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Automotive Plastics/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| plastic housing cracked on side mirror | 1/18/2012 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: My nmae is Robert. I have a 99 Chevy S10. It came with aftermarket Sport Scene mirrors on it. The ... A: Those housings accept neither adhesives nor glues that may be worth trying. Instead, I would try ... | ||
| plastic types | 12/5/2011 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: i know there are 3 types of plastic that bumper covers are made of. what are they and how do i ... A: bumpers are made of: >PP< polypropylene, TPO (THERMOPLASTIC OLEFINE),TPU (THERMOPLASTIC URETHANE,PU ... | ||
| headlamp housing | 11/23/2011 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: Two curiosties, what type of plastic makes up the "back half" or housing side of the assembly? When ... A: headlamp manufacturers use >PP< polypropylene plus a reinforcing load >PP+T20< for instance, the T20 ... | ||
| Volvo Reservoir tank | 10/24/2011 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: I was told I have a seep in the plastic overflow tank of the radiator in my 2001 Volvo and that is ... A: one thing is an overflow tank and connected to it by a rubber hose, a radiator. These two parts are ... | ||
| adhesive | 5/16/2011 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: Is there an adhesive or plastic welding that will bind two pieces of plastic together? I tried ... A: there may be one at least or a method to weld them either chemically or by thermal fusion. However, ... | ||
| honda headlights | 5/14/2011 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: I drive a s2000 2004 I have noticed the plastic that surrounds the headlight is coming off. I took ... A: Fran, if the problem is with plastics, there must be an affordable a solution. I ignore the type of ... | ||
| Dashboard coverstock material identification | 5/9/2011 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: Octavio I am restoring a 1973 Datsun 240z and planning to repair the damaged dashboard. I have ... A: OK, remember that polyvinilydene chloride >CPVC< is used in hot water tubing and >PVC< in cold ... | ||
| Dashboard coverstock material identification | 5/7/2011 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: Octavio I am restoring a 1973 Datsun 240z and planning to repair the damaged dashboard. I have ... A: That skin in made of >PVC< and the foamy substrate of Polyurethane. I ignore what tradenames are ... | ||
| Cracked screw post | 4/2/2011 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: Have had difficulty replacing damaged right rear tail light of 94 Buick LeSabre Ltd. After several ... A: the best way to repair a broken post whether severed from the very base or in a low place near of ... | ||
| BMW TRIM | 3/18/2011 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: I need to modify the trim around the factory stereo by glueing strips of plastic to the existing ... A: You are right Franck, you need to get and cut those ABS strips. The adhesive : dissolve ABS ... | ||
| Plastic trim repair '87 BMW 325i | 3/10/2011 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: I need to modify the trim around the factory stereo by glueing strips of plastic to the existing ... A: I think we will need to take some pictures of the trim , an explanation of the kind of modifications ... | ||
| Mazda 626 interior fabric on door panel is loose | 1/24/2011 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: I have a 2002 Mazda 626, 4 door, with leather interior. Since the first year I had the car the ... A: Using adhesives to join polymer (plastic) surfaces sometimes is hard to deal with. Therefore, we ... | ||
| Taillights lenses | 1/23/2011 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: I have a classic truck and cant find a indicater lense. I have the left side one. How do i go about ... A: there may be a chance to make the other side lens but I need some pictures of the one available. ... | ||
| how to paint auto acrylic | 1/10/2011 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: what product would i use to put a clear coat on acrylic tail lights? also, when i dissolved the ... A: I have never painted acrylic lenses but as with any other paintable polymer, you must degrease the ... | ||
| plastic repair | 1/3/2011 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: I have a 2004 silverado ext. cab 4x4. On the inside of the door trim panel there is a bracket ... A: The markings you found may indicate that the external side is made of integral skin (PVC) and the ... | ||
| 1989 VW Golf tail light project | 12/24/2010 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: i am cutting apart a few sets of jetta tail lights to make a custom set that resemble old rabbit ... A: sorry for this christmas delay. I think your light housings are not coded for polymer ... | ||
| 2002 Mazda 626 turn signal cover/lens glue | 12/17/2010 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: As I was brushing some ice off of the right turn signal lamp the lens/cover fell off. Can I glue it ... A: To join the the two parts, get some methylene chloride. wet the broken places, press them both and ... | ||
| methylene chloride | 11/18/2010 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: I've not been able to find this. Can you tell me what product to look for, where? A: this is sold under the name:acrylic cement by tap plastics: ... | ||
| How to fix a rear view mirror with a plastic button? | 9/11/2010 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: My rear view mirror fell off my windshield and I tried to fix it by buying a rear view mirror repair ... A: plastics are low energy substrates to accept any adhesives,in fact adhesives rarely work well in ... | ||
| Automotive Plastic Panel Repair | 8/1/2010 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: Trying to determine how to repair cracked automotive interior plastic panels. There are know marking ... A: If your car was made after the year 2000, there must be an identification code somewhere in the ... | ||
| Lens on Taurus 3rd brake light | 6/2/2010 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: The shortcan you advise me on an adhesive to attach the plastic lens housing onto a 3rd brake light ... A: you are right. Methylene chloride is de proper adhesive. This substance is a water-like liquid which ... | ||
