Please forgive my ignorance. I've been a Jeep guy for a long time. I'm dumbfounded by the small tires and single drive axle, but very much enjoying the ride.
OK, so the 99 'vert is the nicest looking vehicle I've ever owned, and I'd like to keep it that way. My 'ol Jeep had a rag top from Bestop, and I would just take it down to the you-scrub car wash down the street and blast the hell out of everything with the pressure washer, scrub everything with the brush and be on my merry way after another pressure washing to rinse the soap off. If some water mangaged by any seals and into the tub, I really didn't care because hey, it's a Jeep.
It's a pretty nice facility with soft brushes and warm water. I feel that the brush and rinse method should keep me satisfied with the body of the car, I'm reluctant to blast the soft top with the pressure washer, for fear of it being more delicate than the one found on my Jeep. Also, I'm concerned that the seals around the windshield and windows may leak with the high pressure, and I'd also like to avoid that.
Should I just wash the car normally, rinse it with the pressure washer to remove the soap, and use the "mist" function on the soft top w/o any soap? Or is it OK to gently scrub and pressure wash lightly?
I guess the main question is: How delicate is the soft top?
*snikker* You'll get more attention from the guys with your girk's handle anyway
KJK
: > OK, so the 99 'vert is the nicest looking vehicle I've ever owned, and I'd : > like to keep it that way. My 'ol Jeep had a rag top from Bestop, and I : > would just take it down to the you-scrub car wash down the street and : > blast the hell out of everything with the pressure washer, scrub : > everything with the brush and be on my merry way after another pressure : > washing to rinse the soap off. If some water mangaged by any seals and : > into the tub, I really didn't care because hey, it's a Jeep. : >
: > It's a pretty nice facility with soft brushes and warm water. I feel that : > the brush and rinse method should keep me satisfied with the body of the : > car, I'm reluctant to blast the soft top with the pressure washer, for : > fear of it being more delicate than the one found on my Jeep. Also, I'm : > concerned that the seals around the windshield and windows may leak with : > the high pressure, and I'd also like to avoid that. : >
: > Should I just wash the car normally, rinse it with the pressure washer to : > remove the soap, and use the "mist" function on the soft top w/o any soap? : > Or is it OK to gently scrub and pressure wash lightly? : >
: > I guess the main question is: How delicate is the soft top? : >
: Please forgive my ignorance. I've been a Jeep guy for a long time. I'm : dumbfounded by the small tires and single drive axle, but very much enjoying : the ride. : : OK, so the 99 'vert is the nicest looking vehicle I've ever owned, and I'd : like to keep it that way. My 'ol Jeep had a rag top from Bestop, and I would : just take it down to the you-scrub car wash down the street and blast the : hell out of everything with the pressure washer, scrub everything with the : brush and be on my merry way after another pressure washing to rinse the : soap off. If some water mangaged by any seals and into the tub, I really : didn't care because hey, it's a Jeep. : : It's a pretty nice facility with soft brushes and warm water. I feel that : the brush and rinse method should keep me satisfied with the body of the : car, I'm reluctant to blast the soft top with the pressure washer, for fear : of it being more delicate than the one found on my Jeep. Also, I'm concerned : that the seals around the windshield and windows may leak with the high : pressure, and I'd also like to avoid that. : : Should I just wash the car normally, rinse it with the pressure washer to : remove the soap, and use the "mist" function on the soft top w/o any soap? : Or is it OK to gently scrub and pressure wash lightly? : : I guess the main question is: How delicate is the soft top? : : Thanks, : : Carl : This is just MY opinion, others may vary :)
The soft tops are fairly resilient BUT, you really shouldn't take the same approach to washing your Stang as you do your mudder. Think of the Jeep as your best buddy and the Stang as a girlfriend. Your buddy doesn't care where you scratch, if you fart and just goes along for the ride. The other will give you hell if you don't treat her like a lady and will not tolerate rough treatment.
I occasionally used a pressure washer on my tops, but pulled back a ways. My top was white though and I was doing anything I could to try to keep it nice. It was a real PITA!
High pressure WILL blow up under the seals at the roof line and it WILL drown the inside of your car. Even the touchless car washes. I used to go through one occasionally when I had no time to hand wash and ALWAYS ended up chasing rivulets with a towel from the inside as they came running in from both sides.
