Hi folks,

We have a C70 with a cloth top.

For a 2003 model the top is wearing prematurely I would think....it has several places where the fabric is beginning to wear through. Especially on the last tall rib/bow just above the rear window on both corners/sides or the edges.

Would this be considered normal wear and tear for a cloth top or is it unusual please? The vehicle has 66k on the clock and has not been mistreated.

If this is unusual is it worth pursuring as a customer assistance issue from Volvo? If so can someone point me to the right channels or avenues to take please (such as Factory division service rep/distributor contact/phone/addresses, etc)?

One other top question. I am going to perform a decent detail job on the car, and have never owned a car with a cloth top.....can some of you folks on the forum suggest a good cleaner (even a good household remedy would do as I may start this weekend) and a good preservative for the top please?. I am pretty well versed on the interior (303 etc) and exterior (Klasse) products that I should use unless I can get some suggestions (if there on some products more suited for the Volvo) on those issues as well.

Sincere thanks,

Nic

hi nic
would have thought that there was somethink is not quite right with your hood, my c70 is five years old and the hood got no ware marks at all,so some think must be rubbing some where and as foe cleaning the hood a good quility car shampoo is all i use then once every six month i apply a water repellant, and it looks good.

Hi Stevie and thanks for the reply :) ,

I must have written the post incorrectly....my wear problem is on the top >>>> the convertible top >>>> the last bow or rib seems to be wearing through at the far outside edges over top of that bow or rib. The cleaner question is directed at the convertible top as well. I think (unless you folks have better suggestions) I have the interior proper (I use Woolite and 303), and the exterior proper ( I use Kit Car Wash or the Rain X car wash...both with carnuba wax incorporated within, and the Klasse twins for the finishing touch) covered except for the top >>> just need the top cleaner and protectorant suggestions if possible.

Also if anyone has ever contacted a factory service rep or the distributor for the Virginia area it would be appreciated if they would express their views on complaints to that/those authorities on such items as premature convertible top wear....also who and where to contact.

I sincerely hope the above is not to much to ask for...I am fairly new and if it is I am sorry.

Thanks,

Nic

Nic

Stevie is a Brit so to him the convertable top is a hood and a hood to him is a bonnet.

Stevie please understand some of us in the colonies do not understand ;)

I have a 2000 c70 and have also been noticing wear spots in the top that have concerned me. My car is 6 yrs. old but it only has 55k on it and for the most part is kept inside. There are "scrub" marks just below the same area that you describe(outside corners of the last hoop). I'm sure this is just places where the top folds together but they just continue to look worse and worse. I too would like any input as to wheather this is "normal".
BTW the convertible top care products I use are the "Raggtop" cleaner and protectant for cloth tops.

So sorry, that product is "Raggtopp".

I can help you with the care for your top, as I have always owned convertibles and I have worked in the Marine industry for over a decade owning 13 boats.

The best product for fabric protection I have ever found is a product called "303" You can find this at any boating store like West Marine or most auto parts stores. Also you can pick up fabric cleaner for the top Starbright makes one that is fantastic. A marine store is the best for these kind of products so hopefully you live near a big lake, river or Ocean. If no boating stores are around you can order on the web at westmarine.com

Stay away from Armorall...it contains plasticizers which enbed into the fabric building up causing it to become stiff over time causing creases because the fabric will not "flake" when stored. (eventhough plasticizers are suposed to soften which they do, but only for a couple of applications then the caking effect takes over making it stiff). I had to put that in the note so my fellow CHEM-E guys would not reply with mean notes.

Stay AWAY from house hold products: Most house hold products contain ammonia which can eat stitching that is a cotton blend. It also eats plastic that is why you see brown back windows on mazda miata's (windex).

Also do not use a bristle brush or green pad as they will pull on the fabric which over time will break down the top. Use a terry cloth to rub out any stains or water marks.

Big one is never take a softtop convertible into a machine car wash.

Good luck! Happy topless driving.

GO YELLOW JACKETS!

Eric

Clear, concise & to the point practical advice.

Thanks from Chile!!

I'm going to bring this one back from the dead, as in the past year I've noticed a huge increase in the wear marks on my ragtop.

it's a 2001, and I've got "rubbed" wear areas (on both sides) in the same place that Nic and topdwn do. It's almost like it's hitting something everytime the top closes...and I'm afraid it's going to soon be "holey."

