Fading Convertable Top

[nelsongeli]

I am cleaning up my 2005 medium steel blue convertable top and it looks like the blue is starting to fade and show some black color coming through. Maybe the top was originally black and the color added by the maker of the top. Tbird tops with other colors may have a similar problem. I have found from other posts that the top was made by Haartz and is their Twillfast JU 2599 top. I sent Haartz an email, but they have not replied yet.

Does anyone know if it is possible to renew the color on these tops? If they were originally colored by the manufacturer, it may be possible if the right spray dye could be obteined. My top is in great shape, other than the color - which isn't a disaster yet, but it is getting worse each year.

Any suggestions would be apreciated.

[5bird7]

Re: Fading Convertable Top

Seriously doubt that the fabric was dyed after it was woven. Acrylic fabrics are usually woven from a colored thread. The black that may be showing up on yours is more likely to be road grime that has semi-bonded to the fabric. It's the bane of colored tops. Did you check the Haartz website for possible cleaning instructions?
http://www.haartz.com/en/consumer_in...p_cleaning.asp

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Fading Convertable Top

Could be mold too.

A little bleach mixed in with regular tide laundry soap will scare the CRAP out of most folks here but honestly........

My sand top was so riddled with black marks I considered any damage this might do to be of no real concern, when I first did it.

So far.........the results have been pretty good with no apparent ill effect ........ who knows maybe I'm shortening the life of the fabric by doing this once every couple of months.

So be it, the next top will be BLACK any way.

Colored tops in lighter colors simply...... SUCK!!


It's a disgrace that our '02 with a black top looks as new with twice the mileage on it vs our '04 with the sand top that looked 10 years old or more before I first used this laundry soap/bleach solution.

[berogersjr]

Re: Fading Convertable Top

Gene, I have the same top and same problem....I am using the Raggtop cleaner that a lot of folks use here on TBN. I've had some limited results, but it does help some. The black marks on mine are peculiar in that they are slanted lines in the same spots on both sides of the top, so I think they are getting dirt/grease from a particular place inside the convertible top storage well. Some of it will come off with a good washing and applying the Raggtop cleaner, but most of it does not, and it just comes back the next time the top is put back down anyway. I'm planning on having the dealership look at this, to see if they can clean the storage well out or look for leaking grease of any kind.

I have been told that color-safe bleach works well, but I haven't had the courage to try it yet....

bobby

[Lonestar]

Re: Fading Convertable Top

You (and others) with tops other than black might want to give this a try. First, try not to drop the top for at least a day after washing. I realize this might be very hard to do in some cases but surprisingly it takes a very long time for the top to dry inside and out. Yes, it may feel dry to the touch after an hour or two but it is not. When you drop the top before it is thoroughly dry the moisture, and the dirt that has made its way through the outer fibers ooze back to the surface at the points where the top folds and this could be part of the cause of the dreaded dark marks.

Second, the folded lines on the sides are easily visible after washing. I have had what I feel are good results using my shop vac to vacuum these areas and by doing this it appears to pull the moisture and any dirt out of the fabric.

Third, and it is a PITA, but I try to vacuum my entire top before lowering it. Naturally this is not always possible but I do vacuum it often using whatever you call the vac adapter that has the soft brush on it. This avoids any makes that might be made from the general purpose plastic adapter typically used for carpet although I do use this attachment when sucking out the creases.

[nelsongeli]

Re: Fading Convertable Top

Thanks for all the great input. As it turns out Haartz has their Detroit office located here in the Northern suberbs and about one mile from my home. They called today and want to look at the top. It is nice to see their interest. I spoke to them today, but it is grey and raining here, so I will take it in for them to see in a day ot two when the sun shines again. In Michigan that could be a while. I will add whatever they say to this post.

In addition to the cleaning, it is still my hope that they may have something that can be done to renew color. We will see!

[steelblue5505]

Re: Fading Convertable Top

I too have a med. steelblue top. I have some of the marks mentioned here.
I too vaccum the top frequently with my shop vac and use a brand new soft brush attachment that is used only on the top nothing else.

I would be VERY interested to learn what Haartz has to say about your top.

