Cleaning Vinyl on Soft Top?

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 4:09 pm

Does anyone have any product recommendations on cleaning the vinyl panels on soft tops? Mine is getting opaque rather than clear and I'm afraid with our climate up here the soft top's up to stay during the winter.

Jason

Tycorcr1 · Post by **Tycorcr1** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 12:03 am

Cheap easy product to find is good ole Coca cola. I've used it to clean chrome, and clear plastic on my cell phone holder, (remove cell phone first

). Take your top off, lay it out so you can let the coke pool on the window area for about 10-15 min, light rubbing with a terry towwel will help. The phosfouric acid in coke is the stuff that cleans, it'll remove surface rust too. when your done hose it off, it's not a perminate fix, but it should help. What is causing the opaquing is the UV from the sun and smog. Once you have it clean try some spray on uv pertectant or you could try rain-x, i think it has uv stuff in it.

Hope it helps
Keith Tycorcr1

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 12:31 am

Your having me on right? OK I'll give it a try.

Thanks

Jason

Minh · Post by **Minh** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 1:20 am

I asked the same question a while back...
http://www.311s.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=247

I found this stuff, but I never used it at all.
http://www.eastwoodco.com/itemdy00.asp? ... &Dep_Key1=
http://www.eastwoodco.com/itemdy00.asp? ... &Dep_Key1=

I got a hard top right now for the time being. But will venture whenever I get another softtop.

Hope this helps...

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 1:43 am

Hi Minh

Thanks for the idea, I up for trying the coke idea though. I'll I've got to do is to wait for a day where a) it's not raining and b) I haven't drank all the coke and c) did I mention it's started to rain a lot up here? Then I can take the top off and try it on the vinyl. Couln't hurt, just a little elbow grease! I'm managing to drive my car once every 10 days or so right between the rainstorms and drying out! Sheesh, we get drought for 1 1/2 years, I get my car and it's starts to rain like the ark was built!

Later

Jason

DatsunBucky · Post by **DatsunBucky** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 11:51 am

Tycorcr1 wrote:Take your top off
Keith Tycorcr1

I was going to say something about this, but that would be TOO easy.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 11:55 am

Well seeing as it isn't the full monty it's OK!

Jason

Post by **spl310** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 10:56 am

for the windows, any type of soft metal polish works. I used Wenol with good results (red tube). In the past, I have used Meguire's Mag Wheel polish....

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:03 am

Hi Sid:

Thanks for the suggestion, I'm going to try all 3 I think and see which one works best since there's 3 panels to clean.

Jason

Post by **spl310** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 12:42 pm

Jason,

Sounds like a good plan. I recently acquired a new convertible top that had been stored in the trunk of a Roadster that had been left outdoors for MANY years. The top material was in fine shape, but the windows were HORRID. It was suggested that I throw it away. Being the frugal guy that I am, I tried the Wenol. They now look almost new again. Once it is installed and I can work on it without it slipping all over my lap, I can finish the job. It works great!

Sid

Minh · Post by **Minh** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 2:49 pm

You can actually use the polish on your plastics light and dash gauges too for a nice lasting shine.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 8:54 pm

Well, we are set to drop to freezing level temps this weekend so I guess I'll be chaning antifreeze first. I'll try it on the other bits too, car is kinda dirty now!

Jason

Post by **spl310** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 8:25 am

Minh is right on about polishing the other plastic parts. Old scratched lenses that look ready for the trash will take on a very nice soft luster. In my not too humble opinion, I prefer the look of older polished up lenses to the new fresh out of the package ones. They have a warm look that the new ones don't. (yikes! I am starting to sound like Martha Stewart there!!)

More Roadster esoterica - did you know that you can tell if your taillight lenses are in the correct positions? They are marked on the top center with their use. I forget the codes now, but it is pretty intuitive - something like SP or BP for Stop/Parking or Brake/Parking. Someone with some lenses check me out on that - of course it is only for the 67.5 and newer cars - earlier cars did not have it, nor did they have the SAE info molded into them.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 12:21 am

OK, now your starting to sound a little off, Martha Stewart warm sof and fuzzy? I guess polishing is something her butler must do too! I'd settle for warm weather with no rain again just so's I could wash the car.

Later

Jason

Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Cleaning Vinyl on Soft Top?

Cleaning Vinyl on Soft Top?

COKE!

Vinyl

Topless?

Metal Polish

Polish

Martha Stewart?