Cleaning Top
 

Any suggestions to cleaning the top?

Black Cherry 6mt sport nav 510 miles - still grinning

303 fabric cleaner and the 303 protectant. Ragtop is also good.

And never take your vert through a high pressure car wash!!! I use the Ragtop kit. Does a great job.

I agree. Raggtopp is the way to go. There is a good video on using it: How to Clean & Protect your Fabric or Vinyl Convertible Top with OEM Approved RAGGTOPP - YouTube

I decided on the 303 fabric cleaner and the 303 protectant, and followed the directions to the letter. After a good cleaning with 303 cleaner, I applied three coats, and the water didn't just form into a bunch of bubbles and roll off, it sheeted off! It was like I was pouring water over a piece of glass.

I was very satisfied and impressed. However, it was quite a bit of work. I had to cover the whole car to protect the paint, and also covered and masked off the windows. That may be more work than someone may want to do.

With the Ragtop, they say that you can get it on the paint and glass, and it just wipes off. Don't know, never used it. But I can see how, when using Rag top, you can just give the top a spray every once in a while to keep it waterproofed, which seems like the easiest way out.

I like the 303 because it's petroleum based, and as it evaporated, the product really bonds to the fibers. I can see where it won't need re-treating for maybe three years, maybe longer, but only time will tell.

But then again, I treat my Roadster like it was a museum piece, and want only the best for her. Given these tops are the part of the 370Z that seem to be at the most risk of damage, my choice is to do all I can to care for it in the best way possible.

I am not knocking Ragtop, after I researched both products, I just prefer the the way the 303 products work.

Either way, it's good that you are concerned about taking care of the top, I've seen other vert's that have been neglected and they look it.

Oh, I re-read your post and all you are asking is how to CLEAN the top. At the low miles your Z has on it, it should still be waterproofed. I would just hose the top off. The owners manual says to use a sponge and just water, and lightly move the sponge over the top. If you have bird droppings on it, you need to get that off ASAP. If you use car wash soap, you'll start removing the factory protectant. As long as the water is beading up, it's waterproofed, it's when you start to see that the water looks like it's being absorbed by the fabric that you need to clean and waterproof. But look it up in the owners manual before you do anything. And as previously said, do not put it through a car wash. Of course, if you choose to, it's your car, but the owners manual says not to.

Thanks for the input. Yes it doesn't need cleaning yet, but was just looking for the future..

Are these cloth tops ?

Yes.

I've used this for quite some time. It works miracles and it's simple. No need for a ton of other products.

Ok this is my first vert and I made the mistake of taking my vert through a touch free carwash. Learned my lesson really quick. Does anyone think that I damaged the top at all

You should be OK, as long as there is no "visible" damage. I would treat the top with RaggTopp or 303 from a preventative standpoint. I prefer "303 Products 30651 High Tech Fabric Guard with Water Repellant" with brush application for my top. Youtube is your friend.:tup:

I also have been using 303 with good results.

It is good to see the options. I will probably start with RaggTopp and see how it does.

I used the 303 per instructions on the bottle (didn't apply using a paintbrush as suggested on here) and it made NO improvement. Not a single bead of water on the top at the next rainstorm. Applied liberally to a clean, dry top, then parked in the sun for a few hours to "cure". On another forum I read a similar complaint so I'll contact the company. Maybe a bad batch?? Of course, now El Nino has started up out here so It'll be a while for a clean dry top again. :shakes head: