Information on bumper repair, please!!

[javi21]

Hello everyone!

Many greetings from Spain! I must say that here in Europe there is no such thing as PT Cruiser customization yet, unfortunately!! However there are quite a few of them.

I am a user of a 2003 PT and just today I hit my front bumper against a steel pole that you can find around Madrid along the outer part of sidewalks, to prevent people from parking in unauthorized places. The result is that I have a dent in the left hand side of the front bumper. The dent is clean and not too big, so I thought that if I could somehow get to the inside part of the bumper I could make it "pop" out again, pushing the dented part towards the outside. I hope I make myself understood! As far as I know PT Cruisers in Europe are still sold with black bumpers, except for the diesel version which has matching ones. I don´t know much about it but I think they are made of some sort of plastic, that´s why I thought that as long as it is not broken I could repair it myself.

The questions are: is there a way to reach the inside part of the bumper to do this, taking off the bumper for instance? If not, any advice on how I could fix this dent? Is it usually very expensive to fix if I take it to a garage?

I thank you all very much in advance and would apreciate any advice, the car doesn´t belong to me and it is only 6 months old, if the owner (a relative) finds out, I´m in trouble!

Take care and many greetings from Spain,

Javier

[IRPT]

Welcome to the forum javi21. Here are the instructions for removing the grille, front fascia and bumper reinforcement.

GRILLE REMOVAL
(1) Open hood and support hood on prop rod.
(2) Remove screws attaching grille to radiator closure
panel (Fig. 5).
(3) Pull top of grille down and to disengage hooks
from fender.
(4) Remove grille from vehicle.
INSTALLATION
(1) Place grille into position on vehicle, engage
lower hook into fascia first, then engage middle hook
to fender, then engage top hook. (Fig. 5) .
(2) Install screw attaching grille to radiator closure
panel.
(3) Close hood.

FRONT BUMPER FASCIA REMOVAL
(1) Remove Grille Attaching screws.
(2) Remove Grille.
(3) Remove nuts attaching front bumper fascia to
bottom of fender flange (Fig. 2).
(4) Remove fasteners attaching fascia to fender
flange (Fig. 3).
(5) Remove air dam fasteners from crossmember.
(6) Remove splash shield attaching screws.
(7) Remove fascia from vehicle.
INSTALLATION
(1) Position fascia on vehicle (Fig. 2).
(2) Install splash shield attaching screws.
(3) Install air dam fasteners to crossmember.
(4) Install fasteners attaching fascia to fender
flange (Fig. 3).
(5) Install nuts attaching front bumper fascia to
bottom of fender flange.
(6) Install Grille and attaching screws.

FRONT BUMPER REINFORCEMENT REMOVAL
(1) Remove grille (Refer to 23 - BODY/EXTERIOR/
GRILLE - REMOVAL).
(2) Remove front fascia (Refer to 13 - FRAME &
BUMPERS/BUMPERS/FRONT FASCIA - REMOVAL).
(3) Remove bolts attaching reinforcement to the
rail assembly and Remove reinforcement (Fig. 1).
(4) Remove bumper reinforcement from vehicle.
INSTALLATION
(1) Place bumper reinforcement in position (Fig. 1).
(2) Install bolts attaching reinforcement to rail
assembly.
(3) Install front fascia (Refer to 13 - FRAME &
BUMPERS/BUMPERS/FRONT FASCIA - INSTALLATION).
(4) Install grille (Refer to 23 - BODY/EXTERIOR/
GRILLE - INSTALLATION).

Good luck.

[Hooligan]

Welcome, to the Forum, jav21. IRPT is one of many who will have the answers you seek!!!

[quicksilverdon]

Welcome, and good luck, Javier! Let us know how it turns out!

[javi21]

Hello IRPT!

Thank you very much for this quick and precise answer to my problem!

However, since I am not a very handy person with cars (just the basics) I would like to know if it is possible to repair this kind of small dent without removind the bumper, do you know of any technique?

Thank you once again,

-Javi

quote:Originally posted by IRPT

Welcome to the forum javi21. Here are the instructions for removing the grille, front fascia and bumper reinforcement.

GRILLE REMOVAL
(1) Open hood and support hood on prop rod.
(2) Remove screws attaching grille to radiator closure
panel (Fig. 5).
(3) Pull top of grille down and to disengage hooks
from fender.
(4) Remove grille from vehicle.
INSTALLATION
(1) Place grille into position on vehicle, engage
lower hook into fascia first, then engage middle hook
to fender, then engage top hook. (Fig. 5) .
(2) Install screw attaching grille to radiator closure
panel.
(3) Close hood.

FRONT BUMPER FASCIA REMOVAL
(1) Remove Grille Attaching screws.
(2) Remove Grille.
(3) Remove nuts attaching front bumper fascia to
bottom of fender flange (Fig. 2).
(4) Remove fasteners attaching fascia to fender
flange (Fig. 3).
(5) Remove air dam fasteners from crossmember.
(6) Remove splash shield attaching screws.
(7) Remove fascia from vehicle.
INSTALLATION
(1) Position fascia on vehicle (Fig. 2).
(2) Install splash shield attaching screws.
(3) Install air dam fasteners to crossmember.
(4) Install fasteners attaching fascia to fender
flange (Fig. 3).
(5) Install nuts attaching front bumper fascia to
bottom of fender flange.
(6) Install Grille and attaching screws.

FRONT BUMPER REINFORCEMENT REMOVAL
(1) Remove grille (Refer to 23 - BODY/EXTERIOR/
GRILLE - REMOVAL).
(2) Remove front fascia (Refer to 13 - FRAME &
BUMPERS/BUMPERS/FRONT FASCIA - REMOVAL).
(3) Remove bolts attaching reinforcement to the
rail assembly and Remove reinforcement (Fig. 1).
(4) Remove bumper reinforcement from vehicle.
INSTALLATION
(1) Place bumper reinforcement in position (Fig. 1).
(2) Install bolts attaching reinforcement to rail
assembly.
(3) Install front fascia (Refer to 13 - FRAME &
BUMPERS/BUMPERS/FRONT FASCIA - INSTALLATION).
(4) Install grille (Refer to 23 - BODY/EXTERIOR/
GRILLE - INSTALLATION).

Good luck.

[quicksilverdon]

quote:Originally posted by javi21

I would like to know if it is possible to repair this kind of small dent without removind the bumper, do you know of any technique?

Thank you once again,

There are techniques with metal, applying hot and cold to get it to "pop" back, but plastic?? Also, on metal, using "hot glue" and a suction cup to pull out dent. I'd try a body shop, beg and plead for mercy! If you do try to access from behind, use something like wood to bang on - nothing with sharp edges!

[Rolo]

quote:Originally posted by Hooligan

Welcome, to the Forum, jav21. IRPT is one of many who will have the answers you seek!!!

Ya, he's a regular freakin' Yoda.


heheyahaha