I'm pretty sure this one is the one I usually get for this kind of job. Apparently I'm not the only person who thinks this is a ...
- 5,245
8
votes
What clean, non-sticky lubricant can I use for door hinges?
My weapon of choice for such a job is something like WD-40's White Lithium Grease:
(source: wd40specialist.com)
- 39.2k
6
votes
How can you prevent the frame and undercarriage on your car from rusting?
Rust is a chemical reaction that occurs when metal contacts air and water. The type of reaction is electrochemical, meaning electrons are being exchanged, and salty water being very conductive just ...
- 12.2k
5
votes
Remove the body on a Discovery 3 just to replace turbo?
The turbo on the Discovery 3&4 CAN be removed without removing the body, anyone telling you otherwise are simply not a skilled mechanic or are trying to rip you off by charging you for loads and ...
- 2,785
4
votes
Accepted
What does it mean if there is "Bondo" under the trunk mat behind the spare wheel?
That's not bondo. It's seam sealer. This is used to ... well ... seal seams in the metal. It provides a seal as well as provides better structural support. This comes from the factory with the stuff ...
- 162k
3
votes
Roof is rusted and pitted - Use Flex Seal?
Keep all water out
Yes, if you use enough. Flex Seal (from my understanding), covers well and seals even better.
Keep the rust from spreading
Absolutely not. That's not what Flex Seal ...
- 162k
3
votes
Can I have bodyshop made the frame symmetrical without putting parts on?
The answer is yes - but you have to find one prepared to do only that work. Setting a car on a jig to straighten the frame is a long labour intensive process and takes skill and knowledge. The costs ...
- 34.7k
3
votes
What clean, non-sticky lubricant can I use for door hinges?
Powdered Graphite Lubricant would do the job without any mess.
- 141
3
votes
Accepted
Why do hybrids have the aesthetic wheel cover on the body?
The wheel covers, or fender skirts Wikipedia says they are commonly called, are fairings installed to reduce drag in the wheel wells and thus to increase range. According to the same Wikipedia article,...
- 14.5k
3
votes
Programmatically defrost car windows?
The most convenient solutions are an electric engine block heater (as @mikes mentioned) or a petrol/diesel powered stationary heater. The latter is expensive, but generally more powerful than a block ...
- 4,412
3
votes
Accepted
1972 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia - What is this part / portal on the body?
According to this video, this is an access port to adjust the torsion bar on the rear suspension.
- 162k
3
votes
Accepted
Best way to remove small dent from front side panel?
tl;dr: It depends on what you’re trying to do. You can make it less bad fairly easily but a perfect fix is not a DIY job.
If you’d like a perfect fix, you should talk to a professional.
If you’re ...
- 24.5k
3
votes
Accepted
Holes drilled in driver side Door Jamb?
They only reason I can come up with why those holes would be there is for paintless dent repair. Paintless dent repair is a process by which you manipulate the metal from inside a panel (such as the ...
- 162k
3
votes
Is car body same thing as frame (or chassis)
Since the article in question was originally in Russian or some other Slavic language (based on the Cyrillic writing in the graphics), then translated into english, I think there may be a bit of ...
- 162k
2
votes
Programmatically defrost car windows?
You could have a block heater installed. A block heater is a heating element that runs on household current. It is usually installed either in place of a freeze plug or in line of a large radiator ...
- 20.1k
2
votes
Why did my clear coat turn out matte instead of glossy, and how can I fix it?
The main problem is that you are not matching the OEM clear coat coefficient of reflection. It was above Dupli-color's Protective Clear Coat Finish. You need to use Spray Max semi-gloss for clear ...
2
votes
Why did my clear coat turn out matte instead of glossy, and how can I fix it?
If you're at an amateur level with autobody and paint work, and you're trying to repaint your vehicle with automotive spray cans, this is the best advice I can give you:
Wet sand the body until there ...
- 21
2
votes
Lifting primer and paint around sanded areas
Dealerships are known to spray rubbers and plastic with some kind of silicon spray to make them appear new and clean. Silicon spray, even when it's been sprayed on something a year ago, makes that you ...
- 2,954
2
votes
Why did my clear coat turn out matte instead of glossy, and how can I fix it?
If your not going to use clear coat it won't get a mirror shine since you only get that before you sand with epoxy I hear. However you can, I will explain how to do it. Once the paint surface is ...
- 21
2
votes
Accepted
Seat belt / airbag light ON polo 2013
Finding someone who has VCDS would be your easiest method of finding out what is happening. That will be able to read the body computer. Look around locally for a VW car club.
With VCDS you will ...
- 2,115
2
votes
Non-destructive cost-efficient method for measuring state of rustedness of a vehicle
It may sound old fashioned or not professional but you really cannot beat a hammer. A ball pein hammer is best as it will not split the paint work.
Tap the suspect areas and compare the sound and ...
- 2,785
2
votes
Accepted
Is this chemical residue on the car surface? If so, how do I repair this?
Looks like someone left car wax on the plastic. There are some plastic restorer products out there that will polish it out. But since the detailer did it, have them make it right.
- 982
2
votes
How can you prevent the frame and undercarriage on your car from rusting?
Rust as any chemical reaction will have higher rates at elevated temperatures. It is often falsely believed that your car rusts during the winter time when there is salt on the roads. Actually, your ...
- 15.3k
2
votes
Side door impact beam damage
Yes, it changes the structural rigidity of that component.
So, in a future accident the door will probably deform more rapidly / to a greater extent than one with no damage, but this depends on the ...
- 34.7k
2
votes
Accepted
Selecting a body for a sleeper
Yes, I have done a 4 cyl to V8 conversion, so it is possible, your choice of donor vehicle will define how many conversion issues you will face.
You need to have a thorough understanding of all that ...
- 34.7k
2
votes
Accepted
What is the side lining near the bottom of a car frame called
As @Paulster2 has stated the part of the body below the doors is referred to as the rocker panel. It is typically steel but may have decorative plastic trim covering it. Due to its' close proximity ...
- 20.1k
2
votes
Accepted
Engine hood opening
Easy.
If the hood opens from the front, you get easier access to the components under the hood.
Some very old cars had actually hood that opened sideways. Then the engine compartment was longer than ...
- 15.3k
2
votes
Accepted
Will pushing this dent out make the job harder for a Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) specialist?
You don't lose anything by popping it out, that's probably the first step a specialist would do anyway. It's not a bad dent, so it may get it good enough for you and you don't need a repair.
- 17.7k
2
votes
Is it possible to build a new car at home DIY based off an old car chasis?
If your neighbor were to build a 1/4 scale steam locomotive from scratch, he would finish before you, based on the scope of the project as you are defining it.
You are far better off streamlining ...
2
votes
What is this material under car carpet, can I remove it?
That is an underlay to help deaden sound and also panel vibration. It may also be an insulator.
If you remove it then the noise level will increase and perhaps you will also get panel vibrations...
- 34.7k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible