What to Do If Car Putty Cracks?
2 Answers
The methods for dealing with car putty cracks are as follows: 1. Locate the cracked area of the putty on the car body. 2. Use a dry grinder to remove the original paint at the cracked area. 3. Prepare the car putty and apply it to the crack, ensuring it aligns well with the edges. 4. Smooth the surface with sandpaper. 5. Then, prepare car paint of the same color and spray it evenly over the putty-applied area. 6. Once the sprayed paint is completely dry, it can be used. Below are tips on how to prevent car putty from cracking: 1. Choose high-quality filler putty when selecting, as low-quality putty has lower hardness and viscosity and cannot effectively adhere to the car body. 2. Do not dilute the filler putty with solvents like thinner, as this can easily lead to cracking, bubbling, and denting of the paint. 3. Avoid applying the putty too thickly, as thick layers are harder to dry and have poor adhesion. 4. Wait until the putty is completely dry before painting. Painting over putty that isn't fully dry will result in poor paint quality.
Last time my car's putty cracked, I fixed it myself because it was a small job. Cracks in car putty are usually caused by large temperature changes or body vibrations, which cause the material to shrink and crack. First, I cleaned the crack, sanded off any loose parts with sandpaper to ensure the surface was clean and free of rust. Then I bought some new putty, applied it evenly to fill the crack, and waited for it to dry completely—this can take several hours or even a day, so don’t rush. Once dry, I sanded it smooth to match the rest of the car body. The whole process used sandpaper and a putty knife, costing just a few dozen yuan, and can be done at home. But be careful not to apply it too thick—thin layers in multiple passes are better to avoid cracking again. After the repair, I sprayed paint to match the color, making it look as good as new. This kind of DIY is suitable for those who are handy, saving money but with some risk of failure. Parking in the shade can help prevent this issue.
