removing silver piece on tail lights - Exterior Forum

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removing silver piece on tail lights
Saturday, August 07, 2010 10:09 AM
I am wanting to remove the silver piece on the tail light on the 03 cavalier. Is it just glued on? Also, i would like to remove the side moldings on the door, how are those held on?



Re: removing silver piece on tail lights
Saturday, August 07, 2010 10:30 AM
both the silver bowtie and the the side moldings are held on by extremely sticky tape. Use a decent gauge fishing line and goo gone (autozone, about $5). Try to get a lot of goo gone behind the bowtie/moldings, let it sit for a few minutes, and use the fishing line to "saw" behind it. Patience is key, and you may break a few lengths of line. Other people (including myself) used a small putty knife to CAREFULLY pull the molding up, then pull the remaining off with your hands. I can't emphasize the CAREFULLY enough, anything metal against the paint is bad, try to keep the knife against the back of the molding, and not against the car. Go slowly, be patient, it will take you some time. once everything is removed, use your goo gone to soak whatever tape residue is left, and the rest is best removed by a thumbnail. be prepared for some sore thumbs, better than scratched paint though. Expect to spend a couple hours on this.

I have also heard that goof off (home depot/lowes, about $6) does a better job at removing the adhesive, but I am unsure whether or not you can use it on your car finish. It got ground in chewing gum out of my dads cadilliac, and I used it to get graffiti off of my buddys garage door. pretty potent stuff, better than goo gone but definitely a lot more toxic.








Re: removing silver piece on tail lights
Saturday, August 07, 2010 12:18 PM
I removed the side moldings off of my sunfire using a heat gun. was very easy. After the side moldings were off i used goo gone to remove what was left over. Just take your time
Re: removing silver piece on tail lights
Saturday, August 07, 2010 3:06 PM
I recommend WD40 to get the adhesive off. It works great and it won't hurt the paint. I also recommend using a hair dryer/heat gun to help heat the leftover adhesive up which will make it easier to remove. I don't recommend using anything to help pry the badges/moldings off the car. Just keep "sawing" back and forth with the fishing line until the badges/moldings come off enough that you can pull them off the rest of the way with your hands.




Re: removing silver piece on tail lights
Saturday, August 07, 2010 4:35 PM
Yup using a heat gun helps out alot, ive also found that gettin a paper towel or a towl with a good amount of goo gone on it and holding that on the tape to eat away at it helps. Also be ready for sore fingers/thumbs from rolling the tape off

David


Re: removing silver piece on tail lights
Saturday, August 07, 2010 6:59 PM
have to admit, was never really a big fan of the huge silver thing acrossed the back, I do like just the bowtie though(just my .02) when i took off the bowtie to paint it silver, it was a hot day and a used a plastic scraper, didnt harm the panel.
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