| What kind of paint do you use? |
CARS R US uses Dupont urethane paints. Most vehicles manufactured in the 80s through the present are finished with urethane paints. Urethanes are longer lasting and retain their color without fading better than the enamels and laquers of the 70s. CARS R US will use paint lines such as House of Kolor upon request.
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| My car's color is "Kiwi Fruit on a Summer's Day in Portugal Green." Can you match it? |
You don't need to try to remember the fancy color name that you were told at the dealership. There is actually a three or four digit paint code located on the driver's door compartment door, firewall or in the trunk that is used to determine the color of your car.
Once we have the paint code, we can look up the formula for the color in Dupont's system. We then mix the color, spray a test panel, and visually check the test panel against your car for accuracy. If the color is not perfect, our painter can make small adjustments to the formula, spray another test panel and check again.
When our painter is satisfied that he has the correct color, he may take the additional precausionary step of blending the color into the adjacent panel. The blending process ensures the color will look great!
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| I have a classic car with very old paint, how will you match that? |
When formulas are not readily available for an older vehicle, we will have a Dupont representative stop in to read your original color with a Chromavision computer. The Chromavision reading will break your vehicle's color into the appropriate formula for us to mix.
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| I have clear coat on my car. Will you replace it? |
Most late model vehicles have a finish that is called "basecoat/clearcoat" which is a urethane paint that is applied in two successive stages. The first stage "basecoat" consists of three to four coats of the actual color (base), waiting the recommended time in between coats. The second stage -- the clear urethane which adds the depth, gloss and ultraviolet protectant -- is typically applied in two to three layers over the base using the same method. If you have a “single stage” colored car, it means that the clear urethane has been integrated directly into the color. A tri-coat has an additional layer of a pearl color in between the base and clear.
Dealers sometimes call an added on layer of wax a “clear coat” and it may be something you purchased with your vehicle. If that is the case, you must wait at least 60 days before reapplying the “clear coat” product. CARS R US can make provisions to reapply the wax after 60 days or you can take your vehicle back to the dealership after 60 days.
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| Should I have my car undercoated? |
Undercoating can be a good thing, however car manufacturers have gotten much better at protecting the insides and bottom surfaces of the vehicles they are building from rust. The cars currently being built are generally well protected from the factory. When CARS R US repairs or replaces panels, we are sure to restore the corrosion protection to insides and bottoms of panels.
An undercoating process can also become a bad thing if the company doing the undercoating drills holes into panels in order to gain access to their backsides. Rust can easily form where the metal has been exposed which will cause worse rusting than doing nothing at all. Don’t let anyone poke unnecessary holes in your car!
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| Then how do I keep my car from rusting? |
The best thing you can do to extend the life of your vehicle’s body is to wash it frequently. Be sure to clean in the wheel wells and underneath the car on a regular basis. Applying a basic coat of wax will make it easier to clean but you don’t need fancy waxes and aftermarket undercoatings when you take care of your vehicle by keeping it clean.
Rust is a fact of life in Nebraska. Hand washing your car is a good way to keep an eye on it so you can take care of any rust before it becomes too damaging.
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| When can I wash my car after it has been painted? |
You can wash your car right away with soap and water. Just be sure to wait 60 days before waxing.
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| If I want to have my car repainted, do you take all of the old paint off? |
It depends on the reason your car needs new paint. If your original paint is delaminating, severely oxidized, spider-cracking or was an incompatible enamel or lacquer, it will have to be completely stripped and the car reprimed before repainting. However, if your original paint surface is solid, it may just need to be sanded for adhesion before repainting.
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| My Ford truck is white, but I saw this great new Jaguar racing green. Can I get my truck painted that color? |
Certainly! You can change your vehicle’s color to anything you want. It is important to know that the color changes can come close to doubling the cost of a routine paint job though. If you are making a dramatic color change, you will need to have the backsides of the doors, hood, trunk, the engine compartment and door jambs painted. That requires more disassembly than a same-color paint job. Trucks can also have the added expense of changing the inside of the bed color too (permanent bedliners can be a good, low-cost option for inside boxes.
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| What is paintless dent repair and is it any good? |
Paintless dent repair (PDR) essentially pops dents back out without disturbing the paint. It can be a very effective way to remove minor dents from your vehicle’s metal surfaces with the use of special tools. Paintless dent repair can be the right choice for an individual dent with the paint still unbroken and for many hail damaged vehicles.
Paintless dent repair does not work for vehicles that have been previously painted, dents where the paint has been broken, dents that are larger than a quarter or large quantities of dents in a small concentrated area. Not all PDR companies are reliable or locally based. It is important to know and trust the PDR company you choose for your repairs. CARS R US will assist you in getting professional, high-quality PDR repairs.
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| Since my car has been in an accident I am afraid it will be unsafe to drive. |
Safety is the most important part of any repair. With frame machines and precise measuring systems, we are able to confidently return your damaged vehicle back to factory specifications. If it has had frame damage that could in any way affect the driveability of the car or if there was a potential for suspension damage, your vehicle will receive a wheel alignment. Wheel alignment cannot be completed successfully if the frame is not positioned perfectly or if there is still a damaged suspension component. Only after a successful wheel alignment will the car be considered safe and released back to its owner. Bad tires and worn suspension parts that are not accident related can also cause problems with wheel alignments. Please know that insurance companies are not responsible for replacing worn out parts but you may need to replace the parts in order to finish the repairs safely.
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| I was in an accident and my air bag didn’t go off. Is there something wrong with it? |
The technology for air bags is very precise. They are designed to deploy in only very specific instances. Front air bags will not deploy in rear end or side impact collisions. Impact must be almost exactly straight forward, hit low enough in front to impact the frame rails and be at or above a calculated speed-to-resistance level. Air bags are great in certain situations, but please remember that your seat belt is still your most important safety restraint. Airbags are virtually useless without your seat belt.
If your air bag didn’t go off, it wasn’t supposed to. Air bag systems are self-diagnosing and you will have a warning light if your system is ever compromised.
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| Speaking of air bags, they are very expensive and I am trying to put my car back together as inexpensively as possible. Can you just leave the air bags out of the repair? |
No!!
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| I have a classic car in my garage that I have dreamed of restoring for years. How will I know how much it will cost and if it is worth fixing up? |
| We would love to help you get your car fixed up and on the road for everyone to admire. We love old cars! Please review our section on restorations for an explanation of restoration costs. Call us and we will be happy to make arrangements to take a quick look at your project and give you some practical advice. |
