Think twice before you use stick-on accessories

No doubt about it, some of us love to accessorize our vehicles. Whether it’s something as cosmetic as a body kit or as utilitarian as a trailer hitch, there’s a good reason aftermarket accessories are a multibillion dollar business.

When it comes to most cosmetic items, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but there are specific exterior add-ons that bring some significant downsides as well as questionable esthetic benefits.

Watch where you tape: Think carefully before opting for any accessory that attaches to painted body panels with self-adhesive tape. Even the best quality tape will lose its grip over time, and then, without warning, you may see your prized accessory in your rear-view mirror as it flies down the highway. These adhesives can also be a great moisture trap, leading to premature corrosion by allowing dirt and grit to stick, compounding the rust problem.

Take it slow when removing:

If you aren’t careful when trying to remove a stick-on item, it’s easy to damage paint. The best method is to apply a small amount of paint-safe solvent — such as rubbing alcohol — to loosen the glue’s grip and thoroughly rinse the area afterward. Most parts stores will carry a residue-remover tool — it’s a pencil-eraser style soft wheel, which attaches to a power drill. As long as you don’t spin it fast enough in one particular area and overheat the paint, it’s the quickest way to remove tape residue.

You’re stuck with it: Fading is another common drawback to almost any type of accessory that covers a portion of a painted surface. No matter how many coats of base, colour and clear coat your vehicle might have, the sun takes its toll on paint the minute it rolls off the assembly line and into the light of day. Cover up any portion of the body, and in as little as a year or two, you’ll find out how much sun will fade paint when you remove an accessory for a repair or replacement. Once a body kit has been on for this length of time, unless you want to drive a two-tone vehicle or have it repainted, you’re stuck with keeping it on. Put the pressure washer down: Even if body kits or mouldings seem to fit tightly, they’ll still allow dust and road grit to accumulate. Cleaning this material out can be a hassle. If water will run from the top of a moulding to the bottom, you may be able to flush most of it away with normal water pressure from, say, a garden hose. Using a pressure washer may seem quicker, but sometimes its force will loosen or damage trim.