Sticker removal.

1378 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by KingGhost, Sep 15, 2009

KingGhost

Discussion Starter · Sep 13, 2009

I just bought my Element, and it's an awesome vehicle. The only thing bothering me about the exterior is the dumb car dealer logo sticker on the back. I want to remove it, but I know a faded out or deteriorated paint spot would look even worse.

So, I'm wondering what is best to use to get the sticker and the adhesive remainders off of the body without damaging the paint job. Any ideas? A friend of mine suggested "slide oil," like the stuff that is used to lubricate trombones. But I figure I'll do a bit more research before I go ahead with it.

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reh523

· #2 · Sep 13, 2009

KingGhost said:
I just bought my Element, and it's an awesome vehicle. The only thing bothering me about the exterior is the dumb car dealer logo sticker on the back. I want to remove it, but I know a faded out or deteriorated paint spot would look even worse.

So, I'm wondering what is best to use to get the sticker and the adhesive remainders off of the body without damaging the paint job. Any ideas? A friend of mine suggested "slide oil," like the stuff that is used to lubricate trombones. But I figure I'll do a bit more research before I go ahead with it.

but I know a faded out or deteriorated paint spot would look even worse.
The area under the sticker will be brand new the rest will be faded.

http://www.goof-off.com/

A) saturate sticker with Goof-Off.

B) start clawing at edges of sticker with fingernails or, failing that, with a plastic picnic knife (anything harder than that will scratch the paint)

C) peel back as far as you can. When it starts being difficult to peel, take a Goof-Off-saturated paper towel and hold it against the area for a few seconds, then start peeling again.,

D) After you have the sticker off, saturate the remaining adhesive with Goof-Off, wait a minute or so, then start rolling the adhesive off with firm pressure from your fingertips.

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KingGhost

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 13, 2009

Thanks for the advice!

As far as your point about the paint... I don't think the paint around the sticker will be faded. The car was pre-owned and traded into the dealership I bought it from about a week before I bought it. So the sticker has not been on there long at all, which I guess is to my advantage.

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simbu

· #4 · Sep 14, 2009

I have two suggestions for you to try. First off, try WD-40. Spray it on and let it soak in to the sticker. It should just wipe off with a rag after that. Don't do it in sunlight, though. It could stain the paint. Tips for doing this used to be on their website. The other idea is using a heat gun to loosen the glue and then scrape it off with a razor blade. I would use caution doing this, though, as it is really easy to remove paint and all. Also, if the sticker has been there several years as you suspect, the paint will not be weathered under the sticker as it is around it. Hope this helps.
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psschmied

· #5 · Sep 14, 2009

If you have to scrape off the sticker, don't use a razor blade or hard plastic knife. The soft plastic spreaders used to apply body filler to small spots have a nice sharp edge that isn't hard enough to scratch the paint.

I would start with heat from a blow drier (not a heat gun) and a plastic spreader to get the edges of the sticker slightly separated away from the paint. Once that is done, WD40 or turpentine should be able to get under the sticker to dissolve the adhesive. Apply a few drops and cover the area with a sheet of cling plastic wrap. Let it sit overnight; the sticker should slide off in the morning.

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KingGhost

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 15, 2009

The sticker was actually only on there for about a week or so. It was the brand of the dealership that I bought it from. Curious guy that I am, I just started picking at the edge of it (it's one of those bubbly plastic raised stickers), and saw it was coming off with ease and with no residue. So, lucky me. Thanks for the advice anyway guys, I'll remember this for future reference.

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