Double sided tape woes

[stevo1210]

Okay, so I got side skirts installed at the dealership and I'm pretty cool with them as they look great, but I seem to be having a problem with the stickiness of the skirts to the car.

If you're in Sydney, you would have realised all that hardcore heat we've had for the past few days. This took a toll on my sideskirts for some reason.

My car sits under a carport and does get a bit of sun on it from 9AM to 12PM as the sun is angled that way, at other times it's covered by the carport. Now, the side which the sun shines on... the edges of my side skirt are coming off! The side of the car which receives NO sun is stuck firmly with no problems... um...

Just a light push and they stuck back on extremely hard so it's no biggie, but I don't understand why this has happened. This is the ORIGINAL (I assume 3M) tape that comes on the side skirt from the Honda factory... I had these skirts installed 3 weeks ago, no problem until a few days ago when I moved the car from the indoor garage to the carport where it receives hardcore heat and sunlight.

Is the Aussie heat just TOO much for double sided tape?

[charliebrown]

maybe wasnt prepped or stuck on properly to begin with

3M tape shit is strong enough for side skirts easy. rain, heat etc shouldn't do much

[markismaximus]

I would take it back to the dealership. As above, surface might not have been prepped correctly and tape is not adhering properly.

Either way, defs take it back and get them to redo it.

[curtis265]

sounds like the plastic warped, not necessarily the tape. Either way, take it back to the dealer as they should warrant their product.

[stevo1210]

Probably should add that about 3 days in, I did have a gap issue with the front end of the left skirt, took it back to the dealer and in 15 minutes they fixed it... that was about 2 weeks ago. Within the 2 weeks, everything was fine and no problems. Come hot day and both the unrepaired section at the back AND the newly fixed at the front of the skirt both came apart :O

I will speak to them once the new year comes as I think they are closed right now for xmas.

[quangsuke]

if you got skirts fitting at a dealer technically it should be coming off at all because they bolt on underneath as well as each end.

check the if they installed the lip properly with the bolts.

and yes adhesion would be a factor the tape not sticking.

[davideelam]

add more bolts in to secure it. but find locations where it isnt noticable....

[stevo1210]

maybe wasnt prepped or stuck on properly to begin with

3M tape shit is strong enough for side skirts easy. rain, heat etc shouldn't do much

Remember how I said I went back to the dealer once already about the front part of my left skirt not adhering, you are correct, seems like they didn't stick it on properly. It fell out again this morning! Closer inspection and yes, there is tape there BUT they're using INDOOR double sided tape to fix it. Taking matters into my own hands now and ordering OUTDOOR automotive grade 3M tape (the grey stuff).

WHY is it EVERYTIME I go to ANY dealer with anything, they never get it done properly?! I swear I could do a better job with DIY and save $$$, but car is still under warranty :(

[curtis265]

Remember how I said I went back to the dealer once already about the front part of my left skirt not adhering, you are correct, seems like they didn't stick it on properly. It fell out again this morning! Closer inspection and yes, there is tape there BUT they're using INDOOR double sided tape to fix it. Taking matters into my own hands now and ordering OUTDOOR automotive grade 3M tape (the grey stuff).

WHY is it EVERYTIME I go to ANY dealer with anything, they never get it done properly?! I swear I could do a better job with DIY and save $$$, but car is still under warranty :(

don't let that warranty thing stop you with things like this. If you install a kit yourself an you get paint flaking on your roof, it's not going to affect your claim. or if your engine blows up.

IIRC they should be sikaflexing the lips on, not double sided tape

but either way dealers will try to save a buck using a quicker method/cheaper bonding agent. They're a business after all

[DreadAngel]

don't let that warranty thing stop you with things like this. If you install a kit yourself an you get paint flaking on your roof, it's not going to affect your claim. or if your engine blows up.

IIRC they should be sikaflexing the lips on, not double sided tape

but either way dealers will try to save a buck using a quicker method/cheaper bonding agent. They're a business after all

This... Having worked in a service department, can tell you if they can give a ****, it'll be done right...

Other times fark...

