DIY: Permanantly restore your faded black trim to its brand new OEM glory... for $10
So I know that just about everyone on here gets pissed when they look at their faded plastic grills, windshield wipers, and wiper wells. :mad:
You armour-all them every time you wash your car, and later that day it looks faded again. You try mothers "Back -to-black and its worthless after a few days. :mad:
Well here is the end-all, permanent way to restore your trim, to look and feel brand new. Seriously guys it doesn't look fake or fony, it looks like you just installed new trim fresh out of a plastic bad with mitsubishi logos all over it.
It is simple, costs about 10 bucks, and only takes about an hour, with typical household tools.
:arrow:So lets start.
Required materials:
-Duplicolor Trim Spray ( i picked it up at Autozone for about 5 dollars)
-can of denatured alcohol or some other non-acetone solvent(I chose alcohol because it evaporates without leaving any residue)
-screwdriver
-a basic socket wrench set
So here is a picture of my engine bay(sorry its dirty and a little unorganized in this old pic)
Pay attention to the top of the picture where my wipers and wiper well cover are. rusted, faded, aweful.
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/7053/dsc01654cq8.jpg
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/d...jpg/1/w800.png
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/1393/dsc01657su2.jpg
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/d...jpg/1/w800.png
So lets do somemthing about it.
Lift your hood,
:arrow: take a flathead scredriver and pop the cap off your wiper arms
http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/7809/dsc01664tg7.jpg
http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/d...jpg/1/w800.png
:arrow: once you've removed the caps use your socket wrench(should be a 12mm on the 7g) and remove the wiper arms. Be careful to reference their orientation so that you can have everything properly lined up during re-installation.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5856/dsc01665sg4.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/d...jpg/1/w800.png
:arrow: Use yoru screwdriver to pry up any retaining fasteners that remain. Be sure to keep these because they will also be painted.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/7338/dsc01667nh0.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/d...jpg/1/w800.png
:arrow: Proceed to remover the well cover. Now is a good a time as any to clean out the well. Remove any leaves you may have, and wipe the paint down with some denatured alcohol. Make sure there are no obstructions in the intake to your HVAC blower motor.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/303/dsc01669ya8.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/d...jpg/1/w800.png
:arrow: Take your denatured alchohol and clean every piece you intend to paint. setup a clean, well ventalated area in low humidity, temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees. Other conditions may effect drying/curing times, as well as pain adhesion, and time between coats. (read the can for the best directions)
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/9692/dsc01670pb5.jpg
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/d...jpg/1/w800.png
Here is the Trim Paint
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/4784/dsc01661yf7.jpg
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/d...jpg/1/w800.png
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1327/dsc01663hp1.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/d...jpg/1/w800.png
Proceed with the painting proccess. You'll want to make even passes, while pushing straight down on the nozzle(for best results I use a clip on trigger sprayer available for about 3 bucks where you buy your paint. It will eliminate finger fatigue, as well as give even constant pressure to the nozzle so your stream will remain uniform.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/9581/dsc01674fv8.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/d...jpg/1/w800.png
You'll want to spray it with 3 or 4 thin coats, and until everything is nice and covered. You don't want to put it on too thick because it will not bond well, and it may run. allow 3 to 4 minutes between coats.
If you have the time, let it dry over night. Otherwise, it will be dried and fully cured in about 2 hours under ideal conditions.
Reassemble everything, and admire how such a simple task, can have such a dramatic effect on your car's appearance.
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/7498/dsc01675jr0.jpg
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/d...jpg/1/w800.png
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/396/dsc01682cq8.jpg
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/d...jpg/1/w800.png
Use this same procedure on your grills, anything under the hood that is plasic, but you want to look brand new and OEM again.
