The previous owner explained to me that somebody backed in his car in a parking lot. Well the dent was a real eye sore, and even though the car was in a good shape mechanically, the exterior is what most people judge the most.

I bought the Wel-Bilt 1600W Heatgun from NorthernTool.com for $30, but you can get it on Amazon for $22 with free shipping. I'm definitely satisfied with its performance.



I removed the bumper in order to get better access to the rear of the dent. I then heated the area for about 5 minutes and pushed the dent out with a wet sponge - very simple. The hardest part was putting the bumper back on the car, but I was working alone. I also decided to sand down the rusty parts of the dented metal and covered them up with some touch-up paint. I didn't have the right one (last minute decision), so I just bought the closest match from my local auto parts store. My paint code is 051, and this was Toyota 045, if I recall correctly. You really have to stare at it in order to see the difference, so I'm happy.


This is obviously not a permanent fix, but with school and work, it'll have to do for now. Well enough talk, here are the pictures.

Bumper Removed


Before


After


Before


After


Before (before I bought it)


After (no more pinstripes)


p.s.: The corner taillights were replaced by the previous owner. They are from the 2000-2001 model year, but I actually like the overall look.

 

Nice job! Is there a reason you chose this route to getting one of those paintless dent repair guys?

 

Yeah it was cost. My first priority was fixing up all the mechanicals, then doing all the maintenance, then cleaning out the interior, and finally dealing with the exterior. I still have have the rear sway bar to deal with, then I gotta change my transmission fluid, and I need to replace my radio lights.

I'll let a professional fix up the dent and paint it in the future. I just wanted to stop the corrosion and make it look halfway decent.

 

nice work. Is there no access to the top corner from the trunk? I don't recall it...

When my car was boinked by someone in a parking lot i took at 2x4 from the inside the trunk and straightened it out! [the crease]

 

There is, I just don't want to completely butcher it.

 

Good job!
If I were you, will try to hammer with something soft (like wood) from inside.
And use some thinner to wipe out the scratches.