This is a short turial on how I painted the lower piece of the center dash section, the shroud around the window switches.

1) Remove the black rubber insert in the cup section of the piece. You will notice under the rubber
there are 2 small tabs holding the shifter side of the piece in.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/White-Feather/cup1.jpg

2) All you need to release those tabs is a small straight slot screw driver...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/White-Feather/cup2.jpg

3) By putting your fingers thru the slots in the bottom of the cup, you can get a little leverage on the piece,
with my thumb using the shifter ring for support. Just push gently on the tab with the screw driver and
carefully "pop" up the piece. Do the same on both tabs...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/White-Feather/cup3.jpg

4) Once you have released both of the tabs, pull up gently on the piece. It should be free
enough now that you can get the screw driver under it in the upper corner.
VERY GENTLY...!!! Pry it up slightly til it "pops" out...
CAREFULLY REPEAT ON THE OTHER CORNER...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/White-Feather/cup5.jpg

5) It should be loose enough now that you can remove it from the dash. Once I put the
camera down, the piece lifted right out with 2 hands.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/White-Feather/cup6.jpg

6) Using a mild piece of Scotchbright, I basicly just removed the glossy finish from the plastic.
Just enough to help the paint stick.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/White-Feather/cup7.jpg

7) Then I washed it with warm soapy water, and rinsed it with warm water.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/White-Feather/cup8.jpg

*** Make sure the part is DRY before you do the next step***
*** I dried the part off with an air hose and let it sit for about 15 minutes in the
back of my shop. BEFORE I put the plastic adhesion promoter on it.

8) Then I gave it 2 light coats of plastic adhesion promoter.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/White-Feather/cup9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/White-Feather/cup10.jpg

9) First light coat of Flat Victory Red...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/White-Feather/cup11.jpg

10) Second light coat...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/White-Feather/cup12.jpg

11) Third and Final coat of Flat Victory Red...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/White-Feather/cup13.jpg

I let it dry for 3 hours after the final coat of paint. Just reverse the procedure for re-install, by "snapping" the top corners of the piece in first. Then just push the bottom of the cup down into place, you should feel the tabs snap into place.

Now just sit back and enjoy your new custom dash.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/White-Feather/CENTER1.jpg

TIPS

Engage your parking brake, and put your trans in low gear (auto) or 2nd/3rd (manual). This will give you plenty of room to work with your project.
Make sure to wash your hands before you handle the parts after painting, while you re-install the part... and try to keep your fingers off of any painted surface.
Total time for this mod was 3 hours 45 minutes. That makes it a great inexpensive mod for an afternoon project.

Yes I know there are tools that are made for working with your interior... I'm a Redneck folks... if it cant be done with a screw driver... screw it..!!

Great "How-To" !!! :bow: :bow:

Let alone a very "first" how-to (on this board). :one:

Excellent job - we are very fortunate to have you on the board.

I look forward to seeing what other mods you will come up with! :D

I know what I'm doing tomorrow!

Sindy, What color........ahhhh.........White?:lol:

Great step-by-step how-to.

Good job El_Guapo :thumb:

This is one mod I actually have the tools for. ;)

Great How-To El Guappo. :thumb: Very well explained and nice photos. We should get the mods to move this to the How-To board. :smile:

Oh Sindy, I see you on. :lol:

Thanks for the compliments everyone... I am really enjoying this car, doing these little mods to it, and socializing with all of you. I'm really looking forward to what else can be done to the HHR, both in performance and looks.

Great tutorial! Thanks for taking the time to do a step-by-step guide.

I have never painted plastic parts. Long term, how well does the paint hold up/how durable is it?

El Guapo,

Thanks for takingthe time to enlighten us, I am now thinking about doing it to mine. A couple questions:

* did you use spray paint?
* how about a "how-to" on the upper plastic part....or has that been done here?

Thanks again! :nuts:

El Guapo,

Thanks for takingthe time to enlighten us, I am now thinking about doing it to mine. A couple questions:

* did you use spray paint?
* how about a "how-to" on the upper plastic part....or has that been done here?

Thanks again! :nuts:

I had the auto paint store next to my store mix up some Victory Red to match the paint on my wagon. I used the gloss version to paint my lower grill insert that I installed. Then I had the paint store put some flattener in the paint so I could paint some of my interior parts. I wanted them to match the bright exterior color, but also match the finish of the flat interior pieces. But you can probably find the color to match your exterior at an auto parts store, then spray some clear flat over it when it is done to make it match the interior. If I would have thought to take pictures of the upper dash part, I could have done a tutorial for that also, but I failed to think about it til I was done...:red:

but I'de be glad to answer any questions about it that you might have...

the top piece is just held in with snap rings once you have the bottom loose, just grab the bottom of the top piece and pull, then unhook your wires to your controls

Fantistico job of both pics and discription of each step. I know I will put this in my "To Do List" this winter.

I would like to add a few things... in the hopes of making this easy mod even simplier!
So you know what your up against for those that have yet to rip and tear into your HHR. This type of clip is used all over your HHR!


http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e120/SindyDix/clip.jpg

..and for those that may never take the cover plate off the light pannel, here's what under there!
Mine is a manual, so your auto may look slightly different.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e120/SindyDix/insideunderpannel.jpg

yeah those clips... I've never owned a vehicle that had those kind of clips holding things together... they really make it a lot easier to take pieces of the interior apart without damaging it..

thanks for the additional input Sindy...:thumb:

I sure have a few coments on this MOD about the center piece! I did it with minimal cursing! There are some do's and don't for sure. I made a couple of mistakes on the reassembly steps. Had to back track slightly. Just enough to GRRrrrrrr!

