Solution for color matching replacent defrost vents.

[Green Monster]

I found myself trying to replace my olive color defrost vents but couldn't find suitable used replacements.

The repos are only available in black and chrome but I found them thinner, loose fitting and looking somewhat warped right out of the box.

Ultimately I wound up picking up some used original vents in good shape but the wrong colors. I took a good olive defrost vent to Home Depot's paint dept and had them color match it and mix up an 8 oz sample of paint for $4 in Behr's Premium Plus Ultra interior/exterior paint in satin-enamel. I used a foam brush to apply three coats. It's been over 2 ½ years and they still look good so I thought I would share the results.

I've included the paint code for my olive vents and think they turned out decent and have held up very well. Here's how they look after 2 ½ years of exposure- granted it is garaged but still. I don't see any signs fade or peeling.

[Getter-Done]

Great Idea.
They look good











.

[hemi43]

I never would of thought to use house paint on plastic automotive trim. Ingenious !

[truckster]

That's a really great color match. I would never guess they didn't leave the factory that way.

[Green Monster]

I first tried this with when contrasting black plastic was showing through a scratch area above the glove box on my '06 F-150. It was only the size of a pencil tip eraser but it was an eye sore caught my eye every day.

A plastic plug from the A pillar grab handle was used to have Home Depot color match and make an 8 oz. batch of interior touch up enamel for $4. It was used only once to touch up this spot and it was near impossible to find the scratch afterward and lasted years until I sold it.

I didn't think to take a photo with the scratch but here is a photo after touching it up.