I'm not very knowledgeable in the area, so if this is really a stupid question,
please give me some slack.

Why not peel the old one off and replace with a new one?

John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Adrian,
I think that you could remove the old sripes and replace them. - or not.
Your car is only 2-3 years old so I think there is a possibility.
You never said how big the stripes are on the car.

Here's what I would suggest.
First, check locally for someone who does vinyl stripes. If you cannot find
them in the yellow pages, check some body shops and see who they use. If you
find someone then ask them if they could take the stripes off for you.

If by some chance you were feeling brave I think that you could remove them
yourself.
A heat gun should soften them enough, (using care not to blister your paint
the heat gun by using the low setting and just warming the stripe well but
not melting it) would refresh the adhesive enough to make the stripe
removable. If the heat gun scares you, then a blow dryer on high would
definitely be safer. You can get a bit loose with a fingernail, then heat
just as you pull. It will be a pain in the a.s, but it should come off. If
the stripe goes onto urethane bumpers and such, it may be a problem.

Once you got the vinyl off you could use good old fashioned lighter fluid on
a coarse terry cloth towell to remove the adhesive. Of course DO NOT USE
BOTH AT ONCE or it would catch fire and burn you and your car to the ground.
The lighter fluid will not hurt your paint at all and is less expensive than
goo-gone and that sort of thing. Sometimes if you can just get a little
piece started, you can jst drip lighter fluid onto the underside of the
peeled edge so that it contacts the adhesive and it will pull up. Slowly,
and you have to find that balance of drip it on, let it soak a few seconds
and then pull and repeat. It's a slow process but it works. Practice on
labels you have on items in your home, the label on your cigarett lighter,
the price tag on the bottom of that vase.. anything with a hard surface.
Wal Mart has lighter fluid pretty cheap in larger containers.

Then follow up with a good wash, polish and wax.

If it were my car, I would take a shot. But then, it wouldn't be MY first
rodeo.

Would love to see a photo or two of the stripes you are addressing.

Kate

Just an aside.... but have you checked to see if there is any kind of
Ford alert to dealers regarding the stripes? Often, the company sends
out a notice to dealers that it has discovered a problem with "X"
(like the buckle on my GM seatbelts was one due to the plastic
cracking). The dealer does nothing unless a customer comes in and
complains enough. My seatbelt buckles were replaced by the dealer at
GMs expense. If there had been no cracking, there was no requirement
for the dealer to take any action at all. Someone here may have a link
to Ford's alert notices so you can research the problem and see if it
is covered. By the way, the seatbelts were covered LONG after the
warrantee on the car had expired.

Hey! Spikey Likes IT!
1965 Ford Mustang fastback 2+2 A Code 289 C4 Trac-Lok
Vintage Burgundy w/Black Standard Interior
Vintage 40 Wheels 16X8"
w/BF Goodrich Comp T/A Radial 225/50ZR16

Unless they make 'em outta totally different stuff today, I'd pick a
small area that's less noticeable and try one of the means already
recommended like ultra fine rubbing compound (even toothpaste) to
remove the oxidation and then some vinyl polish to put a protective
coat on. If it works in the small area... go for the gusto.

Hey! Spikey Likes IT!
1965 Ford Mustang fastback 2+2 A Code 289 C4 Trac-Lok
Vintage Burgundy w/Black Standard Interior
Vintage 40 Wheels 16X8"
w/BF Goodrich Comp T/A Radial 225/50ZR16

3M makes a couple of products to remove stripes and decals.  One is
like a giant gum eraser disc, the other is a wheel made of strips of
something.  Each are designed to attach to a drill and they literally
erase the stripe material without damaging the paint.  I used the
latter of the 2 to remove the stripes off of my Ranger and it worked
like a charm.  I went back over each area (both sides of the truck,
nose to tail) with Meguiar's 3-step system and the result was perfect.
Check your local parts house that deals with paint/body items and I'll
bet you'll find it.

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Okie Tom - TS #62

1998 GT Coupe 5-spd.
2001 Ranger XLT  
www.bluestanggt.corral.net