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  1. #1
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    How to polish Jeep soft top windows

    How To Polish Jeep Soft Top Windows

    My 2010 Jeep Wrangler has a soft top that has been neglected. The windows are hazy, scratched and dirty. Here's is my method of clearing up the plastic windows. It was hard to get great pictures of plastic windows but I hope these pictures can help you if you need to clear up some plastic windows. The results were far better than I expected and probably saved me from buying a new top.






    This is a picture of a side window that is a good example of the type of scratches that I am trying to clean up


    Preparation:
    Remove windows from the Jeep.

    Clean the plastic windows very well with glass cleaner.

    Clay the plastic windows.

    Tape off the canvas area of the windows.

    Polishing:





    Step 1:

    Using a dual action polisher, polish the plastic windows with a polish with Aggressiveness = 4, according to the Autopia Polish Comparison Chart. I used Optimum Polish II and a green Hex Logic pad.

    Use heavy pressure. I pressed hard enough to almost slow down the polisher. The pad will get warm.

    Wipe away polish with a quality microfiber towel.

    Step 2:

    Using a dual action polisher, polish the plastic windows with a polish with Aggressiveness = 2, according to the Autopia Polish Comparison Chart. I used Chemical Guys V38 and a white Hex Logic pad.

    Use heavy pressure.

    Wipe away polish with a quality microfiber towel.

    Finishing

    Wipe down plastic windows with 15% isopropyl alcohol/85% water solution.

    Dry windows with your softest microfiber cloth.

    Final results

    Incredible difference in person, if you can't tell from the pictures. Plastic windows are clear. The worst scratches (the ones that made it hard to see) are cleared up. There are some swirls left but they do not affect the driver's vision. Here are some pictures of the final results:


    Picture of The Mouse under the plastic window after polishing- yes that Mickey is UNDER the plastic window!



    Reinstalled in the Jeep


    I will be happy to answer any questions. I'm super happy with these results!

  2. Thanks LostInTransit thanked for this post
  3. #2
    Super Member Paul A.'s Avatar
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    Re: How to polish Jeep soft top windows

    Wow! Those came out incredible. Nicely done, Kirk. The only time i tried those kind of windows I was nervous about the stitching holding them on to the canvas letting go so i braced them from behind with a piece of thin plywood. I didn't remove them from the Jeep and looks like that's the way to go. Good procedure. Thanks.

  4. #3
    Super Member Sizzle Chest's Avatar
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    Re: How to polish Jeep soft top windows

    Nice work! They really came out!!! Wow!
    Scott Harle
    Autodermatology
    #autodermatology


  5. #4
    Super Member LEDetailing's Avatar
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    Re: How to polish Jeep soft top windows

    I hate soft plastic convertible windows, always wish they would use glass or hard plastic. Between wrinkling and oxidizing it's a lot of work. I don't see glass being possible with the Jeep Wrangler soft top.

    Your Mickey picture speaks for itself. Very impressive results, great work.

  6. #5
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    Re: How to polish Jeep soft top windows

    I had a Jeep Wrangler with a soft top I had the dealer swap out the plastic for glass doors from another jeep on the lot. I went through what you guys are going through with my 92 Renegade No fun

  7. #6
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    Re: How to polish Jeep soft top windows

    I have yet to find a good polish for plastic windows/side curatins/boat windows. Plastix was no good and I have always liked Meguiars #10 and #11, but they are more of a chemical cleaner and protectant.

    I have not found anything good for using the DA-I used Poliseal in the past for a plastic clear bra and it worked very well cleaning up the marring with a DA. Maybe I will give that a try.

  8. #7
    Mike Phillips
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    Re: How to polish Jeep soft top windows

    Quote Originally Posted by 74 thing View Post


    Plastix was no good


    I taught a detailing class for a Jeep club on Saturday after our Cars & Coffee car show and used PlastX with a 5.5" LC white foam polishing pad on the flexible clear window on a Jeep top and it worked perfect.


    I have the pictures of the class too



  9. #8
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    Re: How to polish Jeep soft top windows

    Mine were pretty bad. I had tried PlastX. I figured I should throw in a "compounding" step, and they came out better than I ever expected!

    My wife thinks I am a magician now!

  10. #9
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    Re: How to polish Jeep soft top windows

    Mike do you happen to have the link of that detail you used PlastX on? What speed did you run the PC at and how much pressure (I know it is hard with the top installed. Also, did you check the window at various angles of light-ie sun or flashlight?

    Maybe it is the clear vinyl plastic on my top or the older container of PlastX, but it scratched a lot when I tried it and I ended up throwing it out.

    Maybe I shall try a new bottle-I would hate for it to happen again though.

  11. #10
    Super Member PaulMys's Avatar
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    Re: How to polish Jeep soft top windows

    Awesome results, and great thread!

    My wife has a BestTop with the tinted plastic windows. Looks like the ones you polished were tinted as well?

    Sorry, hard to tell from the pics looking at them on my crappy old laptop.
    It is no coincidence that man's best friend cannot talk.

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