How to remove (replace) bonded fridge vent

[oscar_van]

Hi all. I'm trying to remove an external fridge vent from a professional T6 conversion; it was fitted about five years ago. I've removed the screws, which made no difference - it's not going anywhere. The bonding stuff they've used between the paintwork and the vent is absolutely rock solid, there's no give whatsoever. I have zero experience working on stuff like this, so I'm wondering about the best way to attack it now? I don't mind bashing the vent up (I have a new one to go in) but obviously don't want to damage the paintwork. It's impossible to apply any kind of product to the sealant/bonder itself because it's all behind the vent, so as far as I can tell the only options is careful brute force to try and lever the vent away from the bodywork. I attached a photo but there's not really much to see. Google and Youtube just want to tell me how to replace roof lights (already done that!) and remove bonded side windows. I'll confess this is all cosmetic so not critical, but there are two tired-looking faded black vents - the bottom needs replacing with a white one because it's in the middle of a white body panel, and the top one needs lifting so I can wrap underneath it. Any advice gratefully received!

 

[Paynewright]

I’d try fishing line / dental floss / polypropylene parcel string to cut through the sealant / adhesive. Its either silicon or PU adhesive is my guess.

Google car badge removal.

 

[Sackmycook]

Cheese wire

 

[Sasquatch]

Nail Polish remove will with time and persistence, soften cured PU adhesive.

A heat gun will soften PU but it goes without saying that brings its own risks.

 

[CAB]

Leave it in the full sun during the September 2023 heatwave.

Thats when I removed mine.

Presume yours is a Leisuredrive?

Seriously though, warm it up, it will be much easier.

 

[Paynewright]

Nail Polish remove will with time and persistence, soften cured PU adhesive.

A heat gun will soften PU but it goes without saying that brings its own risks.

I’d rather use (gentle) heat than nail varnish remover on car paint

 

[oldiebut goodie]

Acetone has no effect on car paint - it may have done years ago but not with modern paints. I always use acetone as a de-greaser and have never had any ill effects. Takes the oils out of your skin if you forget your gloves though.

 

[Sasquatch]

Aye, it won't affect modern paint finishes,

 

[Mocko1962]

I took my bonded PV Panel off the roof with multi tool and thin cutting blade .. no damage to the paint .. leaves residue of cut bonding on the metal / roof material but it can be removed with the rubber wheel friction type as used for car badge removals.

 

[oscar_van]

Thanks all - sounds like heat and something mechanical is the way forwards. I've ordered a 'badge removal wire' from a detailing place, so we'll see if that's thin enough to do the trick.

Presume yours is a Leisuredrive?

It is. I'm impressed you sussed that just based on the vent!

 

[CAB]

Thanks all - sounds like heat and something mechanical is the way forwards. I've ordered a 'badge removal wire' from a detailing place, so we'll see if that's thin enough to do the trick.


It is. I'm impressed you sussed that just based on the vent!

Very few VW converters use 3-way fridges, and most that do use a decent vent!

 

[oscar_van]

Very few VW converters use 3-way fridges, and most that do use a decent vent!

Ah, I see. I do miss the all-electric fridge from our Cali, but by all accounts the one Leisuredrive fit is too much of a battery hog to run off the leisure battery for any length of time. If I'm stuck with it then at least I can get the vents looking tidy again!

 

[BiTurbo]

That’s rather a large vent for a fridge mines about 100mm x 60mm

 

[CAB]

That’s rather a large vent for a fridge mines about 100mm x 60mm

It's a 3-way fridge, so gas, 240v or 12v, runs much hotter than a compressor.

And there's two of them!

 

[BiTurbo]

It's a 3-way fridge, so gas, 240v or 12v, runs much hotter than a compressor.

And there's two of them!

Have a three way fridge too, minus the large vent.