The Plastic Window Thread

After spending countless hours and dollars on upkeeping and restoring my rear plastic window I decided to make a thread that has some useful links to products and How To's:

Useful Cleaning Products. Use to remove haze and light scratches:
Plexus -This seems to be the product of choice for cleaning. I have yet to buy a can but I have been using this without knowing for awhile now. I found that my goggle cleaner for my paintball lense worked great on my window and little did I know I was using Plexus in a JT can.. This seems to be the easiest one to use.

Meguiars PlastX -I think this is replacing the old Meguiars Cleaner and Polish. The older products are a pain to buff off. If this is anything like the old I suggest using at least 2 cloths to buff it off because this stuff does not like to come off.

Older Meguiar's cleaner and polish:
Cleaner and Polish

Meguiars Detail Spray -I have purchased one bottle of this and will most likely never purchase it again. I don't think it is powerful enough and streaks like crazy.

Wrinkle Prevention and Removal:
Greg's Straps -I have used these and they work very well. Make sure you follow the directions and "train" them at first though.

Window Tube -I think this is the best bet to ensure that you will not create new wrinkles but it is not as practical as Greg's straps.

Wrinkle Removal as Posted by Vizal:
1: Boil water to steaming hot -- about a gallon worth.
2: Pour over the rear plastic window from the top up- allowing the water to flow down. (You'll notice that the plastic will start to "curl" .. after 10 minutes or so, it will completely remove the creases.
Make sure to not get any of the water on your paint. I suggest putting a blanket and towels on any body pannels that may get "splashed"

Other Useful Links:
Honda Service Bulletin
XViper's Static Cling rear window tint - "How To" protect your plastic window.

I hope this help! Please feel free to add anything you have you tried and the results.

I have used the Meguiars #10 & #17 you have listed every few months with good results and a fair bit of elbow grease.

I use Plexus to maintain in between.

MuzMat has protected the inside of my window very well.



This post has been edited by Muz on Sep 13 2004, 07:22 PM

I use a product called Novus.. pretty simply to plexus

good post folex 187!
in addition to the muz mat, i throw a detailers towel in the window (outside) to protect that side instead of the tube (just personal pref)

do you have to put that window tube on every time the top goes down? or does it just stay on?

each time, just like a towel...

I found that after using the tube for a month or so it 'trained' my window to fold correctly and I then ceased using it until someone at my dealer somehow caused it to crease again.

My window was pefectly trained too but now it is being difficult again.

I find that giving it a maintenance polish helps keep the window supple enough to fold correctly by itself.

Same here.

So basically while your lowering your top you stop it half way and throw a towel in the back to prevent scratching?Man that totally defeats the purpose of not having to get out of your car.....Instead of a mat I stretched a towel in that space inside the car where the window folds down at. So now I have to carry another towel and throw it in the window? It would look kind of funny lol. I do notice some " smere" marks in the outside which wipe of very easily though when I left the top back up. The smere marks on the inside are gone since I use the towel in the little cabin.

I've used Plexus, Meguiar's 10, 17, and clear plastic cleaners and they don't seem to make a huge difference; I still have a lot of scratches and grime on my window so I basically just stopped caring.

I'm gonna buy a MY02-04 soft top and just be finished with the shitty MY00-MY01 soft tops

I have also tried all of the above with little change. The prior owner did not take care of the plastic and I am afraid it is permantely ruined.

I can see through it in the daytime, however, there is like a burn't in sap or maybe it is just plastic gone bad, but I can't seem to get it off. Night time vision is extremely poor.

If there is another miracle solution out there, please post it. I don't have the money to put on a new roof.

Tried: Plexus, Meguiar's #10 & #17, and Robbins clear plastic cleaner.

I got the same problem. I have this cloudy stain on my plastic rear window and have tried all the products you mentioned and can't get it off. I clean my plastic rear window reguarly (its in very good condition, esp. for MY00) and it appeared out of the blue. If anyone knows how I may get rid of this, please let me know. Thanks.

I want to get rid of my wrinkles, but I don't know how comfortable I am dumping boiling water on my window....

Hmm, sounds exactly like my window used to be. Was kinda like a swirl/leopard print of opaque-ness?

I tried the Mequiars #17 and #10, but could not tell any difference.

I got this tip from a Miata board:

Use a chrome/metal polish. I picked up Eagle One "Never Dull" from Wal Mart for around five dollars.

http://www.eagleone.com/_products/0,1035605.asp

It's like a big ball of thick cotton soaked in the polish. Just tear off a small piece, and get to work. I applied like I would a wax. The window will look kinda hazy, although the product will not haze/harden. I then poored some water over the window, and wiped down with a towel.

The stain/cloudyness was gone in one application, and two weeks later hasn't come back.

My visibility has improved 200%, easy. That's not to say that it is crystal clear. The plastic is still not as clear as glass, but the stain is completely gone.





Hope this helps

^^That's all well and dandy if the stains are on the exterior...you are screwed if it's the interior.

Why couldn't you just clean the inside of the window following the same steps, Negative Nelly?


I would assume that my stain was due to heat/sun/rain, as I live in Texas.

And if you live up North, and you coat the interior of your window every day with some kind of cloudy, non-removeable paint, and then let it sit outside, and then scratch it up with a knife, then no, I doubt it would work for you.

use 303 then plexus to wipe off once every 2-3 months.

Calling on wanabe to address issues such as stains on the plastic windows...

I want to try the boiling water thing, but like a previous post, I am nervous that it might damage the rest of the top. Personally I have used a product called Blue Magic Clear Plastic cleaner. I got it from Kmart and have used it since I got my car. The only caution I have is that you dont get it on the black part of your top--it will stain. I have had good luck with it, but I am planning on getting plexus since the blue magic seems to stain. I too have used metal polish on the rear window--it doesnt get rid of scratches, but it will protect it. I used the Blue Magic Metal Polish. The label says it is safe on plastic.

Another method I have used to reduce the wrinkles is a steamer for clothing. You have to be VERY careful with this but if used correctly it will do a good job.

Hell, after almost 5 years of fighting with it I have pretty much decided that the window is there just to keep the rain out!!!!!! Besides, I hardly ever drive with the top up anyways!!!!!!!!!!

FWIW, I recently helped a guy with the plastic back window of his Z3. It was an older car and pretty-much scratched a hazy. I used my PC, an orange pad and einszett Paint Polish. There was still a little bit of scratching laft at the crease, but other than that, it looked like new.

Just another option for those of you at your wits end.