How to access rear dirvers side fender for dent repair. - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

bbfn11 · 11-19-2009, 11:15 AM

I have a ding just below the rear passenger drivers side window. It's just below the fold where the metal bends down towards the wheel well or fake gills. I don't have a camera available for a picture so sorry for that. What I want to know is what is the best way to access this area for paintless dent repair? The tech has never worked on a 2010 Camaro and I didn't want him pulling stuff apart until he get's knowledge of what to do first. would he go through the trunk or would have access pulling molding off the drivers side and entering from there? Anyone out there with knowledge on this?

NVMY68SS · 11-19-2009, 11:44 AM

Probably start by removing the plastic wheel well and see if that get's you in the area...........

bbfn11 · 11-19-2009, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NVMY68SS

Probably start by removing the plastic wheel well and see if that get's you in the area...........

Thank you for the reply. Is that accessed by removing the rear wheel and some screws. How is the plastic wheel well removed?

bbfn11 · 11-19-2009, 12:05 PM

Here is a picture of the dent. If this helps.

ffrcobra_65 · 11-19-2009, 04:08 PM

easy access. Up from the wheel well area. If not, removing the panels from inside the trunk might just be the ticket. Either way, not worth worrying about it. The PDR guy will get to it even if he has to drill a small access hole where you can't see and put a nice plug on in after.
Stop worrying. I know how you feel, I had a dent on the passenger side front fender and I worried and worried. PDR guy found a way to get behind it without drilling and after 10 minutes, good as new! And all the worrying was a waste of energy and sanity.

markmass · 11-19-2009, 05:09 PM

Normal practice will be to drill a hole in the door jamb above the striker plate and access through that and put a rubber plug after (BMW pioneered that so I have been told)
Anyway like you I had a ding 2 weeks after i got it , on the wheel arch. The guy i took it to didn't want to do the 'normal' method on mine (thankfully) and elected for another slightly longer way of doing it. He removed the plastic wheel liner and had to drill through the first metal skin then popped the dent that way. Would never know its been done - and charged the same $75 -- seems to be about the norm for a ding.

Batman0837 · 11-19-2009, 05:37 PM

I would fix that one with a glue pulling device to avoid the "normal" practice of drilling a hole in someone's car. Also probably doesn't take more than 15-20 minutes to get the interior trim out of the way to access the dent from the inside. Drilling should ALWAYS be a last resort.

ffrcobra_65 · 11-19-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batman0837

I would fix that one with a glue pulling device to avoid the "normal" practice of drilling a hole in someone's car. Also probably doesn't take more than 15-20 minutes to get the interior trim out of the way to access the dent from the inside. Drilling should ALWAYS be a last resort.

I agree, drilling as last resort but really, it is not a bad thing if it comes down to that. Look in the trunk and engine bays of most cars and you will see plugged access holes. For instance, look at the rear spoiler nut access holes, they are covered with rubber plugs. A PDR access hole would look exactly like that and you it will probably be at a place where no one will see. If the panel is double skinned, just might have to drill.

bbfn11 · 11-19-2009, 11:15 PM

Thank you for the replies. The DPR tech said that he got a diagram from GM and said that to access the dent he will have to remove the back seat and plastic panels from the back drivers side.

I looked at the trunk access and there is an opening towards that area but I only saw more fabric of some sort (noise dampening material?)

I am not too worried about it. I am already over the shock of the dent. I will ask about the glue pulling but there is a slight crease in the dent so I do not know if glue pulling will get that out as well. I can only hope that this tech at the dealerships recommendation is skilled enough to tear it apart and put it back together. That is more of my concern now than the dent itself because I don't want that to become a problem after the dent is fixed.

I am scheduled to have it done on Dec 3rd.

