Jeeps are versatile automobiles because you can use them for both on- and off-road driving. In warmer weather, you can remove the top from your Jeep and bask in the sunshine. Whether you have a hard-top or a soft-top Jeep, you can easily get scratches in the Jeep top from adverse weather conditions, from squirrels, birds and other critters and from tree branches and twigs. You can get scratches out of a Jeep top with either a plastic filler or a vinyl repair kit, depending on if you have a hard- or soft-top.
Clean the hard top on the Jeep with 1/8 cup of dish washing liquid and warm water in a bucket. Dip a sponge into the solution and thoroughly clean the scratches.
Apply plastic filler to the Jeep scratches on the hard top with a 2-inch putty knife. Spread the plastic filler putty on the scratch and smooth it with the putty knife. Fill the entire scratch with the plastic filler. You can purchase the plastic filler from home improvement stores, hardware stores, online and some auto shops may even carry it.
Remove excess plastic filler with a utility knife. Cut the filler putty from the edges of the scratch with the knife and carefully lift it off with your fingers. Be careful not to cut into the plastic hard top with the knife. Let the plastic filler harden overnight.
Smooth the scratch with 50-grit sandpaper. Buff the edges to blend the scratch even with the rest of the hard top.
Apply car wax with a clean soft cloth to polish the scratch.
Remove excess wax with a clean, soft cloth and repeat these steps for other scratches.
Clean the scratch on the Jeep soft top by wiping it with a damp cloth.
Mix the catalyst and resin included in your vinyl repair kit in a bowl to form a creamy paste. You can purchase the vinyl repair kit at automotive shops, hardware stores, home improvement stores and online.
Apply the vinyl filler paste to the scratch with the spatula applicator included with the kit. Smooth around the scratch with the spatula.
Remove all excess vinyl filler with the edge of the spatula. Be very careful that you don’t gouge the soft top with the spatula. Allow 24 hours for the vinyl filler to set.
Repeat the application for other soft-top scratches.
