Auto Convertible Top Repair
Do you have a convertible top that you need repaired? How badly damaged is it? Is it really repairable or does it need to be replaced?
If your top only has one rip then you can repair it by only replacing a section of the top. However, if it has multiple rips or wholes all over it is better to replace it completely. Unfortunately, there is no glue or sawing machine that can repair this rips and wholes. Well, you could technically glue it together or saw it but that kind of solution is not gonna last you a long time and it doesn't look very nice.
If you plan on doing the repairs yourself or want to know if you can repair it, I can tell you that if you don't have any professional sawing experience it is better to have it repair by a professional. If you don't have an expensive or classic car where finding a used replacement is easy and cheaper than paying a shop to repair your top then that is the best way to solve your problem.
To find a used top in your area you need to visit your local auto wrecking yards. If you have no idea where they are located or want to save yourself the hassle to call every wrecking yard to see if they have your top then you can search for it only. Car-part.com is a great site where many auto wrecking yards list all they used parts they have for sale, so open another window of your browser and look for the top there. Once, you found the place that has what your looking for and give them all to confirm that they still have it. A good thing to do is to try and get a better price than what they have listed on the website. Many will not lower the price but others will. I sometimes prefer to do the negotiation of the price in person put that is up to you.
Once you get to the wrecking yard you need to inspect the top carefully. If is covered in dirt make sure you tell one of the guys from the yard to clean it so you can have a good look at it. You are going to look for wholes, rips and wear the top might have. Because you are getting a part form a car that has been in an accident, make sure the top was not hit at all. A bent roof is something you don't want.
If you need assistance on uninstalling your top and installing the good one, ask the mechanic at the wrecking yard how to install it. He might be able to give you a few helpful tips. Another great thing you might want to do is get the repair manual of your vehicle and there you will able to find step by step instructions on how to install the top. Convertible top repair is not a easy task to do if you are not a handy person. If you have previous car experience this task might not be as difficult as you might think.
If your top only has one rip then you can repair it by only replacing a section of the top. However, if it has multiple rips or wholes all over it is better to replace it completely. Unfortunately, there is no glue or sawing machine that can repair this rips and wholes. Well, you could technically glue it together or saw it but that kind of solution is not gonna last you a long time and it doesn't look very nice.
If you plan on doing the repairs yourself or want to know if you can repair it, I can tell you that if you don't have any professional sawing experience it is better to have it repair by a professional. If you don't have an expensive or classic car where finding a used replacement is easy and cheaper than paying a shop to repair your top then that is the best way to solve your problem.
To find a used top in your area you need to visit your local auto wrecking yards. If you have no idea where they are located or want to save yourself the hassle to call every wrecking yard to see if they have your top then you can search for it only. Car-part.com is a great site where many auto wrecking yards list all they used parts they have for sale, so open another window of your browser and look for the top there. Once, you found the place that has what your looking for and give them all to confirm that they still have it. A good thing to do is to try and get a better price than what they have listed on the website. Many will not lower the price but others will. I sometimes prefer to do the negotiation of the price in person put that is up to you.
Once you get to the wrecking yard you need to inspect the top carefully. If is covered in dirt make sure you tell one of the guys from the yard to clean it so you can have a good look at it. You are going to look for wholes, rips and wear the top might have. Because you are getting a part form a car that has been in an accident, make sure the top was not hit at all. A bent roof is something you don't want.
If you need assistance on uninstalling your top and installing the good one, ask the mechanic at the wrecking yard how to install it. He might be able to give you a few helpful tips. Another great thing you might want to do is get the repair manual of your vehicle and there you will able to find step by step instructions on how to install the top. Convertible top repair is not a easy task to do if you are not a handy person. If you have previous car experience this task might not be as difficult as you might think.
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