1. The best way to start is by confirming all spots that will need to be repaired by giving the suspected area of the vehicle a thorough check. Surface rust is easily treated, but any spots that are rusted through completely will require a little more work.

2. The next step is to mask off the surrounding area with painters tape. While carefully following the container instructions, spread a solvent like navel jelly over the masked area to remove most of the traces of rust, paint, and primer. It is important to be careful when using the solvent, because it will also remove paint from surrounding areas if splashed or dripped in the wrong place.

3. After using the solvent, you will need a dual action orbital sander, or rubber sanding blocks for the finishing work. The sanding blocks are much cheaper than the sander, but require a bit more elbow grease. With either method, you will need several different grits of sandpaper that range from a 60 grit to a 2000 grit. The higher the number the finer the grit and the less material that it will remove. The ultimate goal is to remove the last traces of rust and scuff the surface area for the next step. There should be nothing but bare metal in the masked area.

4. If the affected area was rusted through, you can fill in small holes with body filler. Be sure to let it fully cure before sanding. Sand the filler flush with the body panel with 60 grit paper. When the filler is flush, or if there were no holes, then it is time to apply the primer. Use an etching primer for best results since it bonds to the bare metal permanently. Usually two or three coats of primer will be sufficient to protect the metal and achieve a smooth finish. Be sure to sand with 120 grit sandpaper in between each coat and finish the last coat with 400 grit.

5. Once the third coat of primer has dried, preferably over night, the car will be ready for paint. Remove the masking tape and blend the primed area into the surrounding paint with 600 grit sandpaper. If using a dual action orbital sander, use very little pressure so it doesn’t eat into the surrounding paint too much. Using a spray gun, apply three to four light coats of a matching paint color, wet sanding with 800 grit in between. Again, go easy on the sanding. The point is just to scuff the layer so that the next layer has something to adhere to. When the final coat of paint is dry, spray two to three coats of clear coat lacquer for a glossy finish. The sanding consists of 1500 grit in between each coat and finishing with a 2000 grit paper for a lustrous finish. When the final coat of clear has dried for a minimum of 48 hours, car wax can be applied to give the surface a protective gloss finish. Be sure not to wash the vehicle for at least a week so that the paint and clear coat can fully cure.

Complex dents, tiny dents, and dents that have creased the metal can be difficult to remove fully at home. These dents usually require either a professional, or professional know-how. However, even if you have one of these dents in your car, using one of the three methods below can minimize the size of the dent which can change a glaring defect in your car into a minor mishap.

Rubber Mallet Method

If the dented panel is accessible easily from behind, take a rubber mallet and gently strike the center of the dent from behind. It may take several gentle strikes, but don’t succumb to the urge to strike too hard, lest you create more damage than you’re attempting to repair. The rubber mallet is the best option of all the tools because it has a softer texture and a gentler strike. If the space is awkward, cover the handle of a screw driver with a few pieces of cloth and use the handle to gently but firmly push on the reverse side of the dent.

Using a rubber mallet to pop a dent out can sometimes cause the paint to crack or flake off. If this is the case, the area needs to be either touched up, or sanded, primed and repainted.

Hair Dryer & Compressed Air Method

To remove dents using this method, the DIY repairer will need a soft cloth, a hair dryer and a can of compressed air, the likes of which anyone can find at an office supply store where they are sold to clean out keyboards and other electronic devices. This method is best when the dent is larger than 5″ across, and this method causes no damage to paint.

First with the hair dryer on high heat, spend one minute heating the area. If you are working in cold conditions, a garage in winter for instance, add an additional 30 seconds with the hair dryer for good measure.

Next, spray the area with the liquid air for 10 seconds, holding the can upside down. The can may warn against this, but when upside down the can will spray out a white liquid instead of air. This will make the metal even cooler, which is desirable in this instance.

Finally, wait a few moments. By the time the ice on the panel disappears, the dent should have popped itself out. At this point a quick wipe with a soft cloth should remove any residue left by the compressed air.

Plunger & Soap

This method requires a clean toilet plunger, a small bucket of soapy water, and a little extra dish soap. This method is ideal for smaller dents, though the truly tiny dents are sometimes difficult to remove no matter which method you attempt.

First, wash the dented area of your car to remove any debris, and don’t rinse. If you need to, add a little more soap directly to the area over which you’re going to place the plunger to create a good seal. Wet the plunger, too.

Next, put the plunger on the center of the dent – push to suction it on, and pull to pop out the dent. It may require several tries to get the dent out. For an even stronger seal, use some petroleum jelly on the plunger rim.

Signs That the Music Is Too Loud

-In order to hear a conversation in the car, both parties must scream their words.

-The above is necessary even if the person is a foot or two away from you.

-Even after the sound has stopped, you hear a prolonged ringing in your ears, also known as tinnitus.

Many people do not believe that listening to their favorite songs at a high volume is bad. Chances are you have heard them driving down the road, their stereo turned up so high that it makes every object in its path vibrate. Even if they simply wish to share what they like with everyone else, this can be a disturbance, and cause unfavorable and notable health issues on top of it, as discussed above. But what should you look out for? What are the signs that loud music in the car has damaged your body?

1. You are unable to sleep, even if the music stopped playing a long time ago.

2. A baby is born prematurely; this can occur because the loud music somehow disturbed the development process inside the womb.

3. If you have been drinking or doing drugs, they will have a greater impact on you than should be normal – at least in your case.