Thanks for sharing all that you learn.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Fading Convertable Top

Gene, I have the same top and same problem. The black marks on mine are peculiar in that they are slanted lines in the same spots on both sides of the top, so I think they are getting dirt/grease from a particular place inside the convertible top storage well. Some of it will come off with a good washing and applying the Raggtop cleaner, but most of it does not, and it just comes back the next time the top is put back down anyway. I'm planning on having the dealership look at this, to see if they can clean the storage well out or look for leaking grease of any kind.

I think the V Black marks are from road oil/dirt collecting on the part of the top that sticks out from the folds when folded [the pleats for lack of a better word]

The Driver's seat backside near the top outerside on my PCR [light color] is always gathering a black oily substance almost looks like mold that I have to clean quite often. You folks may not notice this on your black seats but take a clean tissue and wipe the reartop side of you seat back and I'll bet you have it too. I think this is what is also getting into the boot well either from no cover but more likely from the wheel wells. I almost always use the boot cover and stll get the black V's.

[PaBlkBrd]

Re: Fading Convertable Top

I think the V Black marks are from road oil/dirt collecting on the part of the top that sticks outform the folds when folded [the pleats for lack of a better word]

The Driver's seat backside near the top outerside on my PCR [light color] is always gathering a black oily substance almost looks like mold that I have to clean quite often. You folks may not notice this on your black seats but take a clean tissue and wipe the reartop side of you seat back and I'll bet you have it too. I think this is what is also getting into the boot well either from no cover but more likely from the wheel wells. I almost always use the boot cover and stll get the black V's.

I agree with this explanation John. Every time someone gets the marks on their soft top this starts all over again. It is what it is. The fibers in the top material are broken down more at the folds than in the flat areas and they will collect dust,dirt, or whatever you want to call it, in that area. It also collects on the outer top of the seat back, as you mentioned. Black tops and black seats have the same problem, it is just not as noticeable or as big a problem as colored tops and seats.
The only thing that worked for me was the bleach and cleaner mixture a member told us about on here. If there is another cure out there, I haven't heard of it yet. Even after I clean my sand top and it is dry, you can still see the fold marks where the dirt was. It will not go away! The V marks will either be clean or dirty
I came to the conclusion that the top must be cleaned and treated a few times a year, and I deal with it. It's not that big a deal.
As an added precaution, I always cover the soft top befor winter in the down position with two large bath towels just in case any dirt makes it in the soft top well.

[V8 Cat]

Re: Fading Convertable Top

Colored tops in lighter colors simply...... SUCK!!

My sentiments. I wish Ford had put a navy blue top on the medium steel blue cars. If I ever replace the top it will either be a dark blue or black one. Guess I would destroy the originality, but it would be worth it.

[Ediron]

Re: Fading Convertable Top

A friend of mine just told me about a product for mildew that is sold in Publix .This is a food chain store located in Florida.It's there brand of mildew remover.He use's it on his boat cushions and top with no bleach effects.Not suppose to harm threads on the top.I've bought it and will try it out the next time I have to clean the top and report back or if anyone can try it before .

[THHNDR]

Re: Fading Convertable Top

I bought my bronze in November 05, was built September 04, the top was never removed. It still had some transportation paper under the top. When I pulled the hard top off it for the 1st time those dark crease lines were there. It was perfectly clean with no residue to wipe off. It has to be mildew caused by moisture coming in from the pannel seals in the rear corners when the hard top is on. I now put 2 small pieces (one on each side) of soft closed cell weatherstripping along those 2 short seams to close off any gap.
I have not bleached my top yet, (can always do it later but have bad memories with bleach) but the problem is not getting any worse. I wonder if anyone has a light top that didn't have these marks from the start and is not using thier hard top , or never had one, is having this problem?

[Nicky-The-Squid]

Re: Fading Convertable Top

I was in Daytona Florida last August. Met a woman that owned the place where we were staying that had an 04 Merlot with sand interior. She had never removed the top since NEW. Didn't know the soft top stayed with the car. The next day (with fingers crossed) I am helping her grandson remove the top and we exposed a sand top for the first time that had been tucked away for four plus years IN FLORIDA and it was immaculate. I was so relieved that it wasn't dirty but never told her of my fears.