Small Dents

• Small dents can sometimes be repaired by using a household plunger. There are also dent-removal kits with plungers available at most auto supply stores. Start by wetting the dent with water and a small amount of dish detergent. Press the plunger against the dent to create a suction. Pull the plunger out to pop the sheet metal back into place. The plunger can slide around on the wet surface to be used in different areas of the dent. This method may also be used on large dents, but probably won't work as well.
  
  If the sheet metal pops back into place and has no chips or cracks in the paint, you have no further steps to take. If there are any areas with bare metal showing, they must be sanded and repainted to prevent rust.
  
  

Large Dents

• Large dents require more intense repair. A dent-pulling kit must be used and can be found at any auto supply store. Start by drilling multiple holes in the dent. Space the holes a few inches apart, depending on the size of the dent. Place the tip of the dent puller in a hole and screw it in for several rotations. Slide the weighted handle of the dent puller down toward the car and pull it back toward your body quickly. The more force you use to pull it toward you, the harder the puller will pull on the metal. Pull a few times in each hole drilled in the dent, alternating holes so that the dent gets pulled out as evenly as possible. Once the sheet metal is as even as possible with the surface of the car, use a grinder to grind the paint away from the dent and drilled holes. Apply a thick layer of body filler to cover the holes and low areas in the metal. Allow the filler to dry for an hour and then sand it smooth with 80-grit sandpaper.
  
  

Refinishing

• Once the sheet metal of a dent is made even and smooth with the surface of the car, it's time to refinish the area. Sand the area to be painted with 120-grit sandpaper. You can sand by hand or use a dual action sander. Spray two layers of primer on the sanded area and allow them to dry for one hour. Spray three or four coats of paint on the primer, allowing each coat 30 minutes to dry. Once the paint has dried, spray three coats of clearcoat paint, allowing each coat to dry for 30 minutes.