About Me

auto body prep-work to do yourself

When you take your car in for auto body work, the mechanic will have a lot of work to do. Each minute that the mechanic spends prepping your car to make the repairs is money that you will owe when the repairs are finished. So, is there anything that you can do to make the mechanic's job a little easier and lower the cost of the repairs for you? This blog is all about preparing vehicles for auto body repairs. Here, you will learn what prep-work you can do at home so that the repairs are completed more quickly and the cost is less.

auto body prep-work to do yourself

A Guide To Getting Convertible Top Repair Work

by Jeremy Hudson

Convertibles have long been status symbols and joy ride vehicles, and they remain 24 percent of the collectible vehicle market. Whether you have a domestic droptop speedster or a luxury foreign convertible with candy paint and the full gamut of features, you need to put some diligence and care into it. Specifically, it's important that you take great care of the convertible top, so you can protect the car and lower the sunroof whenever you want to. Follow these tips to make sure that you're doing all you can to care for your convertible top. 

Take great care of the vinyl or other material

If you want to take care of the convertible top, start by learning how to take care of the actual material. These tops are generally made with vinyl or some kind of cloth. The thing about this material is that it can't easily be fixed with an adhesive or other fix-all. Instead, you should look into vinyl stitching to make sure you can fix small tears and prevent them from becoming big rips. You'll also want to keep the material as clean as possible so that it is free of stains and long-term damage. 

Fix the motor when it is acting up

Part of taking care of the convertible top is to also care for the motor. You'll need to be able to pull the top down with the push of a button without the motor failing and leaving your vehicle interior exposed. If it is clicking, shorted out, or simply not working, it's important to hire an auto shop that can handle the convertible top repair. You might be able to fix the electric motor for about $50 per hour and up. 

Apply a seal so that you can prevent water damage and other problems

It's also important to seal your convertible top so that water doesn't seep into any cracks or holes. If your vehicle gets flooded and waterlogged it can experience serious damage. You might pay between about $3,000 and $8,000 to fix interior water damage to your vehicle. This can create serious losses to your vehicle that put the value at stake. 

Whenever you have a convertible top, add an insurance policy that will take care of it no matter what sort of damage potentially arises. 

Let these tips help you take great care of your convertible top so that your vehicles' function and value are maintained.

Share