How common is this? What can I do about it?

The rest of the top looks fine. I don't take it through car washes, btw.

Hey Tom, it seems we are in the same boat. I just bought a 2000 and I have the same ware marks same location, I was looking at a 2002 the other day and it had the same issues.

I would like to tell you how to resolve the issue, but I am also new to the C70. let me know if you find anything out and I will do the same.

John

Hi John,

I've had this car for about 4 years, and I can't recall when I first saw the problem. It has worsened in the past year, however. I guess the first thing I've got to do is have someone else work the controls and watch the process to see if it rubs against anything on the way up or down.

I'm going out to LA to see my brother this weekend---he's got a '99, I'll have to see how it looks!

Joan (not frank, it's just an old email....)

Thanks Joan, let me no what you find out. With the weather up here I'm not sure I will be wearing out my top any time soon.

John

Speaking strictly for my C70 I do not believe that the top was rubbing against anything except itself. Those rub spots are right where the top folds, as the years go by and the top gets stiffer I think that the top itself is it's own worst enemy.

My original post was a full two years ago, and just as an FYI I don't believe you will ever have to worry about the top getting "holey". What did happen was that the rear window adhesive gave up and it nearly fell out. So what I have now is a brand new top and I'll worry about the wear later , if I still have the car.
From the posts I've seen on other forums and from talking to upholstery shops this is a common occurence.
Depending on where you live, where you park the car, how often and with what you wash the top, what chemicals you clean the rear window with (if you let it run down into the window seam) you should typically get 6 to 10 years out of a good quality top. Mine made it 8.

Good Luck.

Thanks for the added info.

So, am I to understand (at this late date!) that I'm supposed to be regularly treating the top?

As for the rub spots, it's not like a stain, it's actually "nubby" bits, like when you've been picking at a piece of fabric.

As for the rear window, mine is still ok. A friend with a 1999 (living in sunny california) told me the window on his split from the top and he ended up replacing the top last year. And he'd raised and lowered the top many more times than I have. (I always operated under the old fashioned notion that there is a limited life span for these things, and it would be the number of ups and downs that hastened the demise of a convertible top, not anything else. Proved wrong again!)

In my opinion treating the top won't change much in respect to its over all lifespan, but you will appreciate the water beading off like when it was new.
You have a piece of treated cloth that lives outside. How much exposure your top gets to UV light, extreme changes in temp. and dirt will determine the ultimate life of your top. This holds especially true for the window which basically is glued in place. The first two items in the exposure list say it all when it comes to the life of the adhesive that holds your window in place. That is why I say that you will not have your top rub through before the rest of it fails, unless you have some unusual mechanical problem. My window seam went from looking "buckled" to the window falling out in less than one year.
I don't want to make it sound like you should only drive the car in perfect weather and keep it sealed in the garage. I have a crazy long commute, 106 mi. per day and my only car is the Volvo. Operate the top all you want, drive it, enjoy it and try not to stress out too much on the maintenance issues.

Good Luck.

thank you topdwn.
As for stressing over maintenance....i've had this car for four years, and haven't had a stressful moment yet. Well, someone did hit me, that was a bit stressful, but all in all, it's been no different than any other volvo I've owned.

No garage for me, not even a car port ---but the weather is fairly middling (washington dc)---and i don't commute in it unless i have no choice, though I do rack up the miles on the weekend. Well, sort of---it's a 2001 with 67000 miles on it. I believe it had about 30k when I bought it.

Hello there:

Just joined the forum and just recently purchased a 2004 C70 with 9K miles on it.
There is no signs of wear on the cloth, but that is to be expected.
I previously owned a 1984 380SL and was told that you dry brush the dust off, 'rinse' with water, do not use any chemicals or detergents. Use a protectant after the top has dried. Worked great for the SL; however it was German canvas. I am not sure what the fabric is on the C70. If the wear is rubbing on the frame of the compartment that holds the top, one suggestion was to place a piece of clear flexible plastic (document page protector material) at the intrusion point. With a manual top it was easy to determine where to place it, but with the automagic this car has, it may be difficult. Just adding a little experience to this topic.
have a great day!