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Someone or a rock dented my hood, is there anything I can get to raise the dent up?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by TheChosenOne, Feb 3, 2016.

  1. TheChosenOne

    TheChosenOne Member

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    So it looks like it never had the dent? The dent is very small, less than the size of a penny and about 2 centimeters deep, and it's noticeable 3 feet away at night using a flash light but not noticeable 10+ feet away but still, I got it less than a few weeks ago and having that dent ruined my mood. If I knew for sure it was a rock hitting my hood when driving on the freeway then I'd feel better and not worry as much but I work at a place where there's lots of people, employees and customers and I park in a parking lot. People, including my co workers, might be jealous of me and my new car so they might do something to it.


    Ever since I got my car, I'd check around my entire car every night after work if it has any scratches or dents from people's horrible driving, them opening the door and hitting my door, and other similar things that might happen. Tonight I noticed that dent on my hood. The previous night it wasn't there. It's on the part of the hood that isn't hard. The area is soft and I can push it down and it would come back up. Is there anything I can buy that can raise the dent so that it looks like it was never dented?
     
  2. Joe Fisher

    Joe Fisher Junior Member

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    A paintless dent removal place could probably pull it out.
     
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  3. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    What he said. Find a professional.
    I think you meant 2mm deep
     
  4. TheChosenOne

    TheChosenOne Member

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    It' about 1/10th of an inch deep. Whatever that is in millimeters/centimeters/whatever


    there's no do it yourself tool? like a suction we can buy online?
     
    #4 TheChosenOne, Feb 3, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 4, 2016
  5. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    I know your pain. A week after getting the Sonic, I got a ding on the driver's door. It really sucks. Even worse is that the restaurant we were at wasn't busy and my car was the sole one along a line of parking spaces, so not parking right next to me was an extremely easy choice for whoever caused it.
    I'm sure you can get the tools, but do you want to practice using them on your new car? If you want a professional result, you should have a professional do it.
     
  6. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    +1

    Normally I'm a committed DIY type of guy.....but unless you want the hood of your car looking like somebody experimented with it, I'd take it to a shop.
    There are probably 3-4 places that do this everyday.

    Good Luck.
     
  7. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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  8. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    It's a rock. So blame GM (like a rock). DO tell the dent repair guys it's an aluminum hood. It makes a difference on how they proceed. IF you can access the dent area from underneath (open the hood and check) you might be able to push it out with a thumb. Pearl S has one and it's over the hood "frame" so I couldn't. Dent is still there.
    No "suction cup" device has enough grip to pull out a small dint. They can pull out a large "push-in" on thin metal panels but not remove small dints.
     
  9. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    2.54 cm/inch, therefore... 0.254 cm
     
  10. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    Do you want professional results or DIY results?
     
  11. DRACO

    DRACO Member

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    Don't mess with it, you will make it worse with out the proper tools and experience.

    I recommend DENTPRO, every other year I call them to take dents out in my cars. Much cheaper then body work and paint. They charge by the panel, but you should confirm that.
     
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  12. TheChosenOne

    TheChosenOne Member

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    How much does it usually cost?
     
  13. DRACO

    DRACO Member

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    $90-120 per panel
     
  14. TheChosenOne

    TheChosenOne Member

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    Gotta pay the deductible if we want insurance to pay for it? If so that sucks
     
  15. DRACO

    DRACO Member

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    Oh geez, that sucks. Well, get a quote and do the math $120 vs $500-1000 deductible??? Original paint that will stand up longer and better than insurance controlled body and paint work? I don't know, I will do the lesser cost of the two and put a video camera to watch the car in case you have a neighbor Prius hater
     
  16. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Insurance is supposed to cover you for a loss that you could not otherwise pay for out of pocket.

    I'm sure there are low or even no-deductible policies out there, but if you're going to run to the insurance company every time your wiper blades fail, then you're going to find it harder and harder to maintain low rates---or even find an insurance company that's willing to cover you.
    There's also the possibility that an insurance company claim resulting in a visit to the body shop could show up on a CARFAX report as something that looks like an accident.....which might be less than good if plan on selling your car someday.

    So.....
    What I do is carry a $1000 deductible and pay lower rates. I would only use insurance for a hull-loss accident (total) and so I'd actually carry an even higher deductible if I could.

    I've literally seen people get dropped from main-line insurance companies for too many glass claims....which to insurance companies look a whole lot like hail claims....or theft claims......or accident claims.
    Filing SR-22 (drunk drivers) or insuring 5 teenagers is about the only thing that will get you higher rates than getting dumped by another carrier.

    If the dimple is bothering you $200 worth, then I'd just cut a check and be done with it.

    Me?
    I'll pay for windshield chips and cracks ($40) but life is too short to sweat about a ding that nobody else will notice.

    YMMV.
    Good Luck!
     
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  17. cucaio90

    cucaio90 Junior Member

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    .....I just know the feeling,two months ago I was trying to park and while backing up I end up hitting the hitch of a truck that was parked behind me.I made a tiny tent on the center of the back bumper.The back up camera didn't catch that 'cause the hitch was lower than the view that I was seeing,I was pissed at myself for a couple of weeks but then the sense of guilt goes away.
     
  18. Caniac

    Caniac Active Member

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    I had similar happen to me about two weeks after I got my brand new Prius in 2006. Huge rock hit my hood and put a pretty good ding in it. I was pretty upset about it considering it was a brand new car, but fixing it never even crossed my mind. It didn't take very long before I didn't even notice it.
     
  19. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I would recommend a paintless dent removal service or similar professional service if only because there probably ARE DIY tools or methods you could buy or look up online..BUT...

    If done wrong, you could make it much, much worse.

    Especially because the hood is lightweight and very visible, I wouldn't want to venture to try to Do it Myself.
     
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  20. goldfinger

    goldfinger Active Member

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    How bad can it be?
    IMG_20150301_134758.jpg
     
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