Can you replace the Black Vinyl between front/back windows?

[thunt]

I have a small scratch in the black vinyl on the drivers door (the upright on the picture below).

It looks like stick on material , but has anyone tried replacing and if so what with and how easy was it?

Thanks

[robbo51]

I would have thought so TBH
You'll have to contact your dealer.

[Jack The Lad.]

If the dealer wants an arm and a leg for it, try phoning a local breaker.
The car may be a wreck, but that there piece of plastic could be in perfect condition.

[robbo51]

Originally Posted by Jack The Lad.

If the dealer wants an arm and a leg for it, try phoning a local breaker.
The car may be a wreck, but that there piece of plastic could be in perfect condition.

Is it not thin vinyl??

[Dimplyred]

Won't a bit of black shoe polish cover the scratch? Just a thought.

[thunt]

I tried some shoe polish - hides it a bit.

It looks like its self adhesive vinyl, but could be one of those jobs where your remove it and then regret doing it. That's why I wondered if anyone had tried it.

Maybe a suitable decal could be applied if such a thing exists as another option?

Tim

[bucketp]

I have a small scratch on mine too, if it is easily repaired I would be interested to know how

[Jack The Lad.]

Just had a look at mine robbo, - it's of plastic I'm sure.
All be it very thin.

[anka1976pa]

Why don't you try to make it carbon -look ????

[bucketp]

Originally Posted by anka1976pa

Why don't you try to make it carbon -look ????

Might look good on a NHB but not on my Galaxy Grey

[Jack The Lad.]

"Fablon" do a very good wood grain effect.

[Munro]

The part could be replaced, if you can't repair the scratch. This is the diagram from the manual - part No 4.

I don't know if you have a 3 or 5 door but they are probably very similar.

[Foggy69]

Originally Posted by Munro

The part could be replaced, if you can't repair the scratch. This is the diagram from the manual - part No 4.

I don't know if you have a 3 or 5 door but they are probably very similar.

Looking at the picture in the first post, I think it is a 5 door, and it appears to be slightly different design to the 3 door.

It is part no 5 in the attached picture, and it is listed as a 'Tape Set'.

[thunt]

It is a 5 door and 'tape set' would make sense as it looks like adhesive tape. I wonder how hard it is to remove the old and then apply new....without any bubbles!

[coolice]

Hey All,

I've been dabbling with vinyl cutting/fiting after purchasing my own cutter and so can offer some advice in the application & removal of vinyl.

I dont know the Civic at all (I'm hovering around the forum as the Civic is on my list to test drive as a next car purchase perhaps) but on most cars these rub strips are just thick vinyl.
As to the type again I am not sure as I have not used any.

To remove them I would add a little heat from a hair dryer for instance, this will soften the glue and allow you to remove the vinyl relatively easily. Of course go easy on the heat as you dont want to ruin the paint work.

To apply, as with window tinting and any form of large vinyl sticker application doing so wet is the safest option for beginners.
There is dedicated fluid for the application of vinyl, but the old fashioned way of using plain water with a few drops of washing up liquid works well to. Using this method if you do mess up you can usually gently lift the sticker back up, re-wet and try again.

With the application of any sticker always work from one side to the other (or centre outwards), squeezing out any air at you go along to stop any bubbles forming.
This will require you keeping the other unfitted end(s) up off the surface while you press down along the way. If the sticker has backing tape on it this is easy as you can peel this off as you slide along the top pressing the sticker down.

This can be done dry as well which is the quickest route, but you must work from one end to the other (or centre out) to keep it bubble free.

Ian

[thunt]

Great advice - thanks.

I didn't realise you could apply self adhesive vinyl over the top of water. I can see how that will help with squeezing out the bubbles.

Cheers

Tim

[coolice]

Hey,

No worries your welcome mate.

Just a quick check, water on it's own wont work, it's the added washing up liquid which helps provide the lubrication for this trick to work.

Once applied and you have squeeged out the excess water you will need to allow some time for the water/soap mix to evaporate from under the sticker. I used this trick recently yo fit a sun strip to a friends car as I didn't have access to the proper fluid, which is called RapidTac.

Once fitted you can cheat a bit by using the hair dryer again to help speed this up the drying process a bit, but it will be advisable not to use the car for a few hours or more atleast depending on outside temperatures.

Any questions just ask and I will try to answer them as best as I can.

Ian

[I_Believe]

ok small rebuttal to post here

agree with the add heat bit it works a treat and again just be carefull

do not agree with the add soapy water to the vinyl as all this does is creates a float barrier between the vinyl and the surface wich will not allow the glue to adheer properlyand you will wait for ages for this to dry and it never properly dries as the soap residue remains behind

the best way to apply this is to tack the top part down and just work down the sheet holding the bottom well away from the car its as easy as that and once its stuck its stuck properly

before anyone says anything about this information i am a SIGNWRITER TO TRADE and have done this for 4 years so i know what i am talking about

[Jack The Lad.]

I go with that I Believe.
That's how the blokes do it on my building contractors new vans & lorries.

[I_Believe]

glad to hear that at least some sign companies out there (not many tho) know what they are doing it HATE it when people use water and worse soapy water if you cant do it dry you shouldnt be doing it atall