Miata soft top won't go down?: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Nov. 3, 2011 7:55 p.m. thestig99 Reader

Today marks the one week anniversary of purchasing my Miata. Also my first problem.

The top won't go down beyond this point:

Being a Miata noob, and knowing nothing about the operation of any convertible top, I'll try my best with the description.

This is not the original top to the car, it has a glass window and no zipper section.

Previously the top would go down to this point and stop and I would have to pull forward/down on the top of the window, then it would just fall into place.

From this position upward to latch it works as well as it always has (pain to latch, seems like the latch on the top doesn't meet the one on the windshield frame quite like it's supposed to. Have to pull down and push the top to the left).

So, um, what do? Light google-ing hasn't found me much.
Nov. 3, 2011 7:59 p.m. peter Reader

look carefully at the bow directly above the glass window. it may need to be slid forward a bit by hand until it hits the next-most-forward bow. that happens to my top occasionally.

edit - this is to get the top to go down. your top-going-up issue may be related to the same bow not moving. you may find that getting the top to go all the way down will allow it to come all the way up OK.
Nov. 3, 2011 8:08 p.m. thestig99 Reader

^Like a boss.

Indeed there was some canvas folded between those two bows. Not only does the top now go down in one smooth motion, it did come back up easier than it ever has. Thanks for the tip!
Nov. 3, 2011 9:47 p.m. wlkelley3 Dork

Looks like you got it. Mine has always done that, even with the factory top. When I replaced it with a Robbins cloth w/glass window we found a snapped cable in the side. Replaced it. The new top was tight and is still a bit tough to latch but it is getting better each time. I found that bar sometimes needs help moving forward and folding the glass window down by light pushing the top of the glass down just enough to make sure it folds properly does the trick every time.