i have a 97 rs and i need to know where the paint code is. I have to repaint my front bumper, and napa needs that code, and they cant take the vin number. Also would there be a cheaper place to buy paint for that?? i am going to use a paint gun so it doesnt need to be in the spray paint cans.

There is a sticker inside the engine compartment on the firewall, that has a paint code on it. I think it is a 4 digit code with two letters, and two numbers (I could be wrong about that, but that shuld be the correct location at least).
Personally, I would go to an actual auto body paint supply store, that mixes paint. In my expierence, they ar MUCH better at getting a proper paint match.
I am not sure how you are going to paint it, but if I were you, I would remove the bumper and paint it off he car. Make sure to prep it right, make sure to do a basecoat/clearcoat job (a single stage enamel will not look good), and for damn sure, make sure to use the proper reducers and catalysts, or it won't come out right.
Also, because the paint that is on your car is "aged" it would be best to take it to an actually auto body supply paint shop, is that the paint mixer guy, will be able to properly match the paint he is mixing for you, to the "aged" paint that is on your car. Otherwise it may not match 100%.
You may already know this stuff, but I thought I would throw it out there anyway.
Good luck

yeah, i found the one that said p75n and they said that wasn't it i gave them just 75 and they said i had the wrong tag, but that was the only one under the hood that i saw.

And I think i might call the body shop tomorrow and see how much and everything, and maybe they could figure it out with just the vin number.

This should help:
http://www.automotivetouchup.com/paint-codes/mitsubishi.htm

Once you find the paint code, try this site:
http://www.paintscratch.com/search.html

I dont know about this site. the color code they give in the example would be the color of your interior.

I would normally agree, however, I put the A31 code into the second site, and iy comes up with "Cool Silver Metallic Clearcoat". If that is the interior color, neat. lol

well mine is P75 and thats what it showed on that site to, but when i called napa them fuckers said that wasnt it, so fuck em, I will go to the body shop and just see how much they will charge to mix it all and then check online..


and one other question is, i bought the bumper and it came primered so what all do i need, except the sand paper.

and thanks for the help so far

Yeah, it doesn't surprise me that Napa doesn't know what they are doing. Every time I have ever gone to a Napa, they have always screwed shit up.
Depends on if you paint it on the car, or off.
Off the car is easier and cleaner, IMO.
If you do it on the car, you will need masking tape and masking paper (do NOT use news paper, or plain paper). If you have plastic 50 gallon garbage bags you can use those, if you want to be cheap.
Start with 800 grit wet sanding, and then switch to 1500 - 2000 grit wet for the final sanding.
If you use the same gun for the base, and the clear, make sure to clean the living shit out of that gun before spraying the clear.
Base needs to flash dry (about 10 - 15 minutes) between coats. I personally put NO MORE than 3 base coats on (4 only if it REALLY needs it). Too much, and you can actually weaken the adhesion. Wait about 20 minutes after the last base, and spray the clear, usually no more than 2 coats. 3 or more coats are usually reserved for show cars only, since that much clear may look really nice, but it weakens the paint job, which becomes prone to cracking and chipping.
Good luck. :)

I went through the same thing with mine. Look at the pic to the left. Same color as your car right? P75 is the code for a color called barcelona red. But it just so happens to be the most expensive color to get. Also most places such as NAPA, carquest, autozone, don't carry it. Scratch-x dosen't even make a touch up paint for it! So search barcelona red and see what you can find. Hope this helps. :thumbsup:

Um, ANY body shop/paint shop should be able to look under the hood themselves and find it, if they can't.......GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!!

wow, I never would have thought of that!

thanks.

I bet they can't find mine. My sticker is completely illegible. It cant be read anymore at all.

Actually, now a days, most body shops can take a sample of your paint and determine the exact mixture fromm that. I really dont know how it works, but they have some kind of decvie or machine that does it. Pretty ccool really. It allows them to match the paint EXXACTLY no mater what color it is or even if it is factory or custom.

What if it's faded?

Then it will give them the mix for the faded color of the particular area the sample was taken from lol.

It's called a spectral photometer. I saw it on this old house when they had to match paint. Not too many shops have one cause theyre like 20 k. But they could match it exactly. A good shop can lighten the original barcelona red, spray a test panel, and match it so close you wouldnt be able to tell the difference. It's true what BRM said. If you physically had your car at a body shop and they couldnt tell you what color it was I wouldn't trust them.