After refurbishing the seat frames a couple of years ago, I was amazed at the price of these replacement chintzy vinyl seat covers. So, I slapped the old covers back on, hosed them down with some vinyl lube, and called it a day.
Here we are, with past problems announcing their presence louder than ever. The edges of the cracked and torn spots are now starting to curl up, looking worse than ever. Continuing down my path of using the wrong tool for the job, but having the best intentions, I whipped out a tube of super glue, some washers, and a roll of painter’s tape.
My experience with every other type of glue I have used – rubber cement, upholstery spray adhesive, E6000, Clear Gel Gorilla Glue, among others I’m forgetting – is nothing sticks for more than a season. So, now we try the absolute wrong thing. But hey, the thought was to get the top vinyl to stick to the mesh/fabric backing, which is still intact.
I figured those little washers could help entice the curling edges to lay flat and the painter’s tape would hold it all in place long enough for the glue to set.
And, of course, this doozy, which I added a backing vinyl patch, glued in with one or more of the aforementioned non-sticking glue.
I glue it real super-good and tried again.
Back when I put the covers back on the front passenger seat, I apparently missed one of the bend-over-stabby-keep-it-in-place tabs… First time I rocked the seat back forward, it tore a big hole in the seat cover and new padding below. So here we are, couple years later, cleaning up an old mess…
You know what? While we’re here, let’s see if we can’t make that vinyl wrap stick once and for all below the rear passenger window…
