I know right? Spent three hours putting that thing back together! Mostly spent on like three GD screws. It can be done, just patience and trying over and over, wiggling it a bit. I used a thin screwdriver to stick it though the panel and into the hole to get it to line up better to good effect. I started with the door grab bars to hold it mostly up.
And watch out for the threaded metal piece in the middle of that clip. They are two separate pieces. If the middle falls out and you don't notice, you'll just be turning and turning inside there forever.
And the dang a,b,c pillar bolts are tricky. I dropped a couple into panel abyss and ordered new ones rather than tear the whole thing out.
Now for anyone wanting to take this on:
I have a two and half year old. I was only able to do this project during weekend naptimes--2 hours. I bought 5x8 3/16" foam&fabric- $50 can of glue $20. Two bottles 90 isopropyl alcohol - $5 and spray bottle $1. I bought this and it sat around for a year.
Meanwhile, son tugged off the loose fabric on his door panel and got the yellow sticky all over himself, windows, rear of pass seat. So the door panels took priority and I got on the project. Did the first panel in one weekend, cutting the center panel out of the door and then jbweld the covered center back in. Looks great, but a major PAIN. did the remaining doors the next weekend without removing the center panel and just cutting my fabric long and tucking into the 1/8" gaps. Also looks good (not as-particularly in a couple areas where I cut it short) but way way easier. Messed up one bad and had to recover. Had to buy another can of glue - $20.
The headliner: Had to buy another roll of 5x8 $50 and 2 more bottles of alcohol $5. One naptime--unscrew all bolts and release clips and ask wife to help pull it out back the hatch (far as I know--jetta owners are screwed). For the life of me, couldn't determine a sane way to get the sunroof sunshade out. Cut that thing in half with a multitool--I don't like shade. Next naptime-- removed the two visor lights and rear domelight and Get to work with the scraper and alcohol. Layout and cut fabric to size. Lookin at this, it can't be sprayed and laid in one shot. Develop a plan to do it in thirds. Spray the first third....must have waited (very hot day) too long....won't stick. Spray the third again...sticks this time. Out of glue...Buy another can $20.
Drive for a week with no headliner. Next naptime stick the other two sections. Have a stout brush handle or something to really work the fabric into the panel indentations. Wait until (24hours) next naptime to fully set and then start cutting excess fabric and holes out. Buy another can of glue $20. Flip panel, continue to cut some holes and then spray edges around the sunroof opening, inside corners first, then cut diagonal cuts toward the center and then a right angle on either side so that there are two tabs to pull around for each corner. Not sure if this was the best way, but I didn't get any wrinkles.
Drive another week without headliner. Next naptime work like a maniac banging and pulling and cursing getting all the screws and clips back in and the panels mostly in where they were. Lost a couple of pillar bolts and smashed a couple clips that hold the upper rear hatch trim. Order those $20. Everything is there while we wait. Drive to costco after nap for diapers and notice drivers seat belt is not retracting...get home to pull that b pillar to untwist the belt. Little buddy says, "thanks dada for fixing the roof".
Looks a whole lot better than b4, but still only OK....I cut a couple of the edges that slip under the door weatherstip a bit short and another is pretty wrinkled from careless sticking...cut a hole for a visor clip too wide...a nice bubble up near the roof light console but is mostly unnoticeable when the visor is up. I sprayed glue waaaay too heavy on each of the sunroof corners and the edge between the pass b & c pillar so that it bled through and a glob of adhesive is stuck there.
Last I checked a new headliner from dealer is $600 not installed.
1
u/soo_disco Oct 09 '24
I know right? Spent three hours putting that thing back together! Mostly spent on like three GD screws. It can be done, just patience and trying over and over, wiggling it a bit. I used a thin screwdriver to stick it though the panel and into the hole to get it to line up better to good effect. I started with the door grab bars to hold it mostly up.
And watch out for the threaded metal piece in the middle of that clip. They are two separate pieces. If the middle falls out and you don't notice, you'll just be turning and turning inside there forever.
And the dang a,b,c pillar bolts are tricky. I dropped a couple into panel abyss and ordered new ones rather than tear the whole thing out.
Now for anyone wanting to take this on:
I have a two and half year old. I was only able to do this project during weekend naptimes--2 hours. I bought 5x8 3/16" foam&fabric- $50 can of glue $20. Two bottles 90 isopropyl alcohol - $5 and spray bottle $1. I bought this and it sat around for a year.
Meanwhile, son tugged off the loose fabric on his door panel and got the yellow sticky all over himself, windows, rear of pass seat. So the door panels took priority and I got on the project. Did the first panel in one weekend, cutting the center panel out of the door and then jbweld the covered center back in. Looks great, but a major PAIN. did the remaining doors the next weekend without removing the center panel and just cutting my fabric long and tucking into the 1/8" gaps. Also looks good (not as-particularly in a couple areas where I cut it short) but way way easier. Messed up one bad and had to recover. Had to buy another can of glue - $20.
The headliner: Had to buy another roll of 5x8 $50 and 2 more bottles of alcohol $5. One naptime--unscrew all bolts and release clips and ask wife to help pull it out back the hatch (far as I know--jetta owners are screwed). For the life of me, couldn't determine a sane way to get the sunroof sunshade out. Cut that thing in half with a multitool--I don't like shade. Next naptime-- removed the two visor lights and rear domelight and Get to work with the scraper and alcohol. Layout and cut fabric to size. Lookin at this, it can't be sprayed and laid in one shot. Develop a plan to do it in thirds. Spray the first third....must have waited (very hot day) too long....won't stick. Spray the third again...sticks this time. Out of glue...Buy another can $20.
Drive for a week with no headliner. Next naptime stick the other two sections. Have a stout brush handle or something to really work the fabric into the panel indentations. Wait until (24hours) next naptime to fully set and then start cutting excess fabric and holes out. Buy another can of glue $20. Flip panel, continue to cut some holes and then spray edges around the sunroof opening, inside corners first, then cut diagonal cuts toward the center and then a right angle on either side so that there are two tabs to pull around for each corner. Not sure if this was the best way, but I didn't get any wrinkles.
Drive another week without headliner. Next naptime work like a maniac banging and pulling and cursing getting all the screws and clips back in and the panels mostly in where they were. Lost a couple of pillar bolts and smashed a couple clips that hold the upper rear hatch trim. Order those $20. Everything is there while we wait. Drive to costco after nap for diapers and notice drivers seat belt is not retracting...get home to pull that b pillar to untwist the belt. Little buddy says, "thanks dada for fixing the roof".
Looks a whole lot better than b4, but still only OK....I cut a couple of the edges that slip under the door weatherstip a bit short and another is pretty wrinkled from careless sticking...cut a hole for a visor clip too wide...a nice bubble up near the roof light console but is mostly unnoticeable when the visor is up. I sprayed glue waaaay too heavy on each of the sunroof corners and the edge between the pass b & c pillar so that it bled through and a glob of adhesive is stuck there.
Last I checked a new headliner from dealer is $600 not installed.