Convertable Tops

[Bling Bling]

I just bought a 2004 Seabring convertable limited. I would like to know if you can go through car wash places will this do any damage to the top?

[MarineJAG]

I've had two Sebring Convertables and have never taken them through a drive through car wash out of fear of damaging the roof. With a convertable there's less to wash anyway. I hand wash every couple of weeks or so.

[bearcatdon]

I have taken mine through once this summer to a soft brush car wash and had no problems although I wouldn't recommend it. I was on a road trip when I did it. There were no hand wash/ self serve places to be seen and I just had to get the bugs off. I figured worse case scenario it’s still under warranty. LOL. I normally use the self serve washes always making sure that the top never gets any direct pressure.

[Chrysdriver]

Originally Posted by Bling Bling

I just bought a 2004 Seabring convertable limited. I would like to know if you can go through car wash places will this do any damage to the top?

I've had my '96 Sebring machine-washed lots of times without any damage. However, the high pressure side squirt sometimes causes a trickle throught the window door seal, so be prepared to get a little wet.

[luvthelid]

I have never taken my convertable through the car wash and it still fell apart! my 98 is just about out of all of the stiching. I recently saw my cars twin and it too had lost all of its stiching. The frame around the back window was hanging all of the way off. The top leaks so bad now that the back floor board fills up with water, 2-3" deep! The power amp that is under the seat blew out this morning from water damage. I don't suggest doing anything to the top execpt wait for it to fall apart.

[bearcatdon]

Luv:

That sucks and shouldn't happen but you've peeked my curiosity. Have you owned the vehicle since it was new? What’s the mileage? Mostly highway or city? Was it driven all year round ie: snow? Was it mostly stored outside in the sun or in a garage? I know these things shouldn’t matter but I’m just curious.

[luvthelid]

Well it is a 98 and I bought it in 2001. It had 26,000 miles. Now it has 62,000 a good bit of them highway. It has been a year round out in the weather vehicle since it has been mine. I don't notice the diffrence when the top is up. That says something for how well the top is put together but it did fall apart so .....whatever

Originally Posted by bearcatdon

Luv:

That sucks and shouldn't happen but you've peeked my curiosity. Have you owned the vehicle since it was new? What’s the mileage? Mostly highway or city? Was it driven all year round ie: snow? Was it mostly stored outside in the sun or in a garage? I know these things shouldn’t matter but I’m just curious.

[mid-life]

Does anyone know if the top should be treated with anything? Conditioner or something?

[Trock62]

I've taken my 2000 ragtop thru the car wash several times and haven't had any major leakage problems other than the side spray leak already mentioned...and I frequently wipe down and treat my black ragtop w/Armor All cleaner/conditioner but was curious if there's something better that might restore the shine...Armor All only lasts for so long...I saw a bottle of something at a dealer but wanted to check first...

[metsup]

Originally Posted by mid-life

Does anyone know if the top should be treated with anything? Conditioner or something?

I use armor all on my top and brings out the black and because it doesnt hold up under rain ,i find no build up problems,at worst ur windows might get slight run off from rain and armor all,excellent treatment to block out sun!

[sanibel_999]

I have a '99 sebring with a cloth top. I've been told that the top should be ok in a regular car wash, but I haven't taken the chance. I usually go to the do it yourself car wash. There have been a couple of times (when it's cold out) that I have gone to a touchless car to get the salt off. The top seems fine.

When the car was new the water used to bead on the top. It doesn't bead anymore and I found this outdoor Scotchguard. It didn't seem to have any effect on the top. The water still doesn't bead.