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Brown smeg on me waist trim - again!

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Wed Jul 12, 2017 11:21 am
by Aaron Calder •

| 3.834 Posts

Since returning from our spring jaunt, the Triton has languished in our south-facing garden exposed to the elements which, for the most part, has meant blazing sunshine.

When I gave it a cursory once over this morning following yesterday's rain, I was surprised to see how badly the upper plastic strip on the waist trim was contaminated with sticky tobacco coloured deposits of unknown origin.

It was noticeable that the south-facing nearside strip was significantly worse affected than the front, rear and north-facing sides so once again I'm forced to the conclusion that these deposits are due to the plastic denaturing due to sunlight (UV rays?)

You can see the extent of the problem in the following picture.

Waist trim01.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

I have posted previously that the simplest and most effective way to remove these deposits is by rubbing with a methylated spirits soaked cloth but I was surprised to find this time that the worst discoloured parts were the easiest to clean requiring less vigorous rubbing than on the other areas.

The next picture shows what a difference cleaning with meths makes. The cleaned plastic is bright and smooth with no signs of surface deterioration.

Waist trim02.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Is anyone else having problems with these deposits and if so, how old are your Eribas? I'm wondering if the plastic starts to deteriorate only after a certain age or if it is a batch related problem?

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2003 Triton 420 and Audi A4 2.0Tfsi S-line SE Cabriolet

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Last edited Wed Aug 29, 2018 8:47 am | Scroll up

RE: Brown smeg on me waist trim - again!

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Wed Jul 12, 2017 12:11 pm
by Deeps (deleted)

Sorry can't help as I've never experienced anything like that. Can confirm that meths is very good for cleaning these strips.

RE: Brown smeg on me waist trim - again!

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Wed Jul 12, 2017 1:04 pm
by Agger (deleted)

It looks to me like it is coming from within the plastic and blooming, so therefore I would think it is "oil" or something similar used in the manufacture of the plastic, just my thoughts

Likes to wax and have a smooth finish! 😎

I am above no one and no one is below me

RE: Brown smeg on me waist trim - again!

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Wed Jul 12, 2017 1:16 pm
by Tomored •

| 2.131 Posts

It would appear that mine is worse than yours Brian, even though this is only on the door. When I took the cover off at the end of April this was shiny white.Time to get to grips with it before the Stratford Meet.

SAM_1191.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

The only way to have a friend, Is to be one

RE: Brown smeg on me waist trim - again!

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Wed Jul 12, 2017 2:36 pm
by Frantone (deleted)

Same here on a 2013 Eriba. The upper strip is worse than the lower.

IMG_2115.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Troll gently nudging up against Galaxy.

RE: Brown smeg on me waist trim - again!

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Thu Jul 13, 2017 11:35 am
by Poptop320 •

| 2.638 Posts

Quote: Tomored wrote in post #4
It would appear that mine is worse than yours Brian, even though this is only on the door. When I took the cover off at the end of April this was shiny white.Time to get to grips with it before the Stratford Meet.

Did they use snake skin on yours?...

its not a new problem, my 1993 Puck had the same brown sticky mark on the central strip , I used a magic eraser to remove it...

When I go on holiday I like to pop my top!

Last edited Thu Jul 13, 2017 12:43 pm | Scroll up

RE: Brown smeg on me waist trim - again!

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Thu Jul 13, 2017 3:51 pm
by Eribanut (deleted)

Quote: Poptop320 wrote in post #6
Quote: Tomored wrote in post #4
It would appear that mine is worse than yours Brian, even though this is only on the door. When I took the cover off at the end of April this was shiny white.Time to get to grips with it before the Stratford Meet.

Did they use snake skin on yours?...

its not a new problem, my 1993 Puck had the same brown sticky mark on the central strip , I used a magic eraser to remove it...

Could be Shagreen !

Sermo datur cunctis; animi sapientia paucis
Tempus fugit; carpe diem

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RE: Brown smeg on me waist trim - again!

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Thu Jul 13, 2017 5:10 pm
by Aaron Calder •

| 3.834 Posts

I think you spell that 'shagged'.

I'm genuinely surprised to see one that's worse than mine and interested that the problem is not confined to 'vans of a certain age'. Thanks for the feedback everyone.

If the problem is due to UV rays, do you think an application of Factor 50 sunscreen would prevent it?

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2003 Triton 420 and Audi A4 2.0Tfsi S-line SE Cabriolet

RE: Brown smeg on me waist trim - again!

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Thu Jul 13, 2017 5:59 pm
by Tomored •

| 2.131 Posts

SAM_1192.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

This is the same photo after cleaning with meths, thanks for that bit of info last time I used white spirit and it didn't work so well. Bye the way my van is a 2005 Triton

The only way to have a friend, Is to be one

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Last edited Thu Jul 13, 2017 6:01 pm | Scroll up

#10

RE: Brown smeg on me waist trim - again!

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Sat Jun 09, 2018 7:41 am
by marita (deleted)

We have the same stuff! It appeared on the inside of our Puck on the top shelf and sides of the door. We were in France last month (May), when we first saw it. We had warm and wet weather with the door left open most of the day, facing south. My DH says it smells of cat pee. Now home we�ve dismantled it expecting to find an infestation inside There were tiny black speck by the glue that holds the net over the ventilation holes but nothing else. We washed it but haven�t tried meths yet.

🚗🚐 Marita & Ken with Dora 2001 Puck 120 pushing Hyundai i10 sport