Soft top treatment...

[DaveWA]

Ok....... who poured petrol on the fire!!!!!

Re: Soft top treatment...

Postby Mr Morlock » Sun Jan 08, 2012 10:13 pm
Search has been mentioned a number of times- there are a number of topics on this subject but some just do not bother to take a look. I think we are pretty well served by SCA, Bursons ,Repco,and Autobarn. They employ Australians and provide a full consumer rights process- back up on warranty, change of mind ( in some instances ) convenience etc - rights hard fought for. Point taken re not being an aerosol- should have looked in my garage.

[TieNN89]

Autobarn is where I got my 303 from

I bought the kit which comes with the cleaner and the protectant

[Basho]

Al , my top is in good nick and I want to keep it protected, along with the dash. For protection I'm thinking the 303 with 40+ sun rating would be the go.
Armor-all looks pretty good to me right now but have to admit it's a bit shiny on the dash and I'm told can wash down onto the paint from the hood in future.
Anyway I've ordered the 303 Vinyl protection and at $16 from ebay with free post ,isn't too much to take a chance on.....but reports ( especially on miata.net) look promising.
I did contact local Autobarn afterwards and yes they do stock it too.....

Hi, I use 303 for my interior , I find it excellent even though the dispenser and the application is one of the most wastefull and messy to use around .

With the good ole tyre foam I found it completely cleared my stained plastic back window and refreshed the top excellently , it also leaves a lasting protective finish . My top is now mint .

I use it because it works , each to thier own

Armourall gives me a nasty rash on my hands and imo the finish looks like car yard bodgy.

[JBT]

I find Armor All is really good for dressing up the plastic guards in the wheel arches and that's about it.

[Silvia]

The $16 303 vinyl protector I ordered on EBay is around 340ml in an ordinary plastic bottle ,should arrive in a couple of days (free postage)
There is a bigger spray bottle for $26 that Autobarn here has.
I figure I can wash the hood with water, maybe a bit of carwash, as recommended in the handbook, as it is in good condition. Mine has glass rear window. Then I'd hit it with the 303 protectorant and do my dash at the same time, so to speak
I have a couple of empty spray bottles around here to use...

Hoping the chrome petrol filler lid arrives today from UK ......should go and squirt the bolts to fit it easier...

[TieNN89]

I find Armor All is really good for dressing up the plastic guards in the wheel arches and that's about it.

So true

Actually I know a downside with Armor All on the roof
When rain hits it all the crap ends up all over your paintwork and gives it that oily greasy look YUK!

[Silvia]

Few posts back...

"Armor-all looks pretty good to me right now but have to admit it's a bit shiny on the dash and I'm told can wash down onto the paint from the hood in future."

[TieNN89]

Few posts back...

"Armor-all looks pretty good to me right now but have to admit it's a bit shiny on the dash and I'm told can wash down onto the paint from the hood in future."

I blame the hot weather for missing that! Grrrhh so hot!!!

[Silvia]

I can report that the Armor-all treated hood had a day in heavy rain today. The treatment sat on the hood for a few days and was exposed to baking heat sunshine. After the rain there was no evidence of "greasy " wash down onto the paintwork, but the shine has gone. I suspect most of the Armor-all has washed off...
The 303 protectorant has arrived through Ebay and I'll use that on the hood,dash etc. when the rain stops....several days I'd say.

[Shambler]

The $16 303 vinyl protector I ordered on EBay is around 340ml in an ordinary plastic bottle ,should arrive in a couple of days (free postage)
There is a bigger spray bottle for $26 that Autobarn here has.
I figure I can wash the hood with water, maybe a bit of carwash, as recommended in the handbook, as it is in good condition. Mine has glass rear window. Then I'd hit it with the 303 protectorant and do my dash at the same time, so to speak
I have a couple of empty spray bottles around here to use...

Hoping the chrome petrol filler lid arrives today from UK ......should go and squirt the bolts to fit it easier...

I ordered mine from eBay as well for the same price, it arrived in 3 days (including the weekend!) Bought from a independent car care company in Melbourne

Going to give my soft top + all the trim bits a go when the rain clears (hopefully this weekend!)

[Silvia]

The soft top treatment can be a bit of a challenge it turns out. Instructions with the 303 protectorant say simply to spray on and dry with cloth.
When I spray it on , where liquid has hit the hood surface there's a dark shiny area. In between there's a lighter area. So you have a slightly patchy result, even though I've sprayed it on liberally and wiped lots to spread it with a cloth. I can't imagine you have to drench every centimetre with a flood of the stuff, especially on non-flat areas where it runs down like water, yet if you attempt to put an even film over the hood it simply soaks down where you spray but not between the sprays.
Am I doing something wrong here?
On the dash etc. without the "bubbly " rough surface of the hood , it spreads fine.

[and1]

I spray onto a cloth then wipe over using a cloth. It tends to give a more even spread that way and it's not wasted

The soft top treatment can be a bit of a challenge it turns out. Instructions with the 303 protectorant say simply to spray on and dry with cloth.
When I spray it on , where liquid has hit the hood surface there's a dark shiny area. In between there's a lighter area. So you have a slightly patchy result, even though I've sprayed it on liberally and wiped lots to spread it with a cloth. I can't imagine you have to drench every centimetre with a flood of the stuff, especially on non-flat areas where it runs down like water, yet if you attempt to put an even film over the hood it simply soaks down where you spray but not between the sprays.
Am I doing something wrong here?
On the dash etc. without the "bubbly " rough surface of the hood , it spreads fine.

[Jace]

I hate full gloss shine. I use Autoglym Vinyl and Rubber protectant on softops (not that I have one installed now anyway...)

Make sure to scrub the soft top clean with soapy water and a hard brush every now and then, it'll make your chosen product more effective.

[NitroDann]

Didnt read the 3 pages so if this has already been said. Armorall is just silicone like all cheap tyre shine.

Dann

[Silvia]

Didnt read the 3 pages .......

Probably because there ARE only two pages.....