A Couple of Dopey Questions

[Thornus]

Going to give the R/L its first well deserved bath and have not come across the answers to these questions:


1) Wash from the top down. Does this mean I'm washing the convertible top too? Lets say I'm using Maguires Gold Wash. Am I using this on the top? Or just going from the windows down and using Raggtopp or 303 when its time to clean the top?


2) The flares at the end of the convirtible top at the back (you know...the pointy things!)...when washing the car should these be in the 'up' or 'unlocked' position? And the holes they lock into on the trunk...Are there supposed to be plugs for them or does water run thru and out of them?


3) and the strip of the car between the rear window and top and the rest of the car...thats not exposed to the outside of the car with the water. Whats the cleaning procedure for that?


Forgive me if these are relatively stupid but its my first droptop and I am soooo dumb!

T

[bigdog]

Originally Posted by Thornus

Going to give the R/L its first well deserved bath and have not come across the answers to these questions:


1) Wash from the top down. Does this mean I'm washing the convertible top too? Lets say I'm using Maguires Gold Wash. Am I using this on the top? Or just going from the windows down and using Raggtopp or 303 when its time to clean the top?
I usually just rinse the top. To clean it I use the Raggtop cleaner recommended by the top manufacturer. I would keep car wash or any other soap/detergent off the top. You can also treat the top - again I use a Raggtop product.
Antother trip for the top is to use a lint roller. works pretty well for picking up stuff!

2) The flares at the end of the convirtible top at the back (you know...the pointy things!)...when washing the car should these be in the 'up' or 'unlocked' position? And the holes they lock into on the trunk...Are there supposed to be plugs for them or does water run thru and out of them?
I just leave 'em in the 'down' position. When I dry the car I pop 'em so I can dry the inside of the trunk lid (anal, I know!)

3) and the strip of the car between the rear window and top and the rest of the car...thats not exposed to the outside of the car with the water. Whats the cleaning procedure for that?
For this area, I usually just dust it or use a damp cloth to wipe it down. I, of course, seal this area and the area on the console (using Gary's products)

Forgive me if these are relatively stupid but its my first droptop and I am soooo dumb!

T

See the responses above.

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by Thornus

Going to give the R/L its first well deserved bath and have not come across the answers to these questions:


1) Wash from the top down. Does this mean I'm washing the convertible top too? Lets say I'm using Maguires Gold Wash. Am I using this on the top? Or just going from the windows down and using Raggtopp or 303 when its time to clean the top? I usually start with the rims & tires first. As for the top, thats the second thing I do using Raggtop products, the cleaner with a soft bristled brush, then the sealer spray after it is totally dried. Oh before the sealer spray, I use a vacum cleaner with a brush, or you can use a lint remover, the vacum works the best for me tho, then I spray the sealer treatment.


2) The flares at the end of the convertible top at the back (you know...the pointy things!)...when washing the car should these be in the 'up' or 'unlocked' position? And the holes they lock into on the trunk...Are there supposed to be plugs for them or does water run thru and out of them? I usually pop those, just make sure the trunk is closed after you pop them. Lots of dirt and stuff accumulates under those areas after couple of weeks. I never plug the holes, if I recall I don't think any water gets inside, they are sealed. I have noticed tho, that mine are showing signs of rust, so I DO lube them up to control that.


3) and the strip of the car between the rear window and top and the rest of the car...thats not exposed to the outside of the car with the water. Whats the cleaning procedure for that? I consider that area the inside of the car. Just wipe it down when doing the interior and I have been thinking of just polishing and sealing that area, like you would do the paint. The good thing bout that is, you won't need to that but maybe once a year.


Forgive me if these are relatively stupid but its my first drop top and I am soooo dumb! I didn't think your questions were dumb in any way--Have fun!!
T

PS: We all have our ways of doing things, as you learn your car, you will do it your way using the products you want--Bottom line is, car is detailed--

[ku4zs]

My comments about question 2: Those holes are NOT drained by the trunk. So if you have them unlatched and water gets in them, it gets on the backing on the clamshell trunk, and drips through. At least, that's how it looks to me.

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by ku4zs

My comments about question 2: Those holes are NOT drained by the trunk. So if you have them unlatched and water gets in them, it gets on the backing on the clamshell trunk, and drips through. At least, that's how it looks to me.