Batman0837 · 11-20-2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ffrcobra_65

I agree, drilling as last resort but really, it is not a bad thing if it comes down to that. Look in the trunk and engine bays of most cars and you will see plugged access holes. For instance, look at the rear spoiler nut access holes, they are covered with rubber plugs. A PDR access hole would look exactly like that and you it will probably be at a place where no one will see. If the panel is double skinned, just might have to drill.

I am not against drilling (I do PDR repairs for a living). But I am against it when it is done out of laziness or time constraints especially when someone owns the car...If someone drills a car that is under warranty, you pretty much just nullified your corrosion protection warranty for that area of the vehicle. The only time I drill someones car is if the customer allows it after full disclosure of what comes along with drilling and all other options have been exhausted.

Good luck with the repair in December. Hopefully the dealer refers you to an experienced tech. A good sign of this is if he offers you a few options on how he will approach the repair, before reaching for the drill. If he goes straight for the drill, I would pass. It's one thing to know how to get to a dent, but there are several levels of skill as to how the dent will actually turn out when the tech is "finished."

bbfn11 · 11-21-2009, 08:41 AM

Yea, thanks for the good luck Batman. This tech is the dealers PDR go to guy he comes every Thursday to the dealership and handles all of their PDR's. And he did look to see which way would be the best way to proceed. He never mentioned drilling. But I wanted to make sure he knew exactly how to get at the ding so I made him get some more info. That is why I have to wait till Dec 3. Since he has never worked a new Camaro I wanted him to make sure he knows how to get at the dent, which he now does, before he repaired it.

bbfn11 · 12-01-2009, 02:01 PM

So to update my situation I had my dent fixed today and it turned out really well. I can't even see where it was damaged.

I did not go the DPR tech I originally had set up to do it. I went and got another estimate at a Dent Doctor located in Appleton and was quoted $50 cheaper. Not only did he do it cheaper he was able to access the dent from the rear seat drivers side panel. He just had to move it out enough to get his tools in and did not have to remove anything. The panel moves out of the way nicely to get at the quarter panel metal and there was an area for the tool to access the dent without drilling. Only took about an hour. I was very pleased with the service and quality of work. They also do work for the area dealerships which made my decision to go with them easier. I hope this helps anyone else who has an issue like I had.

DangerZL1 · 12-01-2009, 03:48 PM

That's great news to hear the tech got all of it out, and for less $.

11-19-2009, 11:15 AM	#1
bbfn11 Beeliever! Drives: 2010 2LT Coupe Automatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: East Central Wisconsin Posts: 33	How to access rear dirvers side fender for dent repair. I have a ding just below the rear passenger drivers side window. It's just below the fold where the metal bends down towards the wheel well or fake gills. I don't have a camera available for a picture so sorry for that. What I want to know is what is the best way to access this area for paintless dent repair? The tech has never worked on a 2010 Camaro and I didn't want him pulling stuff apart until he get's knowledge of what to do first. would he go through the trunk or would have access pulling molding off the drivers side and entering from there? Anyone out there with knowledge on this?

11-19-2009, 11:44 AM	#2
NVMY68SS Drives #296 Drives: 1968 Camaro SS - 350/5 Speed Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Smithfield, NC Posts: 953	Probably start by removing the plastic wheel well and see if that get's you in the area........... __________________ #296 Delivered 6-1-09 Dynoed 10-3-09 384.56HP 387.65TQ with the bolt-ons listed, no tune.....yet! Roto-Fab CAI (Install pics here), Doug Thorley Shorties, Flowmaster American Thunder 409S Cat Back Vid

11-19-2009, 12:05 PM	#4
bbfn11 Beeliever! Drives: 2010 2LT Coupe Automatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: East Central Wisconsin Posts: 33	Here is a picture of the dent. If this helps. Attached Images

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11-19-2009, 04:08 PM	#5
ffrcobra_65 Account Suspended Drives: SuperCharged 2SS/RS IOM MN6 Join Date: May 2009 Location: CA Posts: 5,094	easy access. Up from the wheel well area. If not, removing the panels from inside the trunk might just be the ticket. Either way, not worth worrying about it. The PDR guy will get to it even if he has to drill a small access hole where you can't see and put a nice plug on in after. Stop worrying. I know how you feel, I had a dent on the passenger side front fender and I worried and worried. PDR guy found a way to get behind it without drilling and after 10 minutes, good as new! And all the worrying was a waste of energy and sanity.

