Car emblems are vulnerable to deterioration because of the harsh environments they are exposed to. Be it vigorous car washes, scorching sunlight, or bad weather, all these are factors that can contribute to the loss of aesthetic appeal of your vehicle’s emblem.
After a while, it is normal for a car emblem to fall off or show signs of aging. Getting an emblem off is usually the easy part, the most complicated aspect is reattaching a car emblem.
The latter is a fairly simple process and with the right guidance, it’s something you should be able to do by yourself.
A DIY Guide on Reattaching a Car Emblem
Step 1 – Clean the emblem and the surrounding area
The first step towards reattaching an emblem is by cleaning it as well as the surrounding area. If your emblem has fallen off, chances are, the area where it was stuck is pretty dirty.
Before you reattach it, you should clean that area thoroughly. The reason for this isn’t just because of aesthetics but if the surface on where you should apply the emblem is dirty, it may not stick properly. And this can cause it to fall off in the future.
If you are interested in reattaching the old emblem, then you should clean it thoroughly as well. Nowadays, getting an emblem for your car is quite easy and these products are quite cheap. So, you may want to consider getting a new one. The choice is however entirely yours.
To clean the emblem and the surrounding areas, get a soft brush and some car wash shampoo. This should do the trick. Don’t hesitate to use a microfiber cloth where necessary.
Step 2 – Mark the location of where the old emblem was positioned
Skipping this process might have a couple of negative side effects. An emblem that is attached wrongly first affects the car’s visual aesthetic balance.
Secondly, it gives off the impression that your car may have been involved in an accident and your emblem’s position was moved during repair.
This can lower the resale value of your vehicle. Can you see why it’s important that you return the emblem to where it was originally placed?
To help you with that, a non-marring masking tape should do the trick. If the old emblem is still in place, you will have better luck in identifying and marking the location.
You will place the masking tape at least an inch over the old emblem on the top, bottom, and sides. Ensure that the edges you make with the tape fit flawlessly as these too will assist in getting the right location.
Don’t be afraid to repeat this process as many times as possible till you get to the right location. Don’t worry about the paint, the non-marring masking tape won’t damage it.
Step 3 – Remove the Old Emblem (Optional)
This step depends on whether the old emblem is still there or it fell. If it fell off and you are now reattaching it, skip to the next step.
However, if the old emblem is still there and you plan on replacing it, keep on reading to learn how to remove a car emblem like a pro.
Removing a car emblem isn’t as difficult as most people think. All you need is some fishing line or dental floss. Grab either of these two, cut a line stretching about 2 feet tall, and wrap the two ends on the second finger of each hand.
Before heading over to remove the car emblem, you may want to lubricate the area as this helps protect the paint.
Having done that, gently cut through the layer of adhesive using the fishing line or dental floss. Avoid cutting deeper as you may scratch the paint in the process.
And don’t go further up onto the emblem because you will leave more adhesive on the car paint.
Step 4 – Get rid of the adhesive residue
Whether the emblem fell on its own or you are the one who removed it using the above process, there will be traces of adhesive left behind on the car. You can’t reattach the emblem with this adhesive still there.
When it comes to cleaning adhesive from car paint, a scraper may seem like an easy choice but refrain from using such because it can damage the paint.
The safest option is a microfiber cloth and car wash shampoo mixed with warm water. This won’t damage the paint but the residue can prove to be a bit stubborn for car wash shampoos.
If that’s the case, you can use a specialized adhesive remover as long as it is considered safe to use on car paint. Some of the DIY stain removers you can use include rubbing alcohol and mineral spirits.
To warn you, these two will eat through the clear coat. And even though they are very effective at removing adhesive stains, they aren’t car paint-friendly.
Step 5 – Prep the area
Even if the area where you intend to attach the emblem on is clean and free from adhesive stains, it is still not ready.
During the process of emblem removal, you may have scratched the area. Or, scratches may have developed because of debris making contact with the area surrounding the emblem.
You should not reattach the emblem without removing these scratches. Polishing the area can get rid of scratches and you can as well buff it with some wax afterward.
When prepping the surface, make sure that you wipe off all wax residue as it may affect the emblem’s ability to stick to the wax.
Step 6 – Reattach the emblem
If you plan on replacing the emblem, the new one will come with its adhesive. However, if you intend to reattach the emblem that was originally there, you will have to use glue or double-sided tape. We are going to cover that in the section below.
With the ideal type of adhesive on your hands, apply it to the back of the emblem, and following the markings you had made using the masking tape, place the emblem exactly where it was situated. There is usually room for error in this process.
Therefore, repeat as many times as you may want, provided that you stick it exactly where it’s supposed to be.
Should I Reattach My Old Emblem or Get a New One?
A newer emblem will always look better than the old one. Plus, it comes with its adhesive at the back which you just have to peel off and apply to your car. The reason why you may consider reattaching the old one is because of the cost.
But, you need to know that car emblems are quite affordable and easily available. When you factor in the added costs of getting adhesive to reattach an old emblem, the costs are almost the same as getting a newer one which is least likely to fall off any time soon.
If your old emblem is still in great shape, then you don’t need to buy a new one, just find some adhesive and stick it back.
What Type of Adhesive Should I Use When Reattaching Car Emblem?
The best adhesive to use on car emblems is the 3M adhesive. This is a product that is manufactured by 3M to specifically attach emblems to metal surfaces.
It also has various applications such as being used to glue vinyl side moldings, taillight lenses, and plastic. The other option is double-sided tape. There are some concerns regarding the adhesive bond of this product.
However, you can be assured of your car emblem not falling off as long as you clean the area where you want to stick the emblem thoroughly.
Double-sided tape can hold your emblem firmly in place provided you stick it on a clean and smooth surface.
Can I Use Super Glue to Reattach My Car Emblem?
Leave alone the emblem, you should never use super glue on any part of your car. If you can’t find 3M emblem adhesive or double-sided tape, you better drive the car without the emblem at all.
Super glue embeds the emblem into the car permanently. This may sound like a good idea but with time, the emblem is going to look aged and worn out.
When that time comes, you will be unable to take it off using the process described above. It will come off with paint and you will have to repaint the area.
What Options Do I Have When My Car Emblem Falls Off?
There are only three options. One, you can use this as an opportunity to de-badge the car. You will have to clean the area where the emblem was and work on that surface so that it blends with other parts of the car.
The other option is to reattach the emblem. This will depend on the condition of the emblem. If it still looks good, then go ahead. But if it’s old and worn out, you are better off buying a newer emblem. And that is the third option.
Can I Paint a Car Emblem?
Why not? Car emblems, when they leave the factory, they always come with a chrome or painted finish. It is going to wear out after a while. And if you want to repaint it, you can do so.
And even though you can repaint an emblem when it is still on the car, it is easier and safer for your car’s paint if you remove it and work on it when it’s on the ground.