Does anyone know how to replace the fabric layer on the ceiling of a '97 4-door SL2? Most of the fabric has come down and some is hanging in strips. The material above the fabric is like fine compressed particles of some sort, nothing like glue or staples sticks to it. The Saturn dealership is asking $700 just to replace the fabric. Way too much for me right now.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Also, does anyone know if that fine particulate material is toxic?

 

That is the glue that holds the headliner in. You can do it yourself. Take out headliner,clean old glue with a wire brush,be gentle around the edges,if you break them off duct tape them back on the back side. Buy the fabric and some 3m spray glue. Make sure you glue the edges good and when you cut any holes for visers,etc. use a razor blade and cut an x instead of poking a hole. DO NOT oversoak the fabric with glue or get the glue on the fabric. Fold it in half and do one side at a time while covering the other side with plastic. Good luck. I have done thousands.

 

Geez Louise -- did someone go bonkers in there with a utility knife?

They actually make headliner spray adhesive for this purpose.

 

Using the wonders of YouTube, I have found this wonderful video showing how to redo your headliner. Video is ten minutes long. Looks like the process will be a weekend project if you have the supplies and attitude for it. Good luck! I know the vid is about a Jeep, but the process is the same for a Saturn (I like his presentation).

 

I'd go to the junkyard and look for a good headliner and replace the dang thing. It's not that difficult. I replaced both of the ones in the SC Coupes I had and the one in my 99 Dodge Grand Caravan. The pick a part in Nashville charged me fifteen bucks for each one. A hell of a deal! If you try to do the fabric yourself, you'd better make sure you get EVERY bit of that old glue off. If not, it's a waste of time because you'll have a spot where the fabric won't stick. And if it doesn't stick, it'll cause a bubble which will lead to a sag and then the whole thing will eventually come back down.

 

My nephew just suffered that exact fate with what used to be my 95SC2 headliner. Started sagging w in days

 

I have heard the cig smoke desolves the foam and the fabric falls off.

 

I have heard cig smoke dissolves the inner lung material and the years fall off...

 

Don't give me nightmares of cleaning the inside of the windows of the family van back when my parents smoked. Dad liked cigars and mom likes cigs. Turned a white towel brown real quick. Thankfully they quit 18 years ago.

Don't remember the ceilings giving out in the cars though.

 

I do a lot of automotive repairs myself, but upholstery work on the interior is not one of them. I find an automotive upholsterer and save the money and have some one do it for me. I would not at any time, take a car back to the dealer for that kind of work unless I was very well BUCKS UP. But I did have the headliner on my Saturn Coupe replaced and while I do not remember today what it cost, it was affordable and well done. And certainly a whole lot less than $700.00. If memory serves me correctly that was a number that gets awfully close to what it cost to have all the seats reupholstered which was also done at a later date.