Checking the soft top

**Z ROADSTER** · 06-08-2009, 08:26 PM

All you guy's with convertible's .
Check the condition of the cloth top on the sides just behind the driver about head high.
While inspecting mine the other day I noticed what appeared to be a worn spot about the size of a quarter. Some bracing must be rubbing on this spot . Haven't noticed any on the passenger side . I put two or three patches on the inside of the top using HD duct tape where you can't see it . It looks like what ever it is its trying to rub a hole in the top there .
Other than that my top looks new & I sure as hell don't want to have to replace it anytime soon .
Just a word of caution.

**Firebirdjones** · 06-09-2009, 11:44 AM

I don't think mine has moved enough yet. I haven't had it down since last summer sometime

**Z ROADSTER** · 06-09-2009, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

I don't think mine has moved enough yet. I haven't had it down since last summer sometime

Well I was in Phoenix last summer and it was like 105 degrees by 9:00 A.M. so I can understand why one might keep the top up with the AC on high in that part of the country .

**Firebirdjones** · 06-10-2009, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by Z ROADSTER

Well I was in Phoenix last summer and it was like 105 degrees by 9:00 A.M. so I can understand why one might keep the top up with the AC on high in that part of the country .

Actually I live up in Prescott where the summers are much more comfortable. We have top down weather 10 months out of the year up here.
It's just that I haven't had the interest to drive the car since last September

**1998z28** · 06-10-2009, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by Z ROADSTER

All you guy's with convertible's .
Check the condition of the cloth top on the sides just behind the driver about head high.

Is it on the inside or the outside? The only spot I have wear is on the outside where the window was going up to high and catching on it. I fixed it now though.

On a sidenote
Don't ever close your door by pushing on the window it will eventually screw up your window and make it loose and not fit right trust me it is a pain to fix.

**Z ROADSTER** · 06-11-2009, 09:51 AM

+2 ON THE DOOR GLASS
The wear appeared to be on both inside & outside of the top material . Its gotta be rubbing something while in the down position .

**1998z28** · 06-11-2009, 02:01 PM

Huh, I checked mine and it seems okay I guess I will just have to check it periodically, just in case.

**Redegal** · 06-17-2009, 05:08 PM

Hi, Iv'e only owned this car for about two months. Driving it off the lot I noticed a mildew smell. I checked around and found some water stains on the inside of the top in the "blind spot" areas. I figured someone had carelessly put the top down wet for a long period of time before putting it back up. However now I'm noticing everytime it rains there's a "haze" on the inside of the rear window. I think it might be condensation. Has anyone had any problems with leaks?
Thanks in advance,
Mike

**Firebirdjones** · 06-17-2009, 06:42 PM

I've only been caught in the rain accidently a couple times in the last 3 years. I never noticed any leaks or had any wet spots afterwards.

I have heard though of a few people having rear window leaks. My rear window gives me the impression it's been removed and resealed completely at some point. Or maybe they all look like mine

You would have to pull up the top around the back window to see what I'm talking about, my top appears to have shrunk a little over the top of the window and exposes the top of the glass just a bit.

**99'CajunFirehawk157** · 06-17-2009, 08:00 PM

The area where the glass is located is actually a separate piece of cloth, in other words, the top is in two pieces, the main top which covers about 85% of the car and the piece around the back glass.I found this out when I had my top replaced last summer, FWIW.

**Redegal** · 06-18-2009, 03:32 AM

Anyway, it's raining like the dickens outside right now and the car is outside so I'll check it out.

**Redegal** · 06-18-2009, 05:10 AM

Here's what I found. Water is comming in around the back window area and dripping onto the channel along the top of the 1/4 panel inside. It's finding it's way onto the carpet. I have pics but for some reason I can't post them.

**Firebirdjones** · 06-18-2009, 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by 99'CajunFirehawk157

The area where the glass is located is actually a separate piece of cloth, in other words, the top is in two pieces, the main top which covers about 85% of the car and the piece around the back glass.I found this out when I had my top replaced last summer, FWIW.

It's the outer most layer above the rear window that has appeared to have shrunk on my car, it exposes the edge of the glass just a bit.

Our other convertable never did that, and it was more exposed to the elements.

**Firebirdjones** · 06-18-2009, 07:24 AM

Originally Posted by Redegal

Here's what I found. Water is comming in around the back window area and dripping onto the channel along the top of the 1/4 panel inside. It's finding it's way onto the carpet. I have pics but for some reason I can't post them.

Sounds like it could very well be the back glass leaking. Sometimes those seals dry up and shrink.

**Redegal** · 06-18-2009, 06:47 PM

Yeah I'm pretty sure it's the back glass. Would a light bead of silicone around the outside cure it?

**01 SS Vert** · 06-18-2009, 07:52 PM

I noticed mine leaking two days ago....I might take a better look at it and see if I can seal it.

**Firebirdjones** · 06-19-2009, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by Redegal

Yeah I'm pretty sure it's the back glass. Would a light bead of silicone around the outside cure it?

Maybe, but I wouldn't think it would be much more effort to cut the seal around the glass and reapply.

**BlackSS1** · 06-19-2009, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by Redegal

Yeah I'm pretty sure it's the back glass. Would a light bead of silicone around the outside cure it