leebottrill Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Hey guys. I'm starting to get worried. These photos are not mine, but this is precisely what is happening to my roof right now! Has anyone roadster owners had this problem? I've got it booked in to Nissan exeter next weekend! I believe this has happened when i have tried to put the roof down in the colder weather. Any advise or help would be much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebedy Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Seriously, if your car is not under warranty dont take it to a dealership. They know nothing about these roofs. I can see properly from the pics whether these are riveter or bonded on. If this section is rivited on, just drill em out and re-rivet them with a small 10mm Washer to prevent them from pulling through again. Use some glue too like contact adhessive. Dealer will only do the same and charge you a fortune. You can pick up a rivet gun for 8 quit in machine mart. The roof should not be opperated under a certain cold temp. Not shure what at hand, as the roof material does indeed get stiff. If you need it down over winter make sure you have heating on in your garage or if not, put the heater on full blast in ya car for 20 mins which will soften the material. This is one of the main causes of the fith bow motor failure. Its weak as it is. Putting undue and extra loading on it from stiff material eventually leads to failure. Ill take a look at mine tonight and compare the same section and will get back to you Zeb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will370z Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Agreed, many dealers don't know how to work with the 350 roof. Sly at Kaizer was telling me engineers cover a 2 day course to work on them. If something is not 100% right it will go wrong and be costly. I had a similar thing with mine, but not as bad as that, wasnt an issue though as i changed the car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leebottrill Posted November 17, 2014 Author Share Posted November 17, 2014 Mine aren't as bad as the photos, but they are getting worse. Its the rivets that have bent not the bar. I could just bend them back. But I wouldn't want to snap them off completely. I chatted to a guy in Exeter dealership and he sounded like he know what he was talking about. He's had a zed himself. I've emailed him this too. The roof still works and is lubricated regularly. If the dealership can't help, who can? :/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zxrob Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Mine aren't as bad as the photos, but they are getting worse. Its the rivets that have bent not the bar. I could just bend them back. But I wouldn't want to snap them off completely. I chatted to a guy in Exeter dealership and he sounded like he know what he was talking about. He's had a zed himself. I've emailed him this too. The roof still works and is lubricated regularly. If the dealership can't help, who can? :/ If you do take it there, get a quote first or at least a rough cost Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leebottrill Posted November 18, 2014 Author Share Posted November 18, 2014 UPDATE. Right my roof isnt retracting at all now ive left it in the sun all morning and tried it again and its getting stuck on the last bit! Ive got the number of a convertible roof specialist in plymouth. He said they have done loads of roofs on zeds so fingers crossed! GUTTED!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will370z Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Good luck. May be worth calling Sly at Kaizer motors (trader on here) as he knows all there is to know about the zed and has gone through the training with the 350 roof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Well, sad to report that Caroline's roof has a one inch long tear on the outside, is it possible to patch it? The cars not here at the moment but I'll get some photos up on Thursday. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebedy Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Hi Pete, there is aproduct on ebay for patching it up from the inside. Kit comes with clear patches and glue. All done from the inside. Pretty good stuff and cheap. Just ebay search for convertable roof repair kit. His products come up all over the place. Highly reccomend. Also might be worth looking at the rear corners on the inside where the fith bow sits in the corners. They tend to split there as there is alot of tension on the roof at this point from the bow. When I change my roof (done by JACK SMITH, SWANSEA for £280 all in) he will be putting leather pads on these points to re-enforce the vunerable corners. @ leebotril. If your roof is not lifting at all. Get your partner to sit in the car and foot on brake and press the button. Stand outside on the drivers side and slowly manually lift the window section up until it hits the microswitch (pull section all the way open untill its just over vertical). The hard shell will then move (open) and the front of the roof will begin to retract. If the window section does not drop down into the stow away part of the car, go to the passanger side of the car, and press the microswitch thats located at the 5th bow pivot point down at the bottom. Keep your finger on it untill the rear window section starts to fall. Take your finger off the switch after about 2 secs and all should just carry on with the proceedure untill its ready to drive. Sound like you are having issues with the 5th bow motor???? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leebottrill Posted November 18, 2014 Author Share Posted November 18, 2014 Hi zzzebady. my roof works completely fine until the last 6 inches or so. This has happened in the past when the temp has been cold. but not its happening in the hot now! I am able to put the roof back up so i am not completely stuck! If you look at my photos above, you will see the bent metal where the material is held. I believe this is what is causing the problem. I think this is obstructing it at the last bit of the closing. I have found someone with this problem, and he just bend the bits back and it worked fine, but im a bit anxious to just start bending bits back. I am going to take it to this specialist and let them have a good look at it. They will give it a good lubrication at the same time, and hopefully fix the bent metal. Nissan said that piece couldnt be replaced, i would need to replace the whole fabric roof if they couldnt fix it, which seem silly, as the roof is