how to replace large dent in plastic rear bumper

I got a large dent in the rear plasitc bumper on my Toyota Sienna. On rear
left side, about the size of a grapefruit dented in.
Though dented no tear of the plastic bumper. Is there an easy way to
restore the bumper to original or would it be best to take it to an auto
body shop to be safe. I got one of those dent repair kits but not sure if it
will work. Any information appreicated.

Try a toilet plunger! Soap it up real good after its been in the sun and
give it a try. Others have used a boom stick to pop the dent out.

"snow" <dlessard1@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:AXpPf.4390$eJ1.257@trndny05...[color=blue]
>I got a large dent in the rear plasitc bumper on my Toyota Sienna. On rear
> left side, about the size of a grapefruit dented in.
> Though dented no tear of the plastic bumper. Is there an easy way to
> restore the bumper to original or would it be best to take it to an auto
> body shop to be safe. I got one of those dent repair kits but not sure if
> it
> will work. Any information appreicated.
>
>[/color]

>I got a large dent in the rear plasitc bumper on my Toyota Sienna. On rear[color=blue]
> left side, about the size of a grapefruit dented in.
> Though dented no tear of the plastic bumper. Is there an easy way to
> restore the bumper to original or would it be best to take it to an auto
> body shop to be safe. I got one of those dent repair kits but not sure if
> it
> will work. Any information appreicated.[/color]

LOL. I just saw too many of these after I got one in 2001 on my 2000 Sienna.
I took off the bumper and tried to push it out by myself. But the plastic is
very hard and I couldn't fix it. So I took it to a body shop. He had it
fixed by applying heat. He charged me $20. He did such a good just that I
can barely notice it and I gave him $25. My bumper is not painted though.

On Tue, 7 Mar 2006 20:54:29 -0500, "Wolfgang"
<NOwolfXgang_dieterSPAM@NOXcox.net> wrote:[color=blue]
>"snow" <dlessard1@verizon.net> wrote in message
>news:AXpPf.4390$eJ1.257@trndny05...[/color]
[color=blue][color=green]
>> I got a large dent in the rear plasitc bumper on my Toyota Sienna.
>> On rear left side, about the size of a grapefruit dented in. Though
>> dented, no tear of the plastic bumper.
>>
>> Is there an easy way to restore the bumper to original or would it
>> be best to take it to an auto body shop to be safe. I got one of
>> those dent repair kits but not sure if it will work. Any information
>> appreicated.[/color]
>
>Try a toilet plunger! Soap it up real good after its been in the sun and
>give it a try. Others have used a boom stick to pop the dent out.[/color]

I think you would be much better off using a BROOM Stick (a 1" or
larger wooden dowel with a rounded off end) to push out the dent from
the backside, crawling under the car for access - AFTER the car has
been out sitting in the hot sun all day, and the bumper cover is nice
and toasty and softened up a bit. That minimizes the chances that the
paint on the bumper cover will crack, and maximizes the chances that
the dent will stay popped out when you finish.

If you follow Wolfgang's suggestion to use a BOOM Stick (AKA a
shotgun) to push out the dent, you are going to have a much larger
mess on your hands than the one you started with. Not to mention a
visit from the friendly local police if you live in a community with
laws regulating the discharge of a firearm...

(Hey, you gotta have some fun with typos when they're really First
Order Freudian Slips. What a difference an 'r' makes...) ;-P

--<< Bruce >>--

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

I went to a two body shops and they said they won't take off the
bumper...but would put in a new one. By looking at the bump it appears with
some heat applied it could be returned to somewhat close to original
condition. I guess I need to shop around for someone willing to actually
take off the bumper and do this
what the last poster's auto body shop did. Seems like they all want $$ for a
new bumper thus far. I mean the bump is not that bad, but hard to get to
without taking off the bumper.
"snow" <dlessard1@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:AXpPf.4390$eJ1.257@trndny05...[color=blue]
>I got a large dent in the rear plasitc bumper on my Toyota Sienna. On rear
> left side, about the size of a grapefruit dented in.
> Though dented no tear of the plastic bumper. Is there an easy way to
> restore the bumper to original or would it be best to take it to an auto
> body shop to be safe. I got one of those dent repair kits but not sure if
> it
> will work. Any information appreicated.
>
>[/color]

On Wed, 08 Mar 2006 23:14:25 GMT, "snow" <dlessard1@verizon.net>
wrote:

First of all, STOP TOP POSTING.
[color=blue]
>I went to a two body shops and they said they won't take off the
>bumper...but would put in a new one. By looking at the bump it appears with
>some heat applied it could be returned to somewhat close to original
>condition. I guess I need to shop around for someone willing to actually
>take off the bumper and do this
>what the last poster's auto body shop did. Seems like they all want $$ for a
>new bumper thus far. I mean the bump is not that bad, but hard to get to
>without taking off the bumper.[/color]

They make money off the removal and off the part. The dent repair kit
will likely work if you get the plastic warm. NOT HOT. Just warm.



[color=blue]
>"snow" <dlessard1@verizon.net> wrote in message
>news:AXpPf.4390$eJ1.257@trndny05...[color=green]
>>I got a large dent in the rear plasitc bumper on my Toyota Sienna. On rear
>> left side, about the size of a grapefruit dented in.
>> Though dented no tear of the plastic bumper. Is there an easy way to
>> restore the bumper to original or would it be best to take it to an auto
>> body shop to be safe. I got one of those dent repair kits but not sure if
>> it
>> will work. Any information appreicated.
>>
>>[/color]
>[/color]
--
gburnore at DataBasix dot Com
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Hi
I had the same problem with my Mazda. One garage guy got a hair blower
to heat it up and pushed with a handle from the backside. It came
almost back in place. Just try it yourself.

Anu