My dad has a 2000 S2000 with only 60K miles on it:


Problem is there is a nice small slit in the soft top that just appeared:

Exterior Close Up:

Interior Close Up:


Has anyone ever successfully repaired a vinyl convertible top? Any ideas? I did some searching but was not able to find any clear answers. Because the car is 10 years old and the rip is so small and on the side of the top I think I am going to try to tackle this one myself.

 

I think people with glue have had hard times with the patches peeling off. I know some people have done a stitched patch. Like tent repair patches or something like that.

 

Use fabric cement, put the patch on from the inside. Put another patch at the same place on the other side as that's from wear and you can prevent a similar hole from occurring.
I used Sunbrella as a patch material, it works fine stays flexible so it doeswn't come off. My repair is over 3 years old and still holding. You can get both at joanne fabric

fltsfshr

 

get a new glass top? i wouldnt treat it badly just because its 10years old.

 

Not "treating it bad" just not looking to spend $100 for a small rip on a 10 year old top. Eventually if new rips occur (which I am sure they will eventually) a new top might have to go on

 

So you are saying just patch it from the inside, but do it on both drivers and passengers side in the same area?
And you used just a sunbrella repair kit? You don't happen to know what brand or anything do you? I will have to look into that, it sounds like what I will probably do.

 

yes that's what right if it's wearing on one side it's probably wearing on the other, look right behind the latches too.

. Sunbrella is a type of outdoor plastic fabric just like your roof that's very flexible and the blacks match your roof.

You take the tension off the roof, and put the patch on from underneath, push the tear together and let it set up well, if you need to fill the tear at al after it's dryl, take sunbrella threads and put them in the crackwith a little fabric glue.

Be sure you make the patch an inch or more bigger all the way around the tear so there's a good glue hold.

fltsfshr

 

Sounds good thanks for the help! I will probably try to go pick this stuff up tommorow and patch up any potential areas I see inside of the top.
And did you get fabric cement at Joanne fabric too? I assume they would carry that.

 

Yep they have fabric glue there. Stuff works great, it's made to go through washing machines.

You only need a little piece of Sunbrella, if you know anyone in the awning or boat canvas business, they'll have it too.

fltsfshr

 

Thanks. I am going to pick some of that up. Did you do anything special to clean the inside of the top before you applied the patch?