A heads up to all wearing a magnetic "ribbon"

[Wayne M.]

I want to alert everyone to what I have seen happen to the paint of vehicles that have those popular magnetic "ribbons" that say "support the troops" etc. The magnetic ribbons appear to be damaging paint jobs!

The first time I saw this was on a green Blazer in traffic a month ago and I saw an outline of where a ribbon was and thought it was just removed from a dirty car. The second time it was my own Chilipepper red Durango where one was lost and the area where the ribbon was is now a lighter outline. Now this week, my Mom-in-law's patriot blue Town&Country van had 2 of them taken while at the mall, and where ever the ribbon contacted the paint, in a near perfect stencil, there is nothing but white. .

The only explanation I have so far from anyone is that the magnet seems to trap moisture under the paint resulting in white and might go away. To me it seems as though the magnet is pulling the pigment right out through the clear and leaving primer, since that color left behind is what my old '92 looked like after the paint flaked off that In any event, please go out and check your paint if you have these ribbons on your vehicles.

It is a shame because the intention was good!

 

[Got Smoke?]

That's why I've been rotating mine around on my tailgate and washing it peridoically.

 

[ladyjaine]

Trapping dirt

I had a magnetic ribbon on Baby Jaine for a while. I took it off for a wash and realized there was a LOT of dirt trapped under that ribbon! Not quite mudpie, but one heck of a lot more than I'd expected. I took my ribbon off, and haven't replaced it. I wish there were window stickers instead. However, I'll put a real yellow ribbon on my antenna, instead. Neighbors welcomed a realtive home and the entire street is done up in ribbons for now. I can't add a ribobn to my truck without someone wondering where I got it.



I support the troops! I just like my paint without damage.



Jean



Is there any hope for a flag waving smilie?

 

[Paychk]

Do you mean like this?

 

[homeka45]

Got one on my truck, never thought to check, thanks for the heads up.

 

[rmrc]

Thanks. I'll start moving mine around.

 

[Wayne M.]

I also have this topic posted over at Moparts.com (where it turned into a real political debacle and had to be locked!) I got one piece of advice though, and that was to wax the backside heavily before putting it on. I don't really understand the logic, but it sounds good. Personally, I'm going back to stickers on the rear window.

 

[FATCAT]

Paint problems! ... Hell, I just hope those ribbon magnets hold the rust together so the tail gate doesn't fall apart.

 

[duaneparks]

I'm glad you posted this. I had this problem a few weeks back with my magnetic ribbon. The instructions that came with it mentioned cleaning it every other week (as well as the area where it resides on the vehicle). I neglected to do so, and now I have a ribbon shaped set of scratches.



I am an avid supporter of our troops, and I don't think many of them would be offended if I opted to save my paint job. Yellow ribbon is tied on the antenna now, hoping that every single soldier serving our country gets back home safely!



Duane