[EKVTIR-T]

there is another 3m called VHB which is clear,not foam

http://s12.postimg.org/u7nz14w4t/320313809_299.jpg




its so strong often the bonded parts will tear/rip before the tape bond breaks..

its used for glass and building trade

[stevo1210]

there is another 3m called VHB which is clear,not foam

http://s12.postimg.org/u7nz14w4t/320313809_299.jpg




its so strong often the bonded parts will tear/rip before the tape bond breaks..

its used for glass and building trade

I reckon that's a bit TOO strong for what I need. May end up parting out in the future and well... VHB and paint don't go well together lol. I think my RTA provided eTag for the M5 used something like VHB... it was clear and it stuck like a mofo and I broke the bracket trying to remove it. :o

There is also another gap on my rear lip! The gap was smaller (4CM or so) before I washed the car but now it's like 10cm long and a good 5mm or so. Yes, I did complain about that one to the dealer too but they said they can't fix it because of the curvature of the bumper so I have to live with it. :(

I'm going to try to find a way to expand that gap another few mm and shove 3M double sided tape down it to seal the gap. I was hoping that paying over $3000 for a factory kit would mean a perfect fit with no gaps but I guess I was expecting too much. :-/

[Rudy]

I didnt read all the replies, but OEM 3M tape is extremely strong, it sounds like a problem with the installers end. For e.g. lets say that placed it and the alignment was off, then lifted up the kit and replaced it ...this would dramatically weaken the tape. Also those skirts use bolts as well as tape. I would take it back. The aussie sun is definitely not too much for that tape.

[DreadAngel]

I reckon that's a bit TOO strong for what I need. May end up parting out in the future and well... VHB and paint don't go well together lol. I think my RTA provided eTag for the M5 used something like VHB... it was clear and it stuck like a mofo and I broke the bracket trying to remove it. :o

There is also another gap on my rear lip! The gap was smaller (4CM or so) before I washed the car but now it's like 10cm long and a good 5mm or so. Yes, I did complain about that one to the dealer too but they said they can't fix it because of the curvature of the bumper so I have to live with it. :(

I'm going to try to find a way to expand that gap another few mm and shove 3M double sided tape down it to seal the gap. I was hoping that paying over $3000 for a factory kit would mean a perfect fit with no gaps but I guess I was expecting too much. :-/

Installer issue not product... Honda product never stuff up... lolz :p

[Spoon SiRG]

OEM Modulo Kits fit & line up very well, provided they are installed properly.

Your problem sounds like installation error (lack of prepping the surface where the dual adhesive sticks to).

Contact the Service Department you had it installed at, & have them rectify the issues.

If it is deemed installation error, they can order the same part under warranty.

[stevo1210]

I didnt read all the replies, but OEM 3M tape is extremely strong, it sounds like a problem with the installers end. For e.g. lets say that placed it and the alignment was off, then lifted up the kit and replaced it ...this would dramatically weaken the tape. Also those skirts use bolts as well as tape. I would take it back. The aussie sun is definitely not too much for that tape.

Just checked and all the bolts/brackets are installed properly. I've taken it back once before and as I stated earlier... they used indoor double sided tape. Yes, it fixed the problem extremely well at the time... come two weeks later and it fell out again.

I'll give them a ring after new years and see what they will say. The service advisor has been really helpful so far, so i was quite happy.

[curtis265]

Installer issue not product... Honda product never stuff up... lolz :p

this is true only for product make by JDM CRAFTSMAN

[DreadAngel]

this is true only for product make by JDM CRAFTSMAN

So true... Can't say the same for TDM CRAFTERS

[aaronng]

To prep the surface, use rubbing alcohol (isopropanol). To remove it in the future, park in the sun and then use dental floss to run behind the trim to separate the tape. Don't try to rip it off as the trim will break or your paint will be peeled off.

[stevo1210]

Um... so like the dealership said the gaps in the rear skirt were supposedly normal because of the curvature in the bumper. Kinda made logical sense in my head for a moment...

Went home a bit sad I suppose after I spent $3200 only to be told it's normal to have gaps.

This morning the sun came up and this heat seperated my left side skirt at the rear bit as well... then the front bit of the skirt left a gap too and I saw something red in there sticking to a piece of double sided tape. Got medical tweezers and yanked at this red thing that I thought was a wrapper stuck in my side skirts and out comes the PROTECTOR piece for the original tape. They didn't remove the red protector tape to enable the double sided tape to stick to the car... instead got lazy and stuck another piece of indoor double sided tape on!

I was pretty pissed off I suppose. I expect better workmanship for $550 (4 hours labour apparently!). I didn't believe them about "normal" gaps mentioned earlier so I called Honda AUS and they told me to speak to the service manager of the dealership I got it installed at.

Spoke to the service manager guy and he was more than happy to fix it after I explained what I had been through. He says he will do whatever it takes to make me happy again even if he has to reinstall/replace the parts in question. Happy again... for now.

Will be bringing the car in later this week where he said he'll bring both the service advisor and the installer (workshop guy I think) down so we can have a discussion about this matter.

[DreadAngel]

Nice workmanship...

http://nickmcgivneysampler.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/1319083985_78a7f05f18.jpg

Seal Clap of Approval!