spotless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leebottrill Posted November 19, 2014 Author Share Posted November 19, 2014 UPDATE. Had a chat with this guy in Plymouth. He runs Auto trim and has seen loads of 350z's in with roof problems. He couldn't say what it was without seeing it, but did say that the elastic straps above our heads need changing every 5 years, and when they weaken the roof may not retract property. Hence the material not folding correctly, hence the stressed metal. He thinks he can rivet the bent bar back into place (as mentioned above) Fingers crossed. I'll keep you all updated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebedy Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 YE Hes correct regarding the elastic bands. Get them from nissan or cheaper from a habodashory's (sewing shop) but you will need a rivet gun to re-do these bands. its an easy job. If I was closer Id do it for you. Keep us posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebedy Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 read this too from another u.s. forum http://my350z.com/forum/350z-roadster/315007-convertible-top-problem.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will370z Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 UPDATE. Had a chat with this guy in Plymouth. He runs Auto trim and has seen loads of 350z's in with roof problems. He couldn't say what it was without seeing it, but did say that the elastic straps above our heads need changing every 5 years, and when they weaken the roof may not retract property. Hence the material not folding correctly, hence the stressed metal. He thinks he can rivet the bent bar back into place (as mentioned above) Fingers crossed. I'll keep you all updated Sounds like he knows what he is doing so thats a good sign Pete - regarding the tear the best stuff i used was stormsure - its a glue they use for wetsuits. It is great but there is only so much that can do. If it has ripped then its only a matter of time before it gets worse given the tension put into the roof material 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Thanks ZZZebady and Will. The split is at the rear on the drivers side as you say, the area that has the highest tension. I'll look into it and try and get something fixed up over the weekend as the water is making the seatbelt wet . I will post some photos in this thread but the car isn't here right now and it's dark both in the morning and when Caroline gets home. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebedy Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 yep lol wet seat belt exactly like mine. If you need a roof at any point, come down to South Wales, Swansea where Jack Smith does his magic. New roof using the oem rear window. Takes him one day to strip and re-fit for £280 and offers a good guarantee on his work. All the MX-5 community raves about him and come from all over the UK just for his work. Ill keep you all posted when I get mine. Also if you want a different colour, he can do but prices double up almost. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebedy Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 here you go pete - this is what I used - cheap and really good. Ive also got some black vinyl too if you need some for the outside. Not a match I know but ok for now till I get a new roof. But with this stuff is clear and is all done from the inside like partching up a bycicle tube http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stormsure-Soft-Top-Car-Hood-Roof-Repair-Kit-Convertible-Cabriolet-Fabric-Windows-/171539893894?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item27f0930e86#ht_2263wt_1199 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 yep lol wet seat belt exactly like mine. If you need a roof at any point, come down to South Wales, Swansea where Jack Smith does his magic. New roof using the oem rear window. Takes him one day to strip and re-fit for £280 and offers a good guarantee on his work. All the MX-5 community raves about him and come from all over the UK just for his work. Ill keep you all posted when I get mine. Also if you want a different colour, he can do but prices double up almost. * This'll be our destination when we get it done, probably in the spring. I can take it down and get the train home as I have a train pass and do the opposite when its ready to pick up. I can also visit my daughter while I'm at it, she lives in Cardiff . Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 Here's what it looks like. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leebottrill Posted November 26, 2014 Author Share Posted November 26, 2014 UPDATE. Roof fixed replaced the straps between second and third bar. Reattached the bent bit that holds the fabric down. Now works perfectly. £140. The rubber straps were £40 of that though. There called autotrim, located in ivybridge. Highly recommended. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will370z Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Nice one. This question comes up a lot so hopefully that recommendation will be passed on to other members. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leebottrill Posted November 26, 2014 Author Share Posted November 26, 2014 (edited) I hope so . Its really stressful and gutting when you realise your roof doesn't work. Not helped by the dealers drawling at the prospect of screwing you . Its nice to find a genuine business that gives a @*!#. Edited November 27, 2014 by leebottrill 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leebottrill Posted November 26, 2014 Author Share Posted November 26, 2014 (edited) Edited November 27, 2014 by leebottrill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shades Rs Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I can also vouch for jack smiths in Swansea, excellent service and very reasonable. My Experience with older convertible roofs.. I tend to give the car a quick wash before retracting roof, not only is it nice driving a clean car with the roof down it helps soften up the material to prevent cracking/splitting etc. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unreal Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Here's what it looks like. Pete I have a similar tear to repair. Not bothered about an invisible fix as the car will only be driven top down and I just need the roof to be leak free for the occasional shower. Has anyone used the Stormsure product or anything similar and how effective was it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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