The headliner on a Volkswagen 2002 GTI is the fabric board attached to the car's ceiling. With a can of spray adhesive and a new liner, you can easily reglue any headliner fabric. Even if you do not replace all the fabric, you can use spray adhesive to reglue problem areas on the headliner.
Unscrew the sun visors, overhead lights, door handles and coat hangers from the car. Use a screwdriver to pop out the pillar and overhead trim holding the headliner in place.
Lower the back seats as far as possible and maneuver the headliner out through the passenger door.
Remove the old fabric from the headliner. This could be really easy or it might be somewhat difficult. Scrape away the old glue with a putty knife. Use a heat gun to soften any stubborn glue. Throw away the old liner.
Clean the surface of the headliner board. Spread a glue remover over the surface with work cloths. Allow the remover to sit for about five minutes. Wipe away the glue residue with clean, wet work cloths.
Sand the surface of the headliner to remove any remaining residue and to smooth the surface in preparation for the new liner and glue. Rub a cloth over the headliner board to check the smoothness of the surface. The smoother the board, the better the new cloth will adhere to the board and the more professional the job will look.
Spray the surface of the headliner with spray adhesive. Place the new liner cloth over the headliner. Smooth out the fabric by gently spreading your hands out from the center of the liner board toward the edges. Do not use your fingers, just the palm of your hand. Fingers can leave strange depressions in the liner surface. You can also use a flat, smooth object like a hardcover book. Allow the glue to dry for about two hours.
Open all of the doors in the vehicle. Slide the headliner through the passenger doors. Make sure the headliner is facing the correct way before placing it inside the vehicle.
Snap the headliner back against the ceiling. Reattach the trim pieces and screw them into place. Screw the handles, lights, visors and clothing hooks back into place.
