How do i repair a dent on my rear bumper 5-6 inches of Toyota Camry 2003 do i need to take off the bumper or can i just heat freeze from outside for the dent to pop please help?

Answer 1

I just finished doing this b/c I backed my Camry into another car. I'm not that handy and this process isn't very difficult. You MUST have a 10mm socket/wrench, Phillips head screwdriver, flat head screwdriver and a small torch.

First, open the trunk and remove the mats and wood that line the trunk and spare tire area. Remove the plastic cover that lines the inside rear (taillights, etc.) of the trunk by removing 2 screws that hold hooks. The remainder of the cover will pop out with a little elbow grease. Also remove the cup holder from the left side of the trunk by removing bolt.

Next, peel back the carpet lining around the side of the trunk beginning at the taillights and working toward the backseat. When you get to a plastic pin - STOP. There is no need to remove the pin. Now you should have access and visability to everything you'll need to remove.

The next step requires the removal of four bolts on each side of the trunk (8 total). You will see the head of two bolts on the side of the trunk that go straight down through the bumper cover - take them out. You will also see two bolts on each side that are much closer to the rear (sort of near the taillights) that point towards the front of the car. Take the nut off these (the bolt is made into the bumper cover). You are finished inside the trunk.

Next, get under the bumper with the flat head screwdriver. There are two plastic pins that hold the bumper cover to the frame near the middle of the rear. Removing these pins can be a little tricky. There are 2 pieces - the sleeve and the pin. The sleeve has convienent notches in it to slide the flat head screwdriver between the pin and sleeve and pry down (towards the ground). As the pin becomes loose, reach to the other end of the pin and squeeze the fins together so it will slide out of the sleeve.

Next, go to the side of the car, behind the rear wheel. There are two things you must accomplish from this position: remove the bumper cover from the "mud flap" like cover by removing two pins and remove the bumper cover from the body by removing one screw. There are 3 or 4 more plastic pins that hold the bumper cover to the mud flaps. You DO NOT have to remove them all. Remove the one closest to the ground on the outside using the same method described above. At the same height on the inside of the bumper cover therre is a slightly different style pin holding the bumper and mud flap together- take it out. There is a large screw at the upper corner of the bumper cover (behind the mud flap) - remove it. Repeat this process on the other side. YOU ARE DONE REMOVING SCREWS,PINS AND BOLTS.

Remove the bumper cover by beginning on each side - pull straight down. There are three points where the bumper cover will remove from the body (the last screw removed and the two bolts removed from inside the trunk). This will take a little force. Now go to each corner of the bumper cover (where it begins to turn and go to the rear). Pull the cover down and away from the car to remove the bolts from which you removed the nuts inside the trunk. Repeat this process on both sides of the cover.

Next, move to the area directly below the taillight assembly. Push the bumper cover down and away from the trunk. The bumper cover is held in place by a system that is much like sliding an envelope in a mail slot.

The final step removes the cover from four points along the top of the cover directly below the trunk opening. The bumper (not the cover) has four bolts that run into the trunk. They have large heads on them on the outside. The bumper cover has four brackets made in it that slide onto the head of those bolts. (Kind of like hanging a keyring on a nail). Reach under the bumper cover and pull it out and up. The bumper cover should be removed.

Before trying to knock the dent out of the cover, heat it with the torch. This part will be harder than you think.

After the dent is out - work in reverse to reinstall the bumper cover.

Here's an alternate but simple idea I used successfully two times (front and rear bumper) on my wife's 2005 Camry. Materials can be purchased for about $40.00 or less and you don't have to take the bumper off your car. Here's what I needed to do both jobs:

1. A hot water bottle (local drugstore, about $20.00)

2. Small air compressor (Walmart tire inflator, about $12.00)

3. Plastic tubing and plastic fittings to adapt hot water bottle to compressor (Lowe's or Home Depot,

Plumbing dept., about $5.00)

4. Hair dryer (borrow your wife's)

5. Scrap wooden boards approx. 1" x 6" x 8"

If the dent is on the rear bumper, you should be able to reach it from the underside of the bumper with your hand. Connect the water bottle to the compressor hose with the plumbing fittings and make sure you have a tight connection. Put the rubber bottle inside the bumper

next to the dent and back it up with a wooden board (make sure it is firm against the dent with extra backup boards, if necessary). Turn on the compressor and while it is removing the dent, use the hairdryer on the outside of the dent to make it disappear even faster.

If the dent is on the front bumper, you will have to partially unscrew the cover plate underneath the bumper so you can gain access to the dent.

The cost of all the items above is just under $75. You can have this done by someone with experience for $100 -$150. Just search for paintless dent removal on Google in your area. You will probably be happier with the results from someone who has done it before with the correct tools. Paintless dent removal guys have the tools and experience to do it right without the potential damage people can do with using screwdrivers and other tools to poke at their dent. http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=I5pQa_8oA3w shows a sample video. The dent in this video is mild and comes out pretty well but the dent didn't come out completely. There are areas where the dent is still visible.

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