11-19-2009, 05:09 PM	#6
markmass TRI-COUNTY CAMAROS Drives: 2SS/RS Oct 2009 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Coral Springs Florida Posts: 448 View My Garage	Normal practice will be to drill a hole in the door jamb above the striker plate and access through that and put a rubber plug after (BMW pioneered that so I have been told) Anyway like you I had a ding 2 weeks after i got it , on the wheel arch. The guy i took it to didn't want to do the 'normal' method on mine (thankfully) and elected for another slightly longer way of doing it. He removed the plastic wheel liner and had to drill through the first metal skin then popped the dent that way. Would never know its been done - and charged the same $75 -- seems to be about the norm for a ding.

11-19-2009, 05:37 PM	#7
Batman0837 Drives: '10 CGM 2SS/RS # 71394 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Middletown, DE Posts: 365	I would fix that one with a glue pulling device to avoid the "normal" practice of drilling a hole in someone's car. Also probably doesn't take more than 15-20 minutes to get the interior trim out of the way to access the dent from the inside. Drilling should ALWAYS be a last resort.

11-19-2009, 11:15 PM	#9
bbfn11 Beeliever! Drives: 2010 2LT Coupe Automatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: East Central Wisconsin Posts: 33	Thank you for the replies. The DPR tech said that he got a diagram from GM and said that to access the dent he will have to remove the back seat and plastic panels from the back drivers side. I looked at the trunk access and there is an opening towards that area but I only saw more fabric of some sort (noise dampening material?) I am not too worried about it. I am already over the shock of the dent. I will ask about the glue pulling but there is a slight crease in the dent so I do not know if glue pulling will get that out as well. I can only hope that this tech at the dealerships recommendation is skilled enough to tear it apart and put it back together. That is more of my concern now than the dent itself because I don't want that to become a problem after the dent is fixed. I am scheduled to have it done on Dec 3rd.

11-21-2009, 08:41 AM	#11
bbfn11 Beeliever! Drives: 2010 2LT Coupe Automatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: East Central Wisconsin Posts: 33	Yea, thanks for the good luck Batman. This tech is the dealers PDR go to guy he comes every Thursday to the dealership and handles all of their PDR's. And he did look to see which way would be the best way to proceed. He never mentioned drilling. But I wanted to make sure he knew exactly how to get at the ding so I made him get some more info. That is why I have to wait till Dec 3. Since he has never worked a new Camaro I wanted him to make sure he knows how to get at the dent, which he now does, before he repaired it.

12-01-2009, 02:01 PM	#12
bbfn11 Beeliever! Drives: 2010 2LT Coupe Automatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: East Central Wisconsin Posts: 33	So to update my situation I had my dent fixed today and it turned out really well. I can't even see where it was damaged. I did not go the DPR tech I originally had set up to do it. I went and got another estimate at a Dent Doctor located in Appleton and was quoted $50 cheaper. Not only did he do it cheaper he was able to access the dent from the rear seat drivers side panel. He just had to move it out enough to get his tools in and did not have to remove anything. The panel moves out of the way nicely to get at the quarter panel metal and there was an area for the tool to access the dent without drilling. Only took about an hour. I was very pleased with the service and quality of work. They also do work for the area dealerships which made my decision to go with them easier. I hope this helps anyone else who has an issue like I had.

12-01-2009, 03:48 PM	#13
DangerZL1 Drives: 2023 Black ZL1 Auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: FEMA Region 4 Posts: 2,936	That's great news to hear the tech got all of it out, and for less $.