Recently we discussed detailing your car’s engine compartment, and now we will move to the inside by restoring interior components of your classic car. Spiffing up the interior of a used car is the best way to command a higher price. Whether you are planning to sell your classic car or just want to freshen it up for the local car shows, we will show you the tips for restoring interior parts your car’s interior. It is neither hard nor expensive, and you will be amazed at just how new your car’s interior will look.
Rejuvenate Your Car’s Interior
You can recondition the plastic/vinyl on your doors, dash, seats, and console areas, or do it all, including the carpet, velour, and upholstery. You can recolor just about everything in the interior. If you vacuum and shampoo your vehicle ahead of time, you can complete the whole rejuvenation process in a single weekend (allowing for drying time between steps).
Tools and Materials Required
Tools
- Dust mask
- Lint-free cloth
- Masking materials
- Nitrile gloves
- Nylon bristle brush
- Rags
- Respirator
- Safety glasses
- Scuff pads
- Shop vacuum
- Wrench set
Materials
- Carpet cleaner
- Plastic adhesion promoter
- Plastic and leather colorant
- Plastic and leather preparation spray
- Plastic and vinyl clear coat
- Plastic and vinyl colorant
- Plastic and vinyl soap
- Vinyl preparation spray
Get The Right Materials and Prep the Vehicle
It makes a significant difference.
Several companies make reconditioning products, but we chose SEM because it is the brand most professional shops use. Plus, it is available at many auto parts stores and online sources (such as vinylpro.com and tcpglobal.com). SEM makes products to repair and refurbish plastic, vinyl, velour, leather, and carpet. When applied properly, the flexible-colored coating will not chip, flake, or fade.
Match Your Colors
SEM makes refinishing products in more than fifty colors, so get the color chart from a local dealer and match color chips to your car’s carpet and plastic parts. This process is not designed for changing colors in your car. You will get the best results by choosing colors that are as close as possible to the original ones.
Step 1: Auto interior Repair: Vinyl and plastic
Soap And Scrub
Apply SEM Soap to vinyl and plastic surfaces and scrub with a scuff pad. Put extra effort into textured and recessed areas. Wipe the surface with a clean, damp, lint-free cloth and let dry.
Step 2: Spray and Wipe
Spray Vinyl Prep on vinyl areas and wipe off the residue in one direction with a clean, damp, lint-free rag. Then spray Adhesion Promoter on plastic surfaces and let it “flash.” Wipe off with a clean cloth. Let dry.
Step 3: Add Colorant
Spray on several light coats of colorant (Color Coat is shown), allowing 5 to 10 minutes between coats. Let the colorant dry for 24 hours before using. It’s important to buy the correct “plastic adhesion promoter” with the kit, so take a minute to determine the type of plastic you have in your car. Adhesion promoter helps the color coating “bite” into the plastic. You will also need the manufacturer’s cleaner and prep materials, scuff pads, a nylon brush, masking materials, nitrile gloves, a respirator, eye protection and clean, lint-free rags.
Step 4: Auto Interior Repair: Carpet and Velour
Spray, Scrub, Dry and Vacuum
Spray Plastic & Leather Prep on the carpet or velour and scrub lightly with a nylon bristle brush as you continue some auto interior repair. Let dry and vacuum.
Step 5: Apply, Brush, Dry, Brush and Vacuum
Apply colorant to the interior carpet or velour and immediately brush in all directions with a nylon bristle brush to keep the fibers separated. Let dry. Then brush again and vacuum. Prepare the vehicle by vacuuming and cleaning all surfaces with household cleaners. Shampoo the upholstery and carpet and let everything dry completely. Then move the car outside to a shaded area and roll down the windows (the coatings have a strong solvent smell).
Mask off all areas you do not want to recolor and cover the seats and carpet with a tarp to protect against overspray. And, if you are coloring the carpet, consider removing the seats rather than masking around them—you will save time and get better results.
Finally
This is more than just interior cleaning and detailing, but on how to bring that worn interior back to life. These tips for restoring interior components of your car takes you down a more comprehensive road for a DIY project. Certainly, if you have cracked or damaged panels, or torn carpet then a more comprehensive repair program will have to be undertaken.
