Front plastic clip for headliner
 

The front plastic clip that runs the length of my headliner has given up the ghost. Replacement headliners I've seen say that part has to be removed and re used. Anybody know of a fix?

Does the clip you are talking about run the length of the headliner in the front where the top meets the windshield? If so mine is giving up the ghost too, about an inch or so on the right side is folded Down...

The plastic piece that is sewn to the headliner and clips to the front rib of the top is just a piece of crap. It is some kind of plastic that starts disintegrating after less than 10 years on the car while never being exposed to sunlight. Mine broke into small fragments when I tried to fiddle with it. I took it out completely and trying to figure out what to replace it with. For the time being the headliner is kept in place by some small clips.
Unfortunately this plastic piece cannot be replaced, you have to buy a complete new headliner.

Yes this is the plastic clip that runs the length of the front frame. I also had plastic pieces falling down on me. Porsche might have put a few pennies into using durable plastics in these cars. GRRR!:troll:. Looks like I'll have to come up with a fix. I'm not thrilled with a $600+ option for a new headliner!

I had to replace the plastic clip when I changed for a newer top.

I bought a headliner off ebay (about 90$ CAD). As the clip was fine and the headliner from the new top was in better condition than the one I bought, I just transfered it from ont headliner to the other.

The clip is lightly glued and sewn to the headliner. As long as you're careful, it's a pretty easy fix

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I have this problem on my 01. Tried double stick tape and it didn't last. I have been thinking of just pulling the whole liner out. Does anyone know if I pull the liner out, is it just like the earlier tops without the liner?

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The 'small clips' that I'm using are the ones that are being used to clip name tags to lapels for conferences etc. It looks really awful but does the trick.
The problem with the liner is that there is quit a bit of tension on it. This is why something like double sided tape doesn't work. The original plastic piece of crap is stitched into the liner. No solution, other than full replacement of the liner. Anyway handy with a 3d printer?

Don't quote me on this but I believe you can remove the headliner from the back and front pretty easy. I think it's sewn around the second bow though. I think you'll have to take a razor very carefully to that part and cut it out.

Mine gave up the ghost so I simply tucked the fabric between the roof and metal frame. Looks ok and has held up.

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Mine has split on the driver’s side, and has recently started falling off on top of my head.

Here’s what I’m going to try.

There’s a 3M adhesive I got a while back for sticking the plastic behind the door panels on my old Lotus to the interior skin of the doors. I can’t recall off the top of my head what the stuff is actually called, but it is strips of black adhesive goo about a foot long and maybe 1/4 inch thick, and it’s pretty strong. That Lotus had carpet on the lower inside of the doors, and this stuff also worked well for that. It has a strong hold, can be squished to the form, and is removable, if with some effort. I’m going to try putting a bead of it along where the headliner clips to the top, then push the plastic headliner clip onto it and see how well that holds. I’ll try to remember to come back and report.

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Seems to be fixed
 

The stupid thing fell down on me on a drive home from Nashville a couple of weeks ago, and I couldn't get it to stay up again. I got off the interstate at the first exit where there was civilization and went to Walmart. I bought a small tube of clear trim adhesive for a couple of bucks and put a bead of it across the entire length of the metal piece the headliner's plastic clip clips onto. I put the clip in place and held it there for a couple of minutes, then I hit the road. I didn't put the top down until about an hour later.

That was almost three weeks ago now (19 days), and so far it's holding perfectly.:dance:

I'd like to hear a 1 year follow up on this from Tweet, or anything new from anyone else. My headliner decided to fall down on my head while I was driving up to a HPDE event a few days ago. Right now, I just have it taped up with heavy duty tape as a very temporary fix. The plastic is broken in numerous places.

Besides possibly gluing it back into place, doesn't seem that there's any decent fix. Can someone explain to me how it's supposed to attach. I can't quite figure it out from looking at it. It seems that the plastic clips onto the metal rib that runs along the top of the windshield, but I can't tell for sure.

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Yep, that's what I'm asking. So, if the plastic is broken in numerous places, there's no way of fixing it short of replacing the entire headliner? I might try gluing it, probably worth a shot. Hopefully, Tweet responds so I can see how it worked out for him.

If you don't figure out a way to fix it, just remove it. The top will look a lot better without it than with it hanging or poorly attached.
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I think that's going to be the plan. I'm going to try gluing it first. And if that fails, I may just remove/cut away the first section of the liner. Behind that, it's in place and fine.

Is this part something that could be 3D printed? Could a good unbroken piece be scanned into a file and then used to 3D print new ones? Is the scanning and creation of the file something that costs a fortune to have done?

Follow up on this . . .

I just put a long bead of Super Glue on the leading edge of the headliner fabric and pressed it against the roof approx where it would be touching if the plastic clip was intact. It's been a few days now, and so far so good.

It's been about two weeks now, and it's holding up great, and looks as good as new.

Anyone having a problem with the headliner falling down on their head, instead of cutting it out, or spending $700 for a new one, do what I did -- super glue along the leading edge of the cloth, hold it in position against the roof for about a minute, and let the glue do it's job.

Velcro strips boys - $4.95 worked on mine.

yes...my front clip messed up on 2 of my cars and I cut out the headliner, to hell with it. My upholstery shop (the convertible top experts in the area) said this is common, it is expensive to fix and recommended I remove the headliner or buy a new top and headliner. I was tempted, some of the new tops are really nice, but if the top isn't down, I'm probably not driving it.

Great idea! How did you attach to each side: glue, tape or stitched on?

possible headliner trim solution?
 

Does anyone have a piece of the trim that has been pulled from their car? I found "trimlock", company that makes this type of product.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1662175148.jpg

One of these may work.. finding a retail distributor so we don't have to spend $250 dollars for a 250 foot box would have to happen!

Headliner Trim
 

I'm having Trimloc send me some samples, to see if it will work
Cross Fingers!!

Let us know if it works. I'm need of a fix

Let us know if it works. I'm in need of a fix

Updates
 

I'm having more samples sent.
i tried some door edging, but with the hot glue..... no bueno!!

Here's some pics of a POC usign one of the trim pieces i can get in length of 54" which would be great.

This trim piece to replace the cracked/broken one. As for how to attach the fabric... I don't want to get into messy glue or lengthy-finger killing sewing (and possible tearing!).

My POC I am using simple snap attachments on the fabric, you can then hole punch the plastic on the trim piece.

I am also thinking possibly some 1/4" or 1/2" velcro on the fabric, but again, glue...

Thoughts??

(see attached pics and POC)http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1668024472.jpg
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Hi. 2002 Base Boxster with a new top (glass window) but now the headliner is sagging due to the proverbial broken plastic strip/clip. Been reading the threads, but haven’t come across a good fix. Has anyone tried taking the strip/clip off an old top and sewing that into the existing headliner? Not sure if that’s possible. And would have to figure out how to sew it in without removing the headliner.

Has anyone come up with a solution to this without spending 800 bones with the dealership for a new headliner? And I would prefer to keep a headliner vs. just removing it and going without.

I did the superglue method. Opened the top slightly to take tension off, slow and methodical to prevent drips/mess. Worked great and has lasted at least a year.

Thanks Bill. I might give that a go if I can't sort out a solution involving replacing the junk plastic clip on the front.

If you are able to replace the plastic clip, please let us know how. Mine is giving way right now.