For those of you who have or having this problem... It appears as if there is a fix. Went to my dealer Saturday and they are wating to hear back from Acura. They replaced the first one a few weeks ago for another TL owner. Acura sent them a better fitting headliner assembly or something. Waiting to hear when I should bring the car back in.

 

i talked to a service manager at the dealer i bought my TL from. They said the official Acura fix is suppose to come in around this week. He said he would be giving me a call and a few others that have come in for this problem. Hopefully they will fix it for good.

I made sure to advise him that the two things that make the headliner fall are:

1) when the sunroof is open the wind goes between the roof and headliner seperating the two.

2) the heat

Good luck and God's speed.

 

Let us know, thanks.

The opened roof is definitely the key making it worse.

 

Glad to hear you guys are getting it fixed

 

Save your time, as many others have said, epoxy and a few minutes in the garage and you can easily fix the sagging headliner problem yourself.

Get the 'quick set' type, you don't have to tape the velcro squares up while it sets, and in an hour you can snap the velcro fasteners back together.

 

Guys,

Could this mean that Acura has started building cars that have the better attachment system? You would think that the fix would simply be take right off the assembly line so that may mean that perhaps midyear models won't suffer from the sagging headliners. Well, I'll keep you guys updated. Just 2 more days then she's all mine. Just took care of the insurance and financing today. Hehehehehe.

dsc888

 

The Headliner issue isn't a huge issue. Remember problems speak louder than compliments. People will come on and post when their headliner falls, but they won't come in and make a thread each day it doesn't.

 

GaleForce, I concur wholeheartedly. People like to take the time to bitch, but compliments take way too much time.

 

Be careful man - I too used the quick set and it says to let it cure 24 hours. No sense rushing to reattach after one hour (unless the headliner is banging you on the head as you drive) Give it the full 24 so you don't get a weaker bond by connecting it too soon. Just my .02

 

The words "headliner falls", when read by a new or prospective owner, bring to mind the old cloth covered headliners that used to actually fall down and hit you in the head. The headliner in the TL is a plastic shell, and when it "falls" it means it leaves a gap of 1-2" (sometimes less) between the headliner and the sliding panel covering the sunroof. There is no danger of the headliner in the TL actually falling down on your head.

This is one of those problems which are easily corrected. True, Acura should have used the proper adhesive for the velcro at the beginning, but these things happen. A little epoxy makes up for their shortcoming. Now, someone will say "This shouldn't happen in a $35,000 car", which is true, but it did.

Anybody thinking of taking their car to the dealer for the fix should consider doing it themself, saving a trip to the dealer, the possibility of something else getting screwed up, etc.

As said above, why the rush. Wait the 24 hours for the epoxy to bond, and then press the velcro pieces together.

 

Why do it yourself? They told me that they have reengineered new headliners and will install a properly fit piece. Why glue it? I refuse to fix my leased car, especially since it was $35,000. They told me they just replaced one on another car. Has something to do with the size and that's why it bows downward like they do...
Will let you know if they hold true to their word. They are calling me today after they speak to Acura Tech.

 

I will be quite interested to learn of your results. If they do change the headliner, let us know how it looks and fits, and if the colors match exactly.
What you say about the size makes sense, but I fixed mine and after I pushed the velcro pieces together, it fit perfectly. The metal bar to which it attaches is spring steel and flexes, for which there must be a reason but I don't know what it is.

Please keep us posted on your results.

 

For most problems I would agree with you. I too leased the TL. My headliner is not falling, but I've examined it using Ron A/TBone's advice, and I see how it would be easy to apply their fix if the thing does start to sag. Way less inconvenient than taking the car to the dealer. Way more self-satisfaction, plus you know it was done right the first time. Plus no worry that some idiot mechanic smears epoxy on your leather and no one notices it until you pick up the car, by which time it's dry and now they have to replace your seat. Who needs such aggravation when ten minutes of your time will set things straight? Just my 2 cents, though I do understand where you're coming from - in theory the dealership should fix all such problems the first time with no collateral damage. Just not the reality, especially not at some Acura dealers.

 

TLGator,

Or they puncture your seat and replace it.... one thing to note though is that replacment seats have a glossy finish to them.