Using a car wash brush on the paint on your Stang is a bad idea. The brushes are used by folks that take their rigs out and play in the dirt, then scrub the mud off with the brush. (Sound familiar?) Some of that grit remains in the brushes and will raise hell with the finish on your Stang.
With a Jeep, mud is pride. With the Stang, the complete opposite is true. Mustangs like to be primped and preened and like a good hand wash with regular wax jobs. Meguiars makes great products for maintaining the whole car.
Get a good medium bristle scrub brush for the top and lather it up when you wash the car. Use a hose. The pressure washers don't really help as much as they could hurt. IF you have a flaw in your top (even so small that you cannot see) the pressure washer will blow right through it and probabaly wreck your top. Ford's tops are umm... err... not great.
KJKate
2O|||||||O5 Liberty Damn I'm glad I have something I can get dirty and just drive through the car wash now! (Formerly owned - 98 Cobra Drop Top and a 95 GT Drop Top)
Hello, I do Auto/Marine upholstery and install these for a living. Here are a few tips from RobbinsAutoTopCo.com
Glass Windows: Glass Windows should be cleaned with water based glass cleaners only. Please be extremely careful when cleaning Heater/Defroster glass windows not to scratch the defroster lines or to break the power source connector wire. Cleaner should never be allowed to drip into seams or heat seals.
Plastic Windows: Plastic windows in convertible Tops should be cleaned frequently. Be sure to hose or blow off loose dirt particles from surface first, and then use either plain water or mild soap and water solution. Apply with a soft cloth or tissue to gently clean window. Always clean in a side to side or a top to bottom motion, NEVER in a circular motion, (cleaning in a circular motion can damage plastic windows). There are also several good plastic cleaners available such as "Meguiar?s Mirror Glaze Formula 17". Never use harsh brushes or abrasives when cleaning plastic windows.
Use of Vinyl Preservatives We do NOT recommend use of penetrating vinyl preservatives, conditioners or dressings on Tops, Tonneau Covers, and other products.
Cleaning Tops, Tonneau Covers and Other Products Made in Cloth or Vinyl Toppings We strongly recommend hand washing convertible tops and other products. Tops and other products made in Vinyl toppings can be cleaned using Vinyl Cleaners such as Malco which are widely available. While Car Washes generally will not harm convertible Tops made in Cloth or Vinyl Toppings, never allow a car wash to apply spray wax to your convertible Top.
To hand wash our products, use Ivory or other mild soap flakes in a bucket of lukewarm water. In hard water areas add Calgon (not to be confused with dishwasher detergent) or other water softener until the water feels slippery.
ALWAYS Wash Tops, Tonneau Covers, etc. in the shade, never in direct sun.
ALWAYS Wash entire Top, Tonneau Cover, etc. Never spot clean to avoid rings or bright spots.
ALWAYS Wet entire car before washing Top. Use sponge or soft bristle brush to apply suds. Do not use a chamois or cloth since these will leave lint on Cloth Tops.
ALWAYS Rinse well with hose making sure to remove all traces of soap. Wipe off excess water with sponge. Please be careful to hose down entire car to prevent soap from streaking paint.
ALWAYS Install Tonneau Covers and Top Boots after cleaning while still damp to preserve fit and shape.
ALWAYS Try to move Tops into direct sun after cleaning and thorough rinsing to dry. Chamois all excess water off body of car.
DO NOT Use detergents, bleaches, harsh cleansers, cleaners or abrasives.
DO NOT Use dry-cleaning solvents, etc.
DO NOT Use hot water.
DO NOT Lower down or cover convertible tops when wet or damp. This can lead to mildew growth and in extreme cases can cause discoloration or rotting of toppings can occur.
I have a 2000 GT Mustang convertible. I have two tips regarding washing the car:
1) If you do go to a car wash, make it either a hand car wash, or an automated one that uses only soft cloth - NO BRUSHES!
2) DO NOT USE A TOUCHLESS CAR WASH! These car washes use a power spray to replace brushes or cloth. The spray comes at all angles and is too strong. It is guaranteed to leak through to the inside of your car - the seals are just not strong enough to handle that type of pressure.
Regarding the Robbins tips, I personally haven't had any problems from letting the automatic car wash apply wax to the entire car. But they're the experts, not me, so you might want to consider what they say.
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