I think a lot of FTO owners feel the same as me about the Mitsubishi badge on the back of their car. It's a cheap looking thing that spoils the work gone into what is a great looking arse. So, how to get it off?
Again this is a lot more work than it looks. I suggest a fair bit of preperation for this task. A few weeks in advance of the job, nominate two fingers, and do not cut or bite the nails on those fingers until afterwards. You may also need to wait for a weekend when you have a whole day to spend on the job if necessary. It tool me about 2 and a half hours, but if you are going to remove both, and have worse luck than me you could be out there for 5 hours or so!
If you still think you can be bothered (and I recommend it), you will need:
  • A kettle
  • WD40
  • A waterproof sheet
  • A smooth cloth
  • Another cloth or chamois
  • A few weeks growth of fingernail on one or two fingers
  • A free weekend!
  • First thing you need to do is stick the kettle on. That doesn't mean put your feet up! While it's boiling you will be taking your waterproof sheet and placing it over the area under the badge, using the bootlid to secure it in place
    When the kettle has boiled, quickly take it outside and start trickling it over the top of the badge. This will loosen the glue and soften the plastic of the badge and make it a bit easier to remove
    Keep the kettle at hand while you use those special finger nails to pick at the badge. Any plans to keep the badge in a safe place will shortly go as the badge comes off in little pieces. Pour more water on as needed. The badges are a lot more plyable when warm, and they will dry up while you are picking at another area
    Picking the pieces off will take a fair time in itself, and you may be tempted to move on to the other badge, either because you are struggling with a bit, or think you might as well do it while you have everything there
    Whatever you do, do not start peeling off the other badge. The whole process for one badge takes a long time, and you will be committing yourself to a lot of work. Wait until one is done, and then see if you are so keen to start it again on the other!
    Your boot should start to look something like this. A surprising amount of glue will be left behind. It kind of looks like the badge has had the letters taken off
    With your chamois or cloth, dry the area around the glue. Now take your smooth cloth and can of WD40. Squirt a short spray of WD40 onto the glue and rub it in with your fingers. Then take your cloth and rub as hard as you can. Some glue will start to ball up into little fiber sided bits. It looks like your cloth is shredding!
    Try any technique you can, because I didn't find any magical way that stripped it easily. All I can say is concentrate on a small isolated spot and rub it until it's gone. Carry on doing that and you will inadvertantly rub some off the big parts until they are groups of small bits themselves. "Look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves" kind of principle. You may want to get a stool- you'll be doing this for quite a while
    Don't be shy about spraying more WD40 on it if you aren't getting anywhere
    About this time the pleasent looking weekend will turn to shit and you'll be frantically trying to finish before it starts raining
    This is a tough job and will take you a couple of hours but the result is really good
    Important P.S. After posting this page up I've been told by several people that instead of pouring water on you should use a hot hair dryer. This make so much sense I can't believe I didn't think of it. Give it a go first, and if it leaves a load of glue behind...see above