 

As Ron said in his description on how to fix it.... If it's 2-3 inches then it needs a fix. This is the case with mine. They will do whatever they need to do to fix it.
If it was 1/4 inch or less, then perhaps a DIY would be appropriate, however, according to his message, it must be brought in.

 

Keep in mind that there is an INTENTIONAL gap of a couple of millimeters. At least there is on my car, and if I hold up the headliner to eliminate it, it looks a little better but the the moonroof slide won't slide. So a slight gap was intended. Not sure if a 1/4 inch is too much, though.

 

Well then... You are all right and I was wrong....
These clowns just called me back and said that they can fix it.. What does that mean I asked... They are going to glue it.
So, I guess I just glue the stickers on the and push the headliner back up.
The velcro holds?
Terrible

 

Sorry you had a bad experience. Acura seems to have some issues with dealer care, though there are obviously good dealers, too.

The velcro holds like a vise. The glue used to stick the upper piece of velcro to the car doesn't. Epoxy that bad boy, though, and the headliner will outlive YOU.

 

My dealer put a 3-foot piece of velcro on mine, it fell down yesterday. LAMO, guess they figured it had to stick to at least 2-3 inches of the 3-feet.

 

I am just affraid now that the original velcro stickers will not be there when I look at it tonight.
I brought it in last week for a quick fix. They attached, so they said stronger tape but that still did not hold.

 

If the original top part of the velcro pieces is not there, make them get you replacements. Then, sand the glue off (because the new ones will have glue on them, while ours do not have any sticky stuff left there) but leave the white stuff intact, because that is what you will glue to the upper metal brace.

Also, the original velcro pieces stick to each other really good, so that is what you want to use, The problem is with the glue on the top piece not being any good, but the epoxy will solve that.

Then, see this thread for info on glueing the pieces on so they won’t come loose. http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79379

 

They are prolly using the same teflon tape they use for the sunroof squeak *cough* fix on the 2nd gen CL/TL & accords

 

I was going to wait, but the nail I used to mix the epoxy was so solidly gripped by the left over stuff after an hour I figured it was ready to reattach.

So far so good. Today it was about 120 degrees in my car when I got in after work, that should have completely set the epoxy, if it wasn't already.

 

Embarrassed...
Thank You..Thank you everyone.
Sorry for not listening the first time.
I should have just done what you said. I actually have 12 minute epoxy because I build and fly RC planes. I have always been good with that kind of stuff.
After work, I went right to it. It was pretty easy. All three velcro pieces were still on the bottom piece. It's funny how they used a metal lock for the bottom and just tape for the top. Pretty stupid.
I will let it cure till morning and then press the headliner back up.
At least I know, if this does not hold, it will hold a lot longer and will be easy to fix again.
Thanks again.
Michael

 

would this fix the rattle under the headliner???

 

michaelvq1-Welcome to the "I fixed my own headliner and it didn't ever fall down again" club. Well done.

ravi-there is only one way to find out.

 

So. Before leaving my car at the Path Station, I attached the headliner. The question is, after a night to let it cure, will leaving it outside in the heat cause it to do the same thing? Epoxy is strong, but just worried about the heat and opening the sun roof tonight when I get home.

 

No worries. Genuine epoxy is the King of glues, the Lord of adhesives, the Prince of pieces sticking together.

 

When I was in the new 300c it has a similar headliner cracking issue, the abs molding is creaking. I would love to have my headliner issue addressed.

 

Is the bar on the ceiling that the velcro attaches to painted? If so, the epoxy would be sticking to the paint and you'd be relying on the bond between the paint and the metal. Strength of a paint to metal bond varies.

 

It is spring steel, and is not painted. That doesn't mean there won't be grease or dirt on it, which is why the instructions given in headliner threads say to scrape with a screwdriver or other similar object, use sandpaper, wipe with solvent and then dry completely, and anything else you can think of to thoroughly clean it.

I did everything recommended before applying the epoxy and feel I have made a good bond between the epoxy and the spring steel bar.

 

Well, This morning the gap of the falling headliner caught my eye. At least 2 inches of gap and I could see the three fastners. Had I not left the sunroof open I probably would not have noticed the problem. Oh well, first problem I have encountered thus far.

 

Get the epoxy and fix it yourself.