4. You have trouble digesting food.

5. Listening to other people becomes more and more difficult, even when no music is playing. Because of your struggles, you could become angry.

How Can You Protect Yourself?

-Turn down the volume. Your drive to work or school will not be ruined simply because the radio is not at full blast. Keep it at an appropriate and comfortable level.

-Have your hearing checked by a reputable doctor. They will be able to tell if something is wrong, even if you do not see it yourself. Go through the warning signs list with them, no matter what the diagnosis from your appointment, and become educated on the subject.

-When not in your own car, make sure that the driver knows about the dangers of loud music, and ensure that they take the right steps.

If your speakers wear out, or your CD player or cassette deck stops working, an audio installation expert can replace it for a few hundred dollars or less. If you want to replace it yourself, here’s what you need to do. First, buy a stereo you like that has the features you want. Make sure it will fit into the slot for your old radio. Consult the user manual for your car to learn how to remove the dash from your car. You will need a few basic tools before you get started. You’ll need screwdrivers, wire cutters, and electrical tape. You need to first disconnect your car battery. You do this by disconnecting the ground cable. Next, remove your car’s dash panel. Remove any screws and slide the old stereo out from the slot. If there is one wire to disconnect, it is advisable that you purchase a wiring harness which will allow you to connect your new stereo easily. If you find a lot of wires, you will have to disconnect and reconnect them in order. The positive wires go into the positive connectors at the back of your new stereo, and the negative wires go into the negative connectors. Connect the ground wire with a metal screw or bolt. There should be twelve power wires to attach to your new stereo. Install these following the directions that came with your new stereo. The stereo should have come with a mounting bracket. Slide your stereo into place. Plug any other connectors, including the antenna, into your new stereo. Slide your stereo into the slot in your dash. Reconnect your car’s battery and test your new radio to be sure it works properly. Then, screw the radio into the dash. Replace the dash cover as before. Car audio will always be evolving with the rest of technology, particularly digital technology. This is a good thing for modern consumers. There will always be new products to try and ways to save money on music for your car. As technology progresses, it invariably gets cheaper over time, which is more good news for consumers. You can have cinema-quality sound in your car on long road trips and during your daily commute. The possibilities that unfold in our daily lives as new discoveries are made in the world of science that is applicable to the way we entertain and educate ourselves are very important. Electronic components are dangerous when connected to the battery, so it is essential that you do not reconnect your car’s battery until you are finished working on your stereo and have put the dash cover back on. If you are concerned about electrical shock, consult a field manual or this web site for more information about how electrical components interact with each other. It helps to study and experiment with this field in order to gain a thorough knowledge of new technology applications as this new technology becomes more readily available.

Identify Exactly What You Want

The following four questions will help you brainstorm exactly what you want in your ideal audio system.

1. What type of audio system do I have now?

2. What parts are creating a problem? If you’re not sure, listen while your car is parked in the driveway then while you’re driving around in traffic. Make a list of what components you find problematic.

3. What are my options? If the range of sound is unclear, you’ll need new speakers. If the power is low, you’ll need an amplifier. If your car is noisy, you’ll need materials that dampen the vibration. If there isn’t enough depth, you’ll need a subwoofer.

4. What kind of music do I like? If you like loud, heavy music, you’ll need outboard amplifiers and a subwoofer. If you like soft, mellow music, you’ll need a new receiver, and possibly a subwoofer.

Now that you have a clearer idea of what you want, let’s take a closer look at the stereo, amplifier, and subwoofer components and how to connect everything up. By breaking your project into manageable chunks of information, it will be easier to build your best system. Consequently, start with the stereo and then work things out from there.

Choosing Your Stereo

Your choice of stereo will determine what speakers you decide on. Take your time and make the best decision. Once you’ve figured out your head unit, you can figure out the best kind of speakers to go with it.

Choosing Your Amplifier

Now that you’ve decided on your speakers, you have to work out how to amplify them. Although this is not a necessary step, a good amplifier will enhance the sound quality of your audio system.

Choosing Your Subwoofer

The next thing to think about is your subwoofer. This is the part that most people impetuously want to consider first, but by following the logical process of first deciding on your stereo and then on your speakers, you’ll be able to pick the perfect subwoofer. Now that you’re ready for an awesome bass, you have to choose between an active subwoofer or a separate subwoofer and amplifier. Although an active subwoofer is less costly, a separate subwoofer and amplifier will provide the best sound quality. Since this may not be an easy decision to make, it’s advisable to get some expert opinions if possible.

Putting It All Together

Now that you have all the right components, here are 2 important tips on how to put it all together to get the best performance.

1. Upgrade your battery to power up your audio system suitably.

2. Select the best wiring. The higher the copper content, the better.

Building Your First Audio Is a Rewarding Experience

Those who love listening to music, especially when they’re driving, often look back on the time when they built their first audio with nostalgia; and some even going so far as to associate it to the thrill of their first date. So remember to enjoy the experience, taking your time to think things through.

While researching the various components to find the most suitable ones, seek advice from experts. While you can build your first audio system simply by reading instructional booklets, you’ll get even better results if you can get some experienced guidance as you go along.

When contemplating this project, you have to avoid getting too enthusiastic and throwing caution to the wind. Think only about what you need, rather than paying for features that you will never use. Alternatively, if you want to have more features than you can currently afford, consider building your audio system gradually to improve your cash flow so you can buy all the right components.