How to Fix Car Roof
Correcting a car's roof requires that the main component--the headliner--be replaced if the outer roof is deformed and the interior roof is sagging. The headliner is actually the metal shield covering the car's top. It includes the interior trim and roof liner. After you strip the headliner, you will need to invest in a concrete adhesive to secure your new roof. Confer with a professional auto reupholster shop if you run into snags replacing the car roof.
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Things You'll Need
- Replacement headliner
- Philips screwdriver
- Adjustable wrench
- Needle nose pliers
- Paint brush
- Concrete adhesive
- Hair dryer
- Scissors
Instructions
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Removal
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1
Open all car doors so that the car's interior will be well ventilated when working with chemicals and to allow more room for you to work.
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2
First remove the headliner's trim. Use a Philips screwdriver to remove the screws that secure the liner's clip. Use an adjustable wrench to dislocate any bolts that secure the liner's harness strap.
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3
Once the headliner's trim is removed, strip away the pinch-welding trim alongside the roof rail, by hand. From the lower back corner of the rear window, locate the metal trim piece and remove the screws attached with a Philips. Detach dome light lens, bulb, and bezel by unscrewing them with a Philips. Dewire bulb with needle-nose pliers. Unsnap the bulb's wire ends from its plastic holster. Take note as to how the wiring is set up to know how to rewire after headliner installation.
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4
Finally, remove the actual headliner panel starting from the front corners. Pull the edges down, carefully from the metal rail, working toward the back. With the headliner gone, remove any metal bows that you see. Take note as to how they were positioned.
Installation
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5
Allow the replacement headliner to sit in the sun for a few hours so that its material is pliable. Insert the originals bows onto the new headliner as they were positioned on the old headliner. Slide the rods that came with the new headliner in slowly so as to not damage the material. Make sure that the rods are positioned correctly inside the pockets.
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6
With a paint brush, apply contact cement adhesive alongside the outside edges of the car roof. Allow it to set for 10 minutes so that it becomes tacky. From the rear, install the bow back into the marked hole where it was originally removed from. Snap the center bow into its plastic clips.
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7
Set the headliner with attached trim to the perimeter of the car. Apply a light coat of contact cement on the outside of the perimeter so that the headliner secures in tightly.
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8
Reattach bezel, bulbs and light lens. Smooth out any interior roof liner wrinkles by apply heat on it with a hair dryer set on the highest setting.
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References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
