Paint the interior of the car, How to put the parts out of the car Options

[ST-204]

Hi, all
I just wanna paint the interior of my car, but I really donno how to put it off the stuffs from the car, and use which spray is good for painting them? So can u guys give me some advise, and post some pics for me to see how good of the interior of u guys' car. Thx

This post has been edited by ST-204: Jan 13, 2004 - 5:14 AM

[Hym3n]

I did this about two months ago and have a very good and very bad experience from it.

The good - I learned a lot
The bad - Everything else

I'll start with my personal experience then tell you how to get the pieces out. I have little to no experience with spray paint, or much paint at all for that matter, but continued with this project. Did the basic stuff, the main stereo panel, driver air vent, driver upper air vent, passenger upper air vent, both ashtrays, and I think something else.. can't remember. I'd still like to do some more of it though, to balance the look out. Anyways, I went to Home Depot, bought the supplies, and everything was good. My problem: I didn't tape off everything I should've, actually, I only taped over the LED display on the clock. So, well, my car will permanently smell like spray paint. The air vents are silver, the hazard light is silver.. damn.. the hour/minute buttons are silver. At this time, I'm searching internet like a madman for replacement parts, because honestly, this is quite embarassing whenever someone gets in my car and says "wtf did you do?".

On the other hand, if I had a chance to do it all over again, I would without a second thought. Just with a different kind of spray paint, different kind of clear coat, and have really taken more time. The spray paint and clear coat I used were meant for non-automotive products, and well.. didn't work like I had expected. I didn't let stuff dry long enough, just rushed through it and messed stuff up. Now dash parts are going to cost me hundreds. Big mistake.

To take out pieces, you really just need a flathead screwdriver, although two wouldn't hurt, and if they have a thin edge it really helps. If you want to do the center pieces, just pry up on the cigarette lighter piece, work your way around each of the angles, and it'll pop off. I didn't believe it when I read it, but it really does. I found two cables, one white one yellow, the white will come off with some pulling (maybe a clip), and the yellow requires a little more effort, but does eventually come off. Two screws for the main piece are now viewable, so unscrew those, and use the same technique to take it off. Upper air vents on both sides (the small ones) pry off very similarly, just use the screwdriver. The driver side main air vent will come off easily, same technique.. but the passenger side.. well.. have fun. Very few people on this site have been able to effectively take it off, hell, I broke a clip on the back of mine trying to get it out and gave up after that. Just don't mess with that one unless you think you can handle it. As for other parts (below steering column, glove box, center armrest, etc..), its all a matter of prying, unscrewing, and 4 bolts inside your glove box.

My interior looks like crap, but until I get new dash pieces, I'm going to compensate for the bad look and repaint the areas I originally wanted painted (tape stuff off this time..) with a darker color and that should take attention away from the bad looks/smell.

My advice to you is just to take your time. Space it out over 3-4 days if you can, and make sure everything dries COMPLETELY. Tape everything you don't want paint on off, and overall.. if you're unsure about something.. just don't do it, I learned the hard way.

If you have any questions, just ask.. I take my dash pieces off more and more just about every day (I don't know why, just fun), so I can help ya if you need it.

-Brian