Droopy head lining .

[fixerupper]

The head lining on my little fiat idea , has gone droopy ..It has been really hot here for the last few weeks and I think it's something to do with it ..the head lining is in good condition but gone droopy in the back mainly and a bit over the front passenger seat... any one else had this problem ...is it possible to re glue it and how do I do this ... I have never seen this happen before ...

 

[msmbus2000]

scrap yard get a new lining. bit fiddle to fit but doable.

 

[fixerupper]

Thanks msmbus but no chance of finding a Fiat Idea in a scrapyard here sadly...

 

[Dcal]

The foam backing to the headlining has disintegrated.

If you can’t get a good second hand one –

Order some new 2mm scrim foam (or if you want new foam backed head lining) and some "high temperature" spray contact adhesive.
Remove the complete headlining
Remove the cloth from the headlining
Brush / vacuum, all the form dust off the headlining and cloth
Wash the cloth and hang it out to dry
Stick the scrim foam to the backing
Allow glue to dry
Stick the headlining to the scrim foam.

That's what I’m doing on my alfa, because I couldn’t get a good match for the lining.
The washed cloth came up like new.

 

[fixerupper]

Yeah Thanks Dcal ...I pealed back a bit where the middle seatbelt real sits on the roof ...and there a very sticky orange stuff underneath that looks like the kind of stuff that would be a devil of a job to get off the seats or door cards if you were not very careful... so I might be a bigger job than I thought seats out , cloth over the floor and mask the doors , the cloth seems in good condition... so worth doing ...Is removing the entire head lining simple enough ?...I guess start at the tail gate and remove the plastic plugs , then the centre seat belt plastic cover , grab handles ..there is a centre ceiling cubby hole thing with lights and whatnot to work around ... trying not to smear the sticky orange glue on ....agghh. far..to hot here to do that now... find some mapping pins to hold it in place till the winter ....

 

[8ob]

I attempted to stick back the drooping headlining in a Range Rover I had, the trouble was when it was done it looked like I had done it Its not easy .

Bob

 

[Dcal]

It should just come out the tailgate.
It's the heat that kills the foam, I've never seen one sticky but it might be because the stuff I work on is usually over 20 years old.

 

[ajlelectronics]

DCAL is spot on. The scrim foam disintegrates over the years. Messy to clean up all the dust which is why my Scorpio looks like it does still. You can buy headliner material if you are not bothered about originality, which is already bonded to scrim foam. You still have to remove the former and clean it up though.

 

[fixerupper]

I think the heat wave we have had here has melted the glue that was holding the fabric in place .(I'm still trying to buy the plot of land next door so I can build a sheltered place to park and do jobs the vehicles ) The headliner in this fiat seems to be moulded foam thing shaped to fit, with the fabric glued or in some parts unglued to it ...maybe when it cools down the glue will be less tacky and more easy to work on ...

 

[Dcal]

@fixerupper link to a post on what I did to part of my roof cloth.
The main bit has been sitting on the pool table since, might even get it all done by this winter.

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum...k-from-the-brink-hopefully.81348/post-1758918

 

[pedrobedro]

I'd put a knife through it, spray glue behind it then push it back up but I have always been a bit of a bodger

 

[fixerupper]

I have put the problem on hold ...Thanks all for you help ...

 

[daedalusminos]

As @Dcal said, I replaced the headlining on my Lotus Excel, and as yours the foam had gone to goo - cover/remove seats or they'll be ruined. Purchasing new material is by far the easiest if you can get a good match...

 

[fixerupper]

Nice neat job daedalusminos... I 'm gonna put mine on hold until the cooler weather , the mapping pins will work for a bit..

 

[tom2207]

lots of old range rovers do this , but the solid headliner backing is made from something that looks like pink wafer biscuits ,,, a cruel job to sort out .

 

[waddycall]

I once poked at an old Saab 900 that’s had it’s headlining held up with drawing pins. It looked like a proper job - a bit like the back of a chesterfield until you looked closely!

 

[winchman]

Kids did my Range Rover did a very good job too.

 

[keithski122]

I'm an auto upholsterer so heres my take on it.
Very common problem on jags, rangerovers, audis, vws.Quite possibly mainly european cars.
Its not the glue given way its the foam thats disintergrated.Repair is remove headliner board, scrub off remaining foam without damaging board, using high temp contact adhesive (not aerosol it won't last) coat board and new foam backed headliner, when tacked off fix new material to board, be careful fitting as you can leave handprints in new headliner.
Main things here are, new foam backed healiner and proper glue not aerosol.
If you do mess it up it will make it harder for anyone else to do correctly(especially with aerosol glue).

 

[ajlelectronics]

I'm an auto upholsterer so heres my take on it.
Very common problem on jags, rangerovers, audis, vws.Quite possibly mainly european cars.
Its not the glue given way its the foam thats disintergrated.Repair is remove headliner board, scrub off remaining foam without damaging board, using high temp contact adhesive (not aerosol it won't last) coat board and new foam backed headliner, when tacked off fix new material to board, be careful fitting as you can leave handprints in new headliner.
Main things here are, new foam backed healiner and proper glue not aerosol.
If you do mess it up it will make it harder for anyone else to do correctly(especially with aerosol glue).

Quite so. Handprints are quite likely, especially if you are generous with glue application. I use a piece of wood or a squeegee to help lay the fabric down without it flattening into the adhesive. A lot of trimmers do use aerosol adhesives, but I am not a fan either and only use them for tacking materials prior to sewing. Don't be tempted to buy domestic adhesives, they will last until the next warm day if you are lucky.

 

[fixerupper]

Thanks for your input keithski 122 and . aj .When you say headliner board what is that like ...in my fiat fabric is or was glued to a one piece curved or dished thing that feels and sounds like it is made from polystyrene or something ,and that is fitted into the ceiling of the car and ...the bond of the fabric has failed and if I peel back the fabric from around where the centre seat belt fitting on the ceiling is mounted I reveal a dark orange sticky goo ...I think I am gonna wait until the weather gets cooler( it was 38 c here today ) whip out all the seats cover the carpets remove the centre ceiling boxes and hand holds.. and try and remove the rigid foam with the fabric still in place ..and then recover with maybe the old fabric ..I have some spray flooring adhesive that is very strong ..will that do it .. I don't think it could be sown ..?