| Rear view Mirror - button glued into mirror assembly | 5/11/2010 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: The mirror fell off of the window. The metal "button" that needs to be treated and re-glued to the ... A: Most rear view mirrors attached to windshields do not use any glues in the button assy. However, ... | ||
| repairing interior plastic | 4/2/2010 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: As we were loading something into our Equinox, it scraped along the inside of the back plastic by ... A: Polypropylene interior trim and panels, like those in the Equinox can only be painted for ... | ||
| Affordable reproduction of tail light lenses | 2/12/2010 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: Octavio, In an answer dated 1/28/2009 you answered a query on reproducing tail light lenses. In ... A: Unfortunately, I need the help of a busy neighbor and colleague who owns a tail light repair shop to ... | ||
| auto body glue | 1/31/2010 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: While travelling about 40 mph in my 2003 Jeep Liberty, I was side-swiped (hit-and-run) by a driver ... A: There is no glue nor any adhesive to replace your metal or plastic fasteners. my suggestion for you ... | ||
| CRV Mirror Base Repair | 1/19/2010 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: Torres The base plate which supports the mirror assembly (see picture:horizontal part with 4 large ... A: to exactly determine what plastic the base is made of ,you have to take the base off the door. to ... | ||
| Broken LH mirror housing/91 Honda prelude | 1/13/2010 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: Someone knocked my driver side mirror off..seems to be broken at the base..otherwise the assembly ... A: almost always we get dissapointed when trying to fix plastics with adhesives. This is due to the ... | ||
| cracked Sprinter rear A/C housing | 1/4/2010 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: The rear A/C housing on my Dodge/MB Sprinter passenger van is made of a rigid, gray unpainted and ... A: I have repaired many AC housings and found ALL were made of Polypropylene. I think your's must be ... | ||
| 98 honda prelude rear-view mirror housing | 1/3/2010 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: okay i bumped my mirror off the mount and im trying to figure out if i can take the mirror housing ... A: sorry for a late answer (health has not been o.k. these days. but now in the up &up) I understand ... | ||
| Broken tail light lens.. | 12/19/2009 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: I was wondering if I could glue the tail light lens on my 03 Alero. Someone bumped my car and broke ... A: tail light lenses are made of >PMMA< , which stands for polymethyl methacrylate, a plastic that can ... | ||
| ABS plastic sheet | 11/28/2009 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: I have a bowler tomcat off road race car that I am renovating. the pick up sides are flat aluminium ... A: you are right. ABS is not the best polymer for this application. Despite having butadiene (a rubbery ... | ||
| plastic headlight lense | 11/24/2009 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: Why do the lenses get milky/cloudy? Can it be cleaned? Seems to be common in late 90's to early ... A: lenses get dull for various reasons including: photodecomposition, micro-chipping because of gravel, ... | ||
| Mirror | 10/26/2009 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: my Nissan Maxima 2004 driver side mirror is broken,and I wouild like to try to repair it myself ... A: normally you can not achive good( strong) repairs in mirrors by using any glue. The only solution I ... | ||
| interior rear panel broken | 10/21/2009 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: I would like to repair my rear panel on my 2005 montana its broken in one spot A: please dismantle and remove the panel from the door. Then look in the rear part of the panel and ... | ||
| Identifying auto plastic | 9/30/2009 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: I have a 1991 Nissan Pathfinder with a crack in the front windshield cowl vent grille. It is black ... A: From experience, we know Nissan uses two polymers to make cowls: ABS+pc copolymer in older models ... | ||
| Crack in Bumper II | 9/12/2009 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: You asked me to find out what kind of plastic that the 2006 Sebring rear bumper has. I don't have ... A: Ok Al, though the reparing conditions are not the best, let us try it this way: materials:40 watts ... | ||
| best way to handle polyurethane foam waste | 9/10/2009 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: I have some leftover polyurethane foam scraped off of automobile insides and I wonder what's the ... A: John, PUR foam is the material you are familiar with and is available in two forms rigid and ... | ||
| best way to handle polyurethane foam waste | 9/9/2009 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: I have some leftover polyurethane foam scraped off of automobile insides and I wonder what's the ... A: Recycling PUR is as far as know, limited to rebonding for flexible foam, used in furniture ... | ||
| Crack in bumper | 9/2/2009 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: 2005 Chrysler Sebring Convertible. Rear bumper. My wife (not me), backed into a post and caused a ... A: Normally,Pushing a dent from the inside is the first thing you have to do. However this operation ... | ||
| Glue Auto Body Parts | 8/22/2009 | Octavio Torres |
| Q: A portion of my front air dam trim cannot bolt back into place. Can I glue it back to the ... A: we need you to provide more information in order to try to get a reliable and affordable solution ... | ||
Octavio Torres
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer any question concerning automotive plastics repair on condition that the specific part polymer is identified. However, I can also help in the identifying process of any plastic used in automotive applications (for both body work and under-the-hood). I can't answer a question if it is based only on make or model unless full details are provided.
Experience
Two decades working as automotive plastic repairman in my own business
Publications
THE INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE PLASTICS REPAIR MANUAL
Education/Credentials
Plastics technician.
Past/Present Clients
BMW
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