I'll add my reassembly tips tomorrow. Just so it's easier for the next guy who does this. :thumb:

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/5/9/8/centerwhite1.jpg

Looks good Sindy. :thumb:

That really looks great Sindy...!! I'm a big fan of the white, and I would have bought a white HHR, but the last 3 vehicles I had were all white, so I was ready for something different...

Great job on the dash Sindy...!!!

I'll add my reassembly tips tomorrow. Just so it's easier for the next guy who does this. :thumb:


Looking forward to the assembly tips. Going to get paint soon.

if you guys use krylon just remember that the paint WILL chip and you will need to redo the job over again. I'm looking at moving up to a dashboard kit instead of attempting to paint the rest of the interior (doors, dash, etc).

On another note, spray paint I purchased from paintscratch.com works great! No chipping yet on the front bumper and rear emblem I painted. Its a little pricey but IMO worth it.

if you guys use krylon just remember that the paint WILL chip and you will need to redo the job over again. I'm looking at moving up to a dashboard kit instead of attempting to paint the rest of the interior (doors, dash, etc).

I wouldnt recommend using Krylon... at the very least I would use Duplicolor... but either way you really need to spray the plastic with an adhesion promoter to help your paint stick to it.

krylon fusion is made for the plastic and you wont need plastic promoter, myself and a few more members here have used it with great resullts

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g109/sittnonchrome/jasonstruck0013.jpg

also have it on the rear trim on my car no chipping

This may help the next guy paint their "waterfall".

My way might not be the right way but here's my input:

Tools used:
Scotch bright scratch pad, Phillips screwdriver, flat screwdriver, #20 (I think) star screwdriver, adhesion promoter, paint, clear gloss, masking take, towel and patients.

As said by others on here, it is a firm grasp and yank to pull the cover off. I put my fingers into the A/C vents to begin poping the cover off.

Do not grab by the honeycomb as that is weak and will break.
Grasp the cover without having contact with those dang honeycombs. (I broke one piece of the honeycomb)

The cover is attached by the clips as shown in a close up in a photo above.

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/5/9/8/IMG_3913.jpg

Removing the switches is easy also. A star tool is required for the rear window wiper switch. The cig lighter was a challenge for me but I got it out.

After using a scotch pad to rought up the finish, washed, dry, adhesion promoter, paint, clear then reasembled.

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/5/9/8/IMG_3915.jpg


http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/5/9/8/IMG_3914.jpg


Masked
http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/5/9/8/IMG_3911.jpg

unmasked
http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/5/9/8/IMG_3912.jpg

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/5/9/8/IMG_3916.jpg


Reasembly without scratching the new paint jobbie was tricky. Used a towel to protect the new paint.

NOTE: when reinstalling the dimmer/airbag warning indicator/fog light switch pannel, A/C vents mount, switch pannel then screws! I did it bassackwards first. Errrk, wrong!

When ready to put the cover back on, again, I tried to do it wrong again....
Insert the bottom of the cover in first then the tabs push/snap easily into place working your way upwards.


http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/5/9/8/IMG_3917.jpg

Looken very cool Sindy.
Hows about pianting the middle trim on the doors.

I havent attempted that yet. I want to though! I'll have to do a search on how to take those off.

I think they are part of the whole door panle

nice Work!

Looken very cool Sindy.
Hows about pianting the middle trim on the doors.

I am planning on doing that piece soon... it is plastic welded to the door panel, so it needs some special care when removing it... I'm hoping to get those parts done in a few days...

Great addition to this thread Sindy...!! looking very nice...!!

Nicely done indeed. Basic, to the point, and pictures. My kind of instructions. :lol:

Sindy, thanks for the tips. Now all I have to do is find the right shade of blue to match.

I used factory touch up paint by the can! 'bout $10 a can from Chevy. The clear gloss was just clear from the hardware store. Oh, and the adhesion promoter was $6 from the autoparts house.
Others have used off the shelf paints and have gotten near exact paint match. For the life of me I don't recall which memebrs or the brand of paint(s) they used.

To early.

Got my window switch shroud done :D ...planning on getting to the waterfall tomorrow. Using Duplicolor + Adhesion Promoter + a clear top coat. It's a little brighter than i wanted but it still looks good. :thumb:

Have any pics? Would love to see how it turned out.

Unfortunately i don't own a digital camera (i know...I'm behind the times!:red: ). Maybe i can get one of my friends to take some for me,but i'm not making any promises. Got the waterfall done today and changed my oil (Mobil 1). :thumb: Just about used up all my swear words for the day getting it done, but she's done for now. :D I'll do my best to get some pics taken.

Guess who got a new camera!!!! :roll: :lol: Here is the pic I promised.

Looks good! But what is the solution to keep the sheen from being so shiny?

Looks good! But what is the solution to keep the sheen from being so shiny?


You asked what I was thinking. I'm not a big fan of 'shiny' inside the car.

Looks good! But what is the solution to keep the sheen from being so shiny?

when I did mine I had the paint shop mix some flatener into the paint... but if you dont want to go thru that, you can get a can of flat clear to spray over it instead of gloss clear.

http://www.ctgilles.net/images/pictars/redx2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/Zuz/Smileys/Spock.gif alien_sporez!!! Welcome to the site!!

http://www.ctgilles.net/images/pictars/redx2.jpg
Looks like El Guapo's pics aren't hosted anymore.:( That's why upload mine here.

This tutorial is nearly useless without the pics. I would like to paint mine as well.

Have all the pics have been removed from the how to? All I get are the white boxes with the red x's. :(

Have all the pics have been removed from the how to? All I get are the white boxes with the red x's. :(

I see pictures.

I see pictures.
I see no pictures.

I really really want to know this how-to.

I see no pictures either! Bummer!!