So I just bought a used 2002 Civic sedan and wanted to get rid of these weird patches of paint on the silver window sills. I'm starting to wonder if the sills were originally black or silver. I started chipping away the black paint, but had no luck. Does anyone know how to get the paint off?

 

Mask using both masking tape and a rubber tape (duct tape or electric tape).

Try using a heat gun first, then try laquer thinner, if all else fails, paint stripper.

 

Is there a possibility the heat gun will actually melt the window sill itself? I'm pretty sure it's made of flimsy plastic.

 

I think it probably depends on what heat setting you have it on, but I forgot that newer cars have plastic sills. Since they are plastic, I don't recommend using stripper or lacquer thinner if you can avoid it at all. Perhaps attempt wetsanding it off using 600 grit wet.

 

Hmm... this has proven to be a pain. I didn't realize it would be this difficult to take off. Thanks though.

 

It's more of a plastic coating than paint. They don't cost very much new.