Plastic getting white on pin-lock points

Ehetleos · 09-22-2010, 04:45 AM

Almost everybody is familiar with this picture: you apply pressure to a plastic item and at the pressure point it begins to become white just before it tears or punctures through.
Right?
Surely enough you do not expect this to happen to your I2 door plastics... (or do you? )
To make a long story short, my inside plastic door panels have been removed and re-fitted twice since I got the car. Once to put leather covers and one more time to tint the windows.
Since then i can clearly see the points that secure the plastic cover to the external door metal. They appear as white dots (HUGE white dots) on the plastic door surface...I reckon (since the plastics are not quality ones) that the plastic joints on the back of the plastic surface could not handle the tension and hence the dissapointing result...
(see pics on page 2 of this thread)
I asked around some people that deal with plastic restoration (usually done with a heat gun) and watched a number of utube videos on plastic rejuvenation... The problem with our plastics seems to be that they are painted ones and not paint-cast ones. So even if i go on and treat the white-doted surface with a heat gun, chance has it that i will dull the rest of the plastic and leave the affected dots as white as ever.
Any ideas on how to resolve the aesthetically crappy image?
Anyone?

Cobb · 09-25-2010, 11:59 PM

My friend Potter would make copies out of the panels in fiberglass and make room to fillem with speakers.

Id maybe try a sharpie.

Ehetleos · 09-26-2010, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobb

Id maybe try a sharpie.

Can you explain a bit more, please, 'cause I am getting really desperate with the situation...

bubblebuzz · 09-26-2010, 07:04 PM

Ehetleos I see you're in Crete so probably don't know what a "sharpie" is. It is an american brand of permanent marker pen. I think Cobb is suggesting that you get one close to the proper colour of your plastic and use it to disguise the marks. You can get sharpie's or similar pens in Europe. check out http://www.sharpie.co.uk/

Will probably work.

Cobb · 09-26-2010, 09:40 PM

Boy is my face red. Yes, I was referring to the marker. You can get them in any color in the US and I have used them on plastic interior scratches.

Ehetleos · 09-27-2010, 12:14 AM

Thanks a lot guys for your help and support.
Be well

azaviator · 09-27-2010, 09:08 AM

Another option:
You could mask off the rest of the door leaving just the plastic visible, then hit the whole panel with a bit of matching spray paint. My luck with "Sharpies" has been spotty at best and I think you would be more pleased with the result.

Note: This is coming from a guy with a Gen1 Insight, so I have not seen the panel that you mentioned. If the above info doesn't fit for your door, please disregard.

Ehetleos · 09-28-2010, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azaviator

You could mask off the rest of the door leaving just the plastic visible, then hit the whole panel with a bit of matching spray paint

Ι thought about this, to tell you the truth, but this would mean i should take out the plastic door cover once more risking even more damage to it. No way i can paint the whole plastic panel while it is on the door as i cannot risk the paint vapour reaching the interior or exterior surfaces of the car or even the leather covers on the door. And i cannot bother masking the whole car to get this fixed...
Thanks for your advice and for your time, though. Be well.

leeradar · 09-28-2010, 09:17 AM

The other solotion of couse is to replace them with new ones.He is site Honda Original Parts from Lings based in Europe which includes prices aswell.
It has illustrations aswell with i find helpfull.

Ehetleos · 09-28-2010, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeradar

The other solotion of couse is to replace them with new ones.He is site Honda Original Parts from Lings based in Europe which includes prices aswell.
It has illustrations aswell with i find helpfull.

Excellent quote, dear friend. But @ 469$ X 4 my wife and kids will probably leave me and immigrate to Australia...
Might pay a visit to the local dealer to have a look at the problem. I seriously doubt they will replace it under warranty but might be worth the effort to ask. You never know...
Again, many thanks to everyone for the replies.