Convertible Top Repair

[111]

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<span style="font-size: 11pt">As you can see from the pictures the top is not in great shape, yet I've water tested it and other than the one tear in the side(pic 3&4), it does not leak. The vinyl is actually in pretty good shape on the top, it is just that the underside has some issues and the plastic windows are not clear.
Long term I will obviously need to get a new top if I want it to look sharp all the time, but down here in S Florida I plan on leaving the top down year round except for when it is raining. It will stay in the garage when not in use.
So I was wondering if anyone has had good luck cleaning the windows that may have been like mine, and patching the vinyl to prevent water intrusion?</span>

 

[David_DuBois]

The tear can be fixed by stitching a gusset on the inside, best done by a boat top shop or an awning shop. the windows can be polished clear using any of the plastic polishes on the market today. It take a lot of elbow grease or you can use one of the "power balls", such as sold under the Mother's brand name, chucked in a 1/4" drill. That method is a bit messy but reduces the amount of time spent polishing.
Cheers,

 

[111]

Someone suggested using Pledge on the windows, but I have no idea if that will work or not. As to the tear, I am not sure what a gusset is, but I will call a few more places to see if they can do such a repair. The few I called prior to posting the thread all wanted to replace it with a new top, not try to repair it. I suspect it might have to do with $$$, but maybe I am being too cynical.

 

[aerog]

Pledge is good for cleaning, but it won't polish them.

You're braver than I am - the sun is too hot for me except in the winter. Top-up with the back window out though is pretty good

 

[David_DuBois]

You're braver than I am - the sun is too hot for me except in the winter. Top-up with the back window out though is pretty good

You've got that right. The zip out rear window is the greatest thing since sliced bread

 

[111]

Pledge is good for cleaning, but it won't polish them.

You're braver than I am - the sun is too hot for me except in the winter. Top-up with the back window out though is pretty good

That is why people live in places like S Florida, to enjoy year round sunshine. Granted it is pretty hot for the next two months, but any other time it is paradise.

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I contacted several other places(both car and boat top) Only one said they would attempt the repair, and they want $100-$150 to do it with no guarantees as to if it will hold. Another place recommended I get a piece of black vinyl and Gorilla glue it to the tear. He said it is strong enough to hold, and flexible enough to not come apart. So I might try that unless others have any more suggestions?
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[JPSmit]

quick look on ebay - that money is 1/2 the cost of a new one. repair it yourself and drive.

 

[aerog]

That is why people live in places like S Florida, to enjoy year round sunshine. Granted it is pretty hot for the next two months, but any other time it is paradise.

I'm in Florida and..."paradise" is debatable

In any event - I just put a zippered rear-window top on my Miata and it extended the non-AC driving by quite a bit. Before that the MG was much better in the heat (sans-AC that is).

PS: I know Miata owners in Texas, NM, and AZ that leave their tops down year-round, even when it's in the 100s so - whatever turns 'ya on

 

[111]

quick look on ebay - that money is 1/2 the cost of a new one. repair it yourself and drive.

<span style="font-size: 11pt">Heck I am not sure I even want to get a new one after last nights discovery. While the roof did not leak water, water was coming in on the sides where the roof meets the doors window. I had everything taut and snapped together, but water finds it's way in between the roof flap and the window. However when I put the flap on the outside of the window after I loosened and unsnapped everything, no water came in at all.

Am I missing something, or are these cars designed to where some water is expected to come in the top of the doors window?</span>

I'm in Florida and..."paradise" is debatable

In any event - I just put a zippered rear-window top on my Miata and it extended the non-AC driving by quite a bit. Before that the MG was much better in the heat (sans-AC that is).

PS: I know Miata owners in Texas, NM, and AZ that leave their tops down year-round, even when it's in the 100s so - whatever turns 'ya on

<span style="font-size: 11pt">Don't get me wrong, I'm all for leaving it down 24/7/365, but I also do not want to have the interior get flooded when it rains.</span>

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[aerog]

The "flaps" should stay inside the window, but the window should push up against that "flap" and up toward the gutter on top. It isn't much of a seal and <span style="font-style: italic">will leak</span> in a heavy thunderstorm if the rain hits it correctly from the side.

There are other sources of leaks too: the header has a hefty seal that may need to be renewed or it may be cut short, letting water run to the top of the vent-window frame (and then inside).

Mine isn't the absolute best fitting top around the windows but it's pretty good. I've been in some horrible thunderstorms with it with very little leakage. The first one I was in was up on I10 doing 50-60mph in heavy rain and wind. It revealed some bad leaks around the right and left pillars of the windshield, but the windows themselves only had a few spritzes of water that didn't amount to much.

 

[aerog]

This is how the top should fit around the window opening and on top of the vent-window frame. There's not much of a "positive" seal like a Miata might have, but the fabric should tend to lay up against the glass (or close to it).

<span style="font-size: 8pt">Click to enlarge...</span>