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Tools Required: Recovering a molded headliner panel usually requires only your ordinary home tool box kit, plus a pair of sharp scissors, a whisk broom, an automotive heat-resistant spray glue and patience.

Steps to Follow: Read all these instructions through at least once, including the glue tip at the end, before beginning, to ensure you understand the process.

1. See if your vehicle has a molded headliner panel.

Molded headliner panels were introduced into the automobile industry, depending on the make and model of your vehicle, from approximately 1973 to date. To determine if your vehicle has a molded headliner panel is fairly easy. Simply open all doors, look up at the headliner. If the headliner has seams across from left to right and are spaced front to rear, then it is sewn-seam headliner, and the instructions in this article do NOT apply. If you don't see any seams then you have a molded headliner panel that, in most cases, can be recovered. (We'll discuss replacing a sewn-seam headliner in a future article.)

2. Remove the molded headliner panel.

To recover a molded headliner panel, you must remove it from the vehicle. Normally you will see moldings that surround the headliner panel. You must remove these first, taking care not to damage them or their fasteners. You must also remove any coat hangers, dome lights, visors etc. On some models, you will see plastic fasteners going through the headliner panel, again these need to be removed without damaging them, as they will need to be reused.

Once the moldings and other headliner components have been removed, the headliner panel will drop down. Push the front seat/seats all the way to the rear of the vehicle. Put the headliner panel under the steering wheel. Take the left front corner of the headliner panel (the corner closest to the windshield on the driver's side) and turn it toward the front passenger door. Carefully remove the panel through the front passenger door.

3. Remove the old covering and foam backing.

Once the headliner panel is removed from the vehicle, turn it over so the covered side is up. You will notice a cloth (or, on some models, a vinyl) covering. Carefully remove the cloth/vinyl. You will now notice a thin layer of foam, this foam must be removed. The best way to remove the foam layer is to gently rub it off using a small whisk broom, being careful not to damage the panel.

4. Mark the center of the panel and the new covering.

Once the panel has been completely cleaned of cloth and foam, mark the center front and rear of the panel. Roll out your new foam backed headliner material and mark its front and rear centers, as well. Lay the new material on the panel and line the marks up front and rear to the marks you made on the panel.

5. Apply glue.

Carefully fold back the foam-backed material to the rear of the panel (in other words fold it in half), so that you see the foam on half of the material. Using an automotive heat-resistant spray glue, spray the foam on the foam-backed material, using a moderate coating of glue. Now cover the exposed surface of the headliner panel with glue, using a heavier coating of glue than you used on the foam. Let the glue tack off; at 70 degrees it takes about 4 to 5 minutes. Now, using your hands, slowly roll the glued material on to the glued panel, gently pressing down on the material and smoothing the material from center and left to right as you progress to the front of the panel.

It is probably best to let the glued half dry for about 15 minutes before proceeding to the next step.

6. Repeat this process on the rear portion - that is, fold the rear half back to expose the foam backing, cover the foam backing and the panel with glue, allow to tack off, then carefully smooth the covering onto the panel. Wait at least a half-hour before proceeding to the next step.

7. Trim the edges of the new covering.

If your vehicle has molding around the headliner, trim off all excess material around edges, leaving the material about ½ inch longer than the panel. If your vehicle has no molding, do not trim the foam-backed material - instead, leave about 1 ¼ inch all around and fold it under and glue it to the underside of the panel.

Now cut out any hole openings necessary for visors, dome light, etc.

8. Reinstall the panel in the vehicle.

To reinstall the panel, reverse the process in which you removed it and reinstall all moldings, clips, visors etc., keeping the panel centered to the vehicle.

A Tip When Using Glue: Test-glue a small portion of the foam-backed material to the headliner panel to ensure that the correct amount of glue is used on both the material and panel to provide proper bonding.

If you are unsure about one of the steps in this process, or your vehicle appears to be different than described, feel free to give us a call and we'll help you get your headliner recovered. You can reach us at (702) 656-1734.

For more information: ABC Auto Upholstery Auto Glass and Repair

e-mail: abcautoupholstery@msn.com

Disclaimer: These instructions are provided as a free service for the most common types of molded headliner recovering process. If in doubt, or if you have any questions about your particular vehicle's molded headliner recovering process, or your interpretation of these recovering instructions, it is your responsibility to contact abcautoupholstery@msn.com for further information. Some molded headliner recovering instructions may vary depending on the year, make and model of your vehicle.

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