Well, I spend the last day or so removing all of the nasty tar from the inside of the car, and now I'm stuck. The removal was actually pretty easy, save for a few spots that are just tricky to reach. However, I am now left with residue that is proving very difficult to remove. My ultimate goal is to strip it all clean and repaint it. I hit it with a large wire brush, but I found that experience very unsatisfying. Do I need a different brush? Sandpaper? Drill/stripper? I'm open to suggestions. Here's a picture of where I am (sorry it's sideways!):

 

Well it is too late now but cold works the best. When I took mine out it was about 14 degrees outside and it would come off cleanly with a few hits of a hammer.

I am not sure what to tell you now though.

 

I did one section (the passenger's side front floor) frozen, and it came out like that. I just got a very small amount of dry ice to see if it would work in this heat. It came off very easily, but not clean (does that have something to do with the fact that it's been on ther for 14 years?). When I tried to do the other side without the ice, I found that it was a little more work but it came out the same. Go figure...

I have a feeling that if you were to do this in a newer car it would be easier.

 

Sorry if this isn't very helpful, but you missed a bit under your ECU.

 

...and the gas pedal...and the trunk floor...and...

Some spots are best left to a fresh day

 

Dry ice was your friend. However, now my only suggestion would be an adhesive remover like "Goo Gone" or "Goof Off" in a large bottle and lots of rags.


[Modified by mojoGSR92, 8:30 PM 4/24/2002]

 

I know they seel an aircraft finish remover at Wal-Mart that will take the paint off of a valve cover with minimal work. I also used Easy Off oven cleaner on my car a few weeks ago to take off the painted on pinstripes. The oven cleaner smeeled horible and it eventaully tore up my hands(me and my smart self not wearing gloves), and I'm sure the aircraft cleaner is at least that strong, if not way stronger. Just make sure to have good ventilation and make sure not to get it on any plastic or rubber if you can help it. Hope this helps ya!

 

I'm pretty sure if it'll take off powdercoating (a finish typically more durable than paint), it will surely take off paint. I disagree with using this method.

 

3m adhesive remover works awesome for that.

 

A wire brush in an electric angle grinder works great. Just be careful not to take the paint off with the goo.

Tom Smith

 

Umm.... you said you were gonna repaint it anyway, so why worry about using something harsh now?

I think something like aircraft stripper will save you hours of manual labor. But you need to have everything that could possibly get damaged out of the way, and have some kind of ventilation plan.

 

Yes, it is going to be repainted. The body is totally rust free, and I want to keep it that way so I'm going to update the interior paint (which isn't really that great since Honda assumes you won't be stripping the interior). Based on the suggestions I got, I gave Goo Gone a shot since I had a spray version in the garage already. Damn...that stuff just might do the trick. Looking at the picture I posted, I noticed that the residue looks much worse than it actually is. If you run your hand over it, it's nearly smooth and if I wanted to I could go ahead and paint it now. Once I hit it with the Goo Gone it started to clean right up. I had no idea that this stuff would clean up tar residue like that. I thought it was for much ligher stuff. Plus my car has a nice orange-y smell to it now . I'm going to finish it up this week and see what I can get painted this weekend. Thanks for the help!

 

Glad to see my suggestion is working out for you. Although, I have one word of caution. Don't leave "Goo Gone" on your skin for extended periods of time. It will eventually give your skin a not-so-nice tingly feeling as I think the stuff is very acidic, and not good for your nerves.

Jonathan - Who mistakenly walked around with a bottle of "Goo Gone" in his pocket not realizing it was leaking, and had a spill on his leg....and then it annoyingly tingled.


[Modified by mojoGSR92, 2:22 AM 4/25/2002]

 

If that doesn't work, go to Pep Boys and get a product called "Goof Off". That is what I used to get the rest of the tar out of my car. The only problem is that the odor is very strong and kind of caustic. I could only do small sections at a time to keep from breathing too much of it in.....


Matt

 

Before Goof Off, you might try just getting a gallon of mineral spirits for the same price as that little bottle. You can pour it on and soak it in, and it won't evaporate away immediately like Goof Off.

Gary

 

yep. try paint thinner. if the tar is oil based it should work. don't worry, paint thinner won't take the paint off. stay away from lacquer thinner, though... that WILL take the paint off.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Like I mentioned before, it's really only a thin layer of residue, and it seems to be coming off with mild agents like Goo Gone. Plus, my whole garage smells like oragnes I'll post some "after" pics when it's gone and painted.

 

Hmmm citrus-y

 

since you are gonna paint it... the day you take it to get painted ... get it sandblasted! it will take all the stuff of and prep it for painting!

 

I used paint thinner and a 3m scrubby thinggy and that took off the rest of the residue.

 

I'm planning on stripping out the old dirty paint and repainting the interior. Do you think the aircraft remover I use to do that will strip off the little tar pads?

 

No, that would be a huge mess.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 98r410 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A wire brush in an electric angle grinder works great. Just be careful not to take the paint off with the goo.

Tom Smith</TD></TR></TABLE>

This worked GREAT for me... a $3 wirebrush that goes into my drill. It look about 3 brushes to do the drivers/passengers side. You will pull the remaining sound deadening off, and the the paint, so be prepared to paint it when you're done.

 

go to the hardware store, grocery store or home depo and get a can of AFTA. it will come off nicey nice.

 

AFTA? what is it? Australian Federation of Travel Agents ...