98 V70 front door interior panels torn up

[98v70dad]

Thanks folks. The previous owner of my car sort of trashed the interior. They had a big dog and two small children. I don't want to put a bunch of money into it since it will still look (and smell) bad overall when I'm done.

I have already tried a hot vinyl repair kit. You get a bunch of pots of colored goo, several textured plastic sheets and a little hot iron to cure it with. I was surprised how well it all worked, but you really cant fix a tear at the edge of a panel. It would work pretty well though for damage away from the middle which unfortunately is not what I have.

[98v70dad]

It seems that everyone has assumed that I have delaminating panels. I don't. I have holes in the vinyl in the lower door panel along the aft edge. It would be fairly easy to strip the vinyl and recover the panels I think.

My upper panels seem fine. They have a material that is like as a cross between headliner material and carpet instead of vinyl or leather

[JRL]

If you don't have delaminated center panels just repair the outer section
You need a professional like these guys
www.fabrion.net

I have this done a lot, done properly one would never know it's a repair

...and the bad glue was ALL years not just 98

[rspi]

I do see good panels in the junk yard from time to time. Most are in great shape other than the shrinking at the handles. If that part is good on your panels you can get another panel and swap that part over, they practically fall apart when removed.

[erikv11]

No one who has posted thinks your car has delaminating door panels.

It sounds like your car has cloth interior (and panels), not vinyl. I'm going to guess your car is a non-turbo, base model? It can help to state that stuff up front so people know what you are working on.

[98v70dad]

Thanks erikv11. There has been a good deal of information and comments posted about delaminating panels. Good info, but not my problem. Perhaps it was supplied as information and something to watch out for if I buy used ones. I appreciate everyone's comments and help but was trying to redirect the conversation to my specific problem. I'm sorry if I offended you in some way.

I bought this car second hand and have no idea how many and what different trim options were available. Again, I don't know what trim level I have because it isn't badged on the car anywhere. I would guess its a base model. I do know its a non-turbo, but had no idea that would have anything to do with the interior. I've never owned a car where the engine type was linked to the interior choices.

My car has a cloth interior. The upper part of the door panel is cloth that matches the seats. The bottom part of the door panels is definitely vinyl.

[erikv11]

Sure, it wouldn't be the first time I overreacted, no worries. And I'm not a boss here, I just like to post. Anyway, wanted to let you know we are following you. Very clear description on the interior now, got it.

Seems like you have a few options, post up if you figure out (or even try!) some solution.

[JRL]

Just do what I said, call a Fabrion franchise using the link I gave you, if there are none near you, see if there is anyone near you who repairs vinyl.
It's fairly easy to do for an expert and if done properly you will never know there was damage

THIS IS YOUR BEST WAY TO GO and it's not expensive

[98v70dad]

JRL, all of the tears in my vinyl are along the edge where the vinyl wraps around the heardboard backing. In my experience invisibile repairs like you proposed in that location are very difficult to do. If the tears were out in the middle of the panel you can't even tell they were done but at the edge is the worst possible place I think. I may be thinking of something other than what you suggested, but the vinyl repairs I'm thinking of use a liquid or powdered form of vinyl which is mixed to the right color cured with heat and textured with a plastic texture sheet to match the original vinyl. You cant hit the material at the edge with a flat curing iron and you also can't wrap the texture sheet around the edge. You also end up with a repair at a high stress area. I've already tried a vinyl repair and being on the edge of the panel is an issue both because of the look of the finished repair and because it tears very easily again due to its location.

Anyhow you may be thinking of another process, but the website you linked me to doesn't reveal much about what they do and how they do it. Thanks for the idea. If it turns out that its something other than what I thought I'll check it out more.

[bill d cat]

I have had the DS door panel repaired by a vinyl repair guy. You can't see the repair unless you look for it.

I'm on my third DS seat belt assembly. The older ones didn't always retract completely and were easy to shut the door on. Belt #3 is fine -- like many things Volvo, they finally got it right about the time that they discontinued the model. I don't think the problem was the fault of the OP's Evil Previous Owner.

My '98 T5 has a velour cloth interior -- the cloth door panels don't delaminate. (The downside of the cloth interior is that I need to reupholster/rebuild my driver's seat again, the fabric seat cover is NLA from Volvo, the used cloth seats on eBay are in worse shape than mine, and the oddball fabric pattern Volvo specified is unique. I'm not yet at the point of using duct tape, but it's getting there.)