Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

6

Time Required

                          5 hours

Sections

1

  • Repairing Vehicle Headliner
  • 6 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Repairing Vehicle Headliner
  • Prep the car for work.
  • Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
  • Removal of the right passenger seat may be necessary to help remove the headliner from the car.

Prep the car for work.

Disconnect the negative battery terminal.

Removal of the right passenger seat may be necessary to help remove the headliner from the car.

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Step 2

  • Remove the trim.
  • Unbolt the sun visors, dome lamp, grab handles and any other accessories that are attached to the ceiling.
  • Remove the upper seat belt mounting loops.
  • Remove and/or pull back just enough of the side interior trim panels to gain access to the edge of the headliner. Complete removal of these panels is usually not needed.
  • Lower one side of the headliner panel and slide it over to clear the trim panels.
  • Turn the panel and remove it from the vehicle.

Remove the trim.

Unbolt the sun visors, dome lamp, grab handles and any other accessories that are attached to the ceiling.

Remove the upper seat belt mounting loops.

Remove and/or pull back just enough of the side interior trim panels to gain access to the edge of the headliner. Complete removal of these panels is usually not needed.

Lower one side of the headliner panel and slide it over to clear the trim panels.

Turn the panel and remove it from the vehicle.

Step 3

  • Remove the old fabric from the board.
  • Place the headliner panel on a clean work table.
  • Carefully pull the old fabric material off the board. Usually the foam backing will remain stuck to the headliner board. Use a piece of the old material to rub the old foam loose from the board.
  • Vacuum the foam bits from the backing board.

Remove the old fabric from the board.

Place the headliner panel on a clean work table.

Carefully pull the old fabric material off the board. Usually the foam backing will remain stuck to the headliner board. Use a piece of the old material to rub the old foam loose from the board.

Vacuum the foam bits from the backing board.

Step 4

  • Install new fabric:
  • If the board is damaged, repair it using aluminum tape. Any rough areas might show after the new fabric is applied.
  • Lay out the new fabric over the board. Pull 1/2 of it back over itself.
  • Spray headliner adhesive glue on 1/2 of the board and the back side of the fabric.
  • Carefully place the fabric onto the board starting from the center point and smooth it outward wit your hand as you lay it down.
  • Pull up the other 1/2of the fabric over the side you just glued down. Repeat the above steps to lay down this side of the fabric.

Install new fabric:

If the board is damaged, repair it using aluminum tape. Any rough areas might show after the new fabric is applied.

Lay out the new fabric over the board. Pull 1/2 of it back over itself.

Spray headliner adhesive glue on 1/2 of the board and the back side of the fabric.

Carefully place the fabric onto the board starting from the center point and smooth it outward wit your hand as you lay it down.

Pull up the other 1/2of the fabric over the side you just glued down. Repeat the above steps to lay down this side of the fabric.

Step 5

  • Trim up the fabric edges
  • Fold over the front & rear edges and glue them to the back side of the board about 1 inch from the edge.
  • Cut the side edges flush with the board. Also cut any access holes for the sun visors and other accessories that were previously removed.

Trim up the fabric edges

Fold over the front & rear edges and glue them to the back side of the board about 1 inch from the edge.

Cut the side edges flush with the board. Also cut any access holes for the sun visors and other accessories that were previously removed.

Step 6

  • Reinstall the headliner to the car:
  • Reverse the removal steps to re-install the headliner into the car.
  • Start one edge over the side trim panels and then raise the headliner into position over the other side trim panels.
  • Re-install the sun visors, dome lamp, seat belt upper loops and any other items that were previously removed
  • Lightly brush the headliner to remove marks & fingerprints.
  • If any of the trim clips break off of the interior trim panels, you can reattach them to the panel with 2-part epoxy glue.

Reinstall the headliner to the car:

Reverse the removal steps to re-install the headliner into the car.

Start one edge over the side trim panels and then raise the headliner into position over the other side trim panels.

Re-install the sun visors, dome lamp, seat belt upper loops and any other items that were previously removed

Lightly brush the headliner to remove marks & fingerprints.

If any of the trim clips break off of the interior trim panels, you can reattach them to the panel with 2-part epoxy glue.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    HemiBill

Member since: 05/30/2012

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bullfeather - Apr 23, 2016

Reply

Excellent directions. I’d like to see a well made video of the procedure! Thanks,

Dub

Patti L Walton - Apr 18, 2018

Reply

Thank you so much. I’ve never tried anything like this before, you’ve made it seem like even I can do it. I’m excited to save a cpl hundred by doing it myself!

Michael Smith - Oct 13, 2019

Reply

I like the steps you laid out. Its a very easy job of you have patience. Its a virtue in itself. All headliners are made different and from different material. Thank you for sharing this,