[Zatrekaz]

So, you want to paint the interior trim pieces of your car but dont want to pay big bucks for a spray job? Well, here ya go;

This guide was made as I was doing my own interior. The process requires no prep work, and gives you a nice color without a ton of time or cost.

Materials:

• (insert color) Dupli-Color Vinyl Paint
• Masking Tape
• Cloth rag
• Flat Head Screwdriver
• Philip Head Scewdriver
• Rubbing Alcohol swabs

Total Cost: $20 - $40
(I only had to buy paint, was $20.84 for 3 cans at Autozone)
Always buy extra, incase you run out. One can did the Center Console, One can for the Door Panel trim on both doors, Cluster trim used about 1/4th of a can.


Painting Techniques

These steps can be applied to every trim piece you paint. The basic steps are as follows:

1. Remove trim (refer to specific guide below per piece)
2. Clean throughly with Rubbing Alcohol
3. Allow to air dry for atleast 5-10 minutes
4. Spray a very light even coat across the surface. Be sure not to overspray, this layer is to set the stage for the main paint
5. Allow to air dry for 5-10
6. Apply 2nd coat. Be sure to evenly coat the surface while avoding running. ALWAYS paint in the same direction. I usally go Left > Right > Left > Right back and forth
7. Allow to air dry for 5-10
8. Apply 3rd coat, allow to dry for 10-15 and repeat these steps until you have a good color, with all surface area covered
9. Allow entire piece to Air dry for atleast 1 1/2 hours
10. Reinstall

NOTE: You can have more than 3 coats, this is just to get you going. I usally dont worry about coats. I simply keep painting until I am satisfied with the color and/or coverage of the paint.



Door Trim Removal
note: Passenger and Driver doors are the same, minus the Power Mirror control.

First, you need to grab your Flat Head Screwdriver and your cloth rag. Wrap your screwdriver head in the rag as to not cut any trim pieces when prying them out.

Next, you want to use the Screwdriver and Rag to pop out the trim panel like so:





After that, you will need to grab your Philip Head Screwdriver. This will be used to remove the Window and Lock operation buttons, and you will need to disconnect the wire harness for the Power Mirrors. You will want to unscrew the two screws pictured below, as well as the Clips on the harness:



After this you simply move the buttons out of the way like so;



This next part is tricky. The Power Mirror controller needs to be taken out. It has clips on all sides that hold it in place. You will need your Flat Head Screwdriver and your hands to pry this out and remove it. Pictured below is the button still attached with some of the clips highlighted:



NOW YOUR READY TO PAINT !!! Refer to the above painting techniques. Here is the trim panel after about 3-4 good coats drying:

[Zatrekaz]

Cluster Trim Removal

To start, you will need to unscrew two screws at the top of the trim. These screws are star bits, T15 if I remember correctly. They are located here:



After this, you will need to grab your Flat Head Screwdriver. You will now be removing the Headlight switch knob. This guy puts up a fight. There is a small slit on the bottom with a Metel tab. Depress it with some force, and pull it out. Here is what the slit looks like;



After this, you will be removing the trim. Simply grab your Flat Head and Rag. Start to work out the trim. Once you get it lose, slide it bottom first out and upward. Also, be sure to remove the rubber peice that is attached to the Trim. It is rubber, and just slides right off.

Here is mine drying:





Center Console Removal

This part is very easy. No tools are required to get this out.

Step one will be to get the bottom half out.

1. Simply grab the bottom portion of the bottom half (lower green circle) and pull to you, with a little force, and it will pop out.
2. After this, you will need to disconnect the 12v Power Plug from the back. It simply has a tab you depress and pull out.
3. Now you will need to Grab the top of the left over trim and pull outwards as well (top green circles).
4. After this, you will need to disconnect the three buttons from the back. Like the others, simply depress a tab and pull out.

The next big step is taping off the bottom portion of the Center Console. Grab your Masking Tape and tape off the black vinyal area of the bottom portion. This will allow you to paint will keeping the trim around it clean.



The last step is to paint, let dry, and reinstall. Remember, the top portion installs FIRST, then the bottom. Be sure to reconnect all buttons and 12v adapters.

[WLJohnson05]

adding a clear will make that a good shiny piece.

[Zatrekaz]

Ya, forgot to add the clear in the guide. Mainly because I personally did not use the clear. It came out shiney enough. That pic does not do it justice. Sun + red color + my camera = fail.

[WLJohnson05]

Originally Posted by Zatrekaz Ya, forgot to add the clear in the guide. Mainly because I personally did not use the clear. It came out shiney enough. That pic does not do it justice. Sun + red color + my camera = fail.

haha thas good.

[Seabee]

Nice, no primer for you? I will probobly be doing silver or something light, like that. Maybe next check

[Zatrekaz]

Originally Posted by NavySeabee87 Nice, no primer for you? I will probobly be doing silver or something light, like that. Maybe next check

No Primer, was doing this project as a "How can you do it with minimal cost" It acually comes out decently smooth and shiny. Now, granted your not sanding and primer... so its not car paint.

[Seabee]

when did you do this?

[Zatrekaz]

Did the Cluster trim today, door panels the day before, center console the day before. So Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.

[Seabee]

ah, im just wondering on the wear, if it will fade or chip easily

[Zatrekaz]

Granted its not fail proof, no paint is. The great thing is the fact that if you have to redo it, its not expensive at all.

I had painted my center console a different color about 2 years ago. It took about that much time (2 years) to noticeablly fade.

[Seabee]

Yea i remember seein it in another thread, and i didnt even noticed the date was on the pictures lol, shows how much i pay attention. Well i think its a good write up, sticky worth. Ill be doing it and checkin your thread out just to make sure i dont jack shit up, which i shouldnt......hopefully

[Zatrekaz]

Originally Posted by NavySeabee87 Yea i remember seein it in another thread, and i didnt even noticed the date was on the pictures lol, shows how much i pay attention. Well i think its a good write up, sticky worth. Ill be doing it and checkin your thread out just to make sure i dont jack shit up, which i shouldnt......hopefully

Thanks bro, I appreciate it. I just wanted to share the info because I know its a popular topic. Im going to be follow WLJohnson's footsteps soon and repainting my dash and everything black.

Also gonna be doing my V6 Value Covers red this (hopefully) weekend. Plan to do a write up on that as well.

It is not hard to do. The removal is just basic tech skills. The paint is almost fail proof as long as you take your time plus pay attention to detail.

[Zatrekaz]

I learned today that the Dupli-Color Vinyl and Fabric paint has an adhesion promotor already in the paint. This seems to be why it sticks so easy to these pieces.

Im gonna be doin my whole interior black by Spring, gonna use a lite promotor for that however.

[travis_afx]

Nice write up.

So I was just wondering what made you get fabric & vinyl paint for plastic in the first place

[Zatrekaz]

It acually works very well on the hard pieces, Atleast this brand does. I have used it before in other cars and the results were very nice so I did it again