You know, I think I will look at that closely next time I put water on it to really see what happens--

[Rail Jockey]

I don't have my Sky yet, I'm still waiting to order so I can't answer #2. When you hear wash from the top down it is referring to the paint. The idea is that the closer to the ground you get the dirtier your car will be, this increases the possibility of picking up dirt in your wash mitt that can scratch you paint. I have two mitts one for the top 2/3 of the car and one that i only use on the lower portion. Also soak or rinse your car down good before you wash it and keep it wet until your done.

[R Sky Rox]

I used Gary's stuff First Detail, including watching the video, because I'm a newbie. If you can afford it, it's worth every cent. I use the Ragtop cleaner and protectant, too. It's all good.

[jayman]

There's also auto car washes...uhhh, has this ever been covered?

[Skip]

Originally Posted by jayman

There's also auto car washes...uhhh, has this ever been covered?

In answer to your question, does a cat have climbing gear, does a bear go where he wants to, yes the car wash question has been done about six times now...Skip..Wanta see pictures?

[jayman]

Hey Skip...just playing devil's advocate here...wanted to see how many were going to throw their owner's manual section at me about car washes

[GRinLR,AR]

I disliked having to wait for the top to dry before putting it back down. Now I just park the car facing uphill and carefully wash it with the top down. Even using a power sprayer, by watching the angle of your spray, hardly any water gets on the interior. I have been doing this for almost a year and have not had any problems with water geting in the trunk through the buttress holes.

[jayman]

This car is already infamous for its leaking rear...that's all we need now is for our buttress holes to start leaking, too...

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Originally Posted by jayman

all we need now is for our buttress holes to start leaking, too...

Now let's not get personal!

Ohh you mean them holes in the back of our Sky, whew. I knew that!

[JohnD]

I have found that a wet/dry shop vac with an upholstery attachment is FANTASTIC for sucking water out of the top. Dries it right up.

And the crevice tool sucks those little pockets of water out of the front grille. Thirty bucks at Home Depot for a little guy and worth every penny.

By the way - do NOT use a chamois on your top, or you will have little lambskin particles embedded in there...

[Thornus]

Thanks for all the advice.

I did a quick look see at the trunk buttress flare holder holes (sheesh) and they don't appear to drain anywhere. However they do "look" like they want to overflow right into the hard trunk lining.

Also, gonna have to wait to clean the top. Raggtopp seems to be only available on the in-tre-net. Hurry, Mr. Postman!

Thanks again. Will post some before and after pics so you can see how badly I screw it up!!

T

[CaliforniaDreamin]

You are right. With the top down any water that goes into the buttres holes goes right into the trunk liner. Washing with the top down is not a great idea unless you're very careful. With the top up and the butresses in place there are seals that come into place sealing those holes.

Overall I've been pretty amazed at the engineering that went into water drip management on this car. Top down is another story of course.

[Antonio]

I've also found products like synthetic chamois, such as The Absorber, are great for drying the top. It leaves ZERO lint as it's a synthetich spongey material, and is rather tough so it can withstand repeated wringing out, and washing. I would watch however drying the car with it as it does have pours....meaning any debris or particles it catches could slide along the surface of your paint if you aren't careful.

I wash top up, and just lightly rinse the top. Once the rest of the car is dry, I use a damp clean cloth in a little car soapy water and hand wipe underneath the buttresses, and then dry with microfibers.

[cerberus]

Originally Posted by Thornus

Also, gonna have to wait to clean the top. Raggtopp seems to be only available on the in-tre-net. Hurry, Mr. Postman!T

Check the website of Ragtop. They list distributors somewhere in there. I grabbed mine from a local shop. Your locale will probably be different. (dont like to wait for mr postman either.)

[Thornus]

Well, things went fairly well I suppose. Note the clouds reflected on the hood! Didn't do too much with the top acuse I don't have the cleaning goo yet.

Only problem I have is with waterspots on the windows but other than that not to shabby for a first bath!

T



p.s. how do y'all get those thumbnail pics on your posts that I always see? duh!

[Antonio]

the way you get thumbnails is when you reply, at the bottom there is "manage attachments".

Click that, and you can upload up to 5 pictures per post. They are displayed as thumbnails.

When you link directly to a photo from another location, that's what it displays full size.