My old rag top needed replacing. So I spent $500.00 to get a nice new one. Hired an installer who came well recommended. Now I have a complete disaster on my hands.
New top put on 3/5/14. A few days later I noticed it was curling back from the edge at the deck lid, and also from the front. Contacted installer, and he said no problem I will correct it.I had a hard time getting in touch with him. He said he had a new grand baby and was out of town.
Finally on 4/23, he and his assistant showed up. It took the two of them 5 hours to create the mess I now have. Aside from the top problems, I have glue on the deck, rear window, and on the back shelf. It was a total disaster.
Before putting the top up, I left the glue dry for a little over 24 hours. According to the can, this is the curing time needed. Put the top up, and there was an area about 12 inches long pulling away from the bow. AS I stood there, I could see the top slowly pulling away! There are smudge marks around the edge of the top also.
I feel the installer is responsible for this mess, and he should/could/will be held libel for a new top if necessary. I just hope he has liability insurance!
I think the top has so much glue on it, that makes it impossible for the top material and the bow to bond!
I am posting this to give a heads up to others, and I am also looking for ideas as how to best get this corrected.

Input please.

 

That sucks. Can you clean the adhesive off the cloth? I just secured mine on the edges with gorillas super glue and seems to have worked.

 

Forgot to ask, where did you get the top?

 

I have been able to wipe the glue off with a little Goo Gone, a citrus based cleaner. I got the top from Ecklers. It was made by Kee Auto Top Manufacturing.
How wide of a strip of Gorilla glue did u put on the material? I'm meeting with the guy Tuesday, and Im looking for ideas. Im trying to educate myself on tops!! THANKS!
My wife has a Polo Green 94-Looks like yours in your picture!

 

That really sucks that you're having a problem like this. I hope that installer takes responsibility & fixes it properly for you. Good luck.

 

I'm sorry to hear about that. I am planning on replacing my top and stories like this make me dread the prospect. Especially if a professional installer has such a hard time getting it right. I kinda wish the cloth tops would last forever, so that we don't have to deal with such problems.

Good luck on getting the problem solved.

 

and I'm in the UK, where local coachtrimmers will probably never have even seen one!!

 

Wow that must be really frustrating. Did they give a reason why it is giving them such a hard time? It would seem that they either don't know what they're doing or your top isn't fitting right.

 

I took the top to two other repair shops this AM. Both said:1-He trimmed/cut the top too short to fit correctly around the edge. 2-He did not use the correct glue 3-He did not know what he was doing.
I relied on the recommendation of a friend. I Never checked around. He quoted me 200 for labor. Both the other places charge between 600-700. One of them said that I got what I paid for. How right he was! I didnt know 200 was way tooooo cheap!Oh well-live and learn!

 

Oh man that hurts. Is it salvageable?

 

I lifted the top to take the tension off and applied, smeared maybe 1/4" wide along the frame and clamped the fabric to it. I had a section probably 12" to 16" that had come loose.. Good luck

 

Whatever shop made the "You got what you paid for" comment would definitely be off my shops I would ever give business to list. No reason for them to make a comment like that. Regardless of what someone charges to do a job, the job should be done right, and if not they should make it right. Sorry you are having such a rough time with the top, great looking car by the way.

 

That looks like the top is too short on the right side to me. I have put a couple on and had to send one back for that reason. I am no expert tho.

 

I agree. Maybe it's true but they should have kept that comment to themselves.

 

The comment wasn't made in a nasty way-I had just asked what he charges for it, and after looking up the time for it (I dont know what source he used) he said 650. or about 7 hours. He asked what I paid-200.00-There was a pause and then the comment-not hateful or nasty-just matter of fact-and he was right!
To top thing off, when he was looking at the mess, the weather strip that runs across the bottom fell off, and a piece of it was broken off-he had tried to glue it back together! Im meeting with him in a few hours so we will see!!!!

 

Good luck, what a shame. Eventually it will get corrected, just a pain. Besides the good price you mentioned he came highly recommended, a lot of us would have done the same thing. Don't beat yourself up.

 

Thanks! And right you are. I was suppose to meet with him this morning and he didn't show up. I'm making arrangements to see another installer, and am going to head to small claims court with this guy! I figure he owes me about 900 for his mess. 550 for a new top, 50 for the destroyed weather strip, 200 I paid him, and 100 to get the scratches buffed out of the back deck! I learned a lesson here I just have to figure out what! I appreciate the comments and support from the site!

 

good luck

 

doucment every contact with him. even today when he did not show. You would almost have to give him another shot either not showing up or it not turning out right again. This will show an honest effort on your end trying to work with him, He is going to blame the top I can almost promise that you will need a statement from who installes your new top that it was installed wrong. Best bet would be had the installer go to court with you. tell him you give him a 100 if he does. good luck

 

THANKS-and good advice...Have well documented stuff...After the no show I gave the car to one of the other guys to try to fix...If he cant its a new top. I am in the process of getting paperwork for the small claim court. After two times, and the scratches he put on the deck of the car I wasn't going to let him near it again!