03-04-2014, 03:47 AM
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#1
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I am my own mechanic....
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 3,433
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Soft top care?
Is there a proper way to care for the fabric on the soft top? Any conditioner or way to brush it? Light pressure wash to lift dirt out?
Oh, and what oil weight should I use and where do I put the jack? :dance:
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'04 Boxster S 50 Jahre 550 Spyder Anniversary Special Edition, 851 of 1953, 6-sp, IMS/RMS, GT Metallic silver, cocoa brown leather SOLD to member Broken Linkage.
'08 VW Touareg T-3 wife's car
'13 F150 Super Crew long bed 4x4 w/ Ego Boost
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03-04-2014, 05:30 AM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Winnipeg MB
Posts: 2,486
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I use Raggtop, as do a lot of other folks here. General consensus seems to be that it is the best product to use.
www.wolfsteins.com
As to the oil, don't worry about weight, not important. If you get to know the folks at your local garage you can get them to save the stuff they drain out of other cars for you. Just pour it through some cheesecloth to filter out the chunks before you put it in your engine.
You really want me to tell you where you can put your jack?
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'99 black 986
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03-04-2014, 05:30 AM
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#3
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Multi-Boxer Driver
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Orange Park, FL
Posts: 1,406
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I've had good experiences using Raggtop cleaner and protectant. I've also heard good things about 303 as well. I need to clean my roof again and reprotect it (not an issue since it's in the garage). Bought a few cans of the Porsche-labeled protectant to use.
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-Chris
2004 Porsche Boxster 2.7
1991 Porsche 911 C2 Targa 3.6
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R
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03-04-2014, 09:17 AM
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#4
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There Is No Substitute.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: West Coast
Posts: 3,253
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I clean with 303, then use Renovo waterproofer. I like the Renovo better than raggtop because it brushes on, so you don't have to worry about over spray onto the paint and it goes on thicker.
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1999 Ocean Blue Metallic Boxster - blueboxster.com
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03-04-2014, 09:50 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Montreal, QC. (currently expat to Shanghai)
Posts: 3,249
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Tim, plain water only, and a brush with medium/soft hair. Rinse, let dry and apply a silicon base waterproof spray (the one tested for car soft tops with UV protective this & that). Although kept indoor, I still carry out this maintenance quarterly.
I never wash the soft top when I wash the car. I just rinse it and gently rub with one hand.
No soap, no high tech anything. Looking as new after 15 years
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'97 Boxster base model 2.5L, Guards Red/Tan leather, with a new but old Alpine am/fm radio.
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03-04-2014, 10:09 AM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: S. New Jersey
Posts: 1,239
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I used RaggTop my first year. I think the water repellent just didn't hold up very long. I had to reapply a few month later. The kit gives you plenty of cleaner but only a couple applications of repellent
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2002 S - old school third pedal
Seal Grey
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03-04-2014, 12:18 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 266
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Does anyone know if it'd be a good (or bad) idea to use a vacuum spot cleaner to clean the fabric top?
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03-04-2014, 02:35 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
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Just water and a soft brush to clean it. Then I use Aerospace 303 (available at marine stores). Apply it with a throw away brush, don't spray it as the overspray makes a mess. Really goober it on, more is more, about half the bottle. At first it will leave a foamy film but it goes away quickly.
I do my top maybe twice a year, it rains a lot here, and the top always beads water like the paintwork.
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Current car
2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black
Previous cars
1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
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03-04-2014, 02:51 PM
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#9
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Usercpy
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 205
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nine8Six
Tim, plain water only, and a brush with medium/soft hair. Rinse, let dry and apply a silicon base waterproof spray (the one tested for car soft tops with UV protective this & that). Although kept indoor, I still carry out this maintenance quarterly.
I never wash the soft top when I wash the car. I just rinse it and gently rub with one hand.
No soap, no high tech anything. Looking as new after 15 years
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Are you sure to use with silicone based spray product for ragtop, i've heard its not "breathable" for clothing ??
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickr_ching/
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03-04-2014, 02:54 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 8,709
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hancock1701
Does anyone know if it'd be a good (or bad) idea to use a vacuum spot cleaner to clean the fabric top?
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If the Raggtopp cleanser doesn't get it out I'd be surprised. Use an OXO feathertip brush from one of the detaling websites like autogeek.net
Keep an asborber type sponge to dry the top (don't use that on paint).
Then follow up with the Raggtopp protectant in a non-windy space.
The problem with household cleaners are the detergents. They attract dust. Dust leads to thinning of the thread, which then leads to the stretch marks when you operate the top. So if you run the car through a car wash, you have to make sure the top is extremely well rinsed with a fair amount of pressure, twice.
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GT3 Recaro Seats - Boxster Red
GT3 Aero / Carrera 18" 5 spoke / Potenza RE-11
Fabspeed Headers & Noise Maker
BORN: March 2000 - FINLAND
IMS#1 REPLACED: April 2010 - NEW JERSEY -- LNE DUAL ROW
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03-04-2014, 03:59 PM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Guelph, ON
Posts: 981
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I agree with the 303 all the way.... I use the 303 fabric cleaner first, spray it down and give it a good scrub with a soft brush, then rinse it, let it dry and then apply the 303 Fabric Guard and let it dry in the shade or in the garage (not in the sun).
Afterwards I clean the plastic window with Meguiar's Clear plastic Cleaner #17 and then finish it up with Meguiar's Clear plastic polish #10... leaves it soft, no haze and crystal clear.
H
Quote:
Originally Posted by san rensho
Just water and a soft brush to clean it. Then I use Aerospace 303 (available at marine stores). Apply it with a throw away brush, don't spray it as the overspray makes a mess. Really goober it on, more is more, about half the bottle. At first it will leave a foamy film but it goes away quickly.
I do my top maybe twice a year, it rains a lot here, and the top always beads water like the paintwork.
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_________________________________________
Previously owned:
2000 Boxster S 3.2 Ocean Blue / 1974 911 Targa Silver
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03-05-2014, 05:49 PM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 266
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Heiko
I agree with the 303 all the way.... I use the 303 fabric cleaner first, spray it down and give it a good scrub with a soft brush, then rinse it, let it dry and then apply the 303 Fabric Guard and let it dry in the shade or in the garage (not in the sun).
Afterwards I clean the plastic window with Meguiar's Clear plastic Cleaner #17 and then finish it up with Meguiar's Clear plastic polish #10... leaves it soft, no haze and crystal clear.
H
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Does the 303 cleaner take out the 303 Fabric Guard? And for the plastic window, do you polish by hand or with a polisher?
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03-05-2014, 07:04 PM
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#13
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There Is No Substitute.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: West Coast
Posts: 3,253
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Do not attempt to use any other than a towel on the plastic window. They aren't very robust, especially with age. Plexus is the best thing to use on the plastic window.
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1999 Ocean Blue Metallic Boxster - blueboxster.com
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