Auto Electrical Faults

Secondhand vehicles are usually significantly cheaper than their newer counterparts. However, the wear and tear they have already sustained can give them a rather neglected and shabby appearance. Here are a few steps you can take to spruce up your secondhand car.

Repair scratches

Most cars will, over the course of a few years, develop quite a few scratches. Scratches can be caused by any number of things, including loose stones on the road, a particularly sharp branch brushing against the side of the vehicle, or a collision with another car. Whilst this kind of minor damage is unlikely to affect a vehicle's functionality, it can have a negative impact on its appearance, making it look far older and scruffier than it really is.

Fortunately, it is relatively easy to address this type of cosmetic issue. Very light scratches which have not penetrated the deeper layers of the paintwork can be disguised using a special repair 'pen'. All you need to do is wipe away any grime and debris around the scratched area and glide the pen across the scratch. This will fill in the gap and make the scratch far less noticeable.

It's important to note that this technique should not be used for deeper scratches. Any scratch which has left the metal underneath the paintwork exposed needs to be dealt with by an auto body repair specialist, as this type of damage could leave the car at risk of corrosion if the repair work isn't carried out correctly.

Clean the windows

A vehicle's windows are one of its most immediately visible features; as such, by giving them a thorough cleaning, you can significantly improve the appearance of even the oldest and shabbiest of cars.

To begin this process, put some mild detergent into a bucket of warm water. Then, dip a clean cloth into this solution and begin wiping away the grime, bird droppings and dried dirt from the windscreen and other windows. When you're finished, use a hose to rinse off the suds. Make sure to do this carefully, as any residue left on the glass will leave it looking cloudy and unclean. After all the suds have been removed, use a rubber squeegee to wipe off the remaining water droplets (this will help to prevent water marks from forming).

Then, use a cloth and a glass cleaner to add shine to the windows. Ideally, you should use a micro-fibre fabric for this job, as this type of material will be less likely to shed fibres. Use circular motions to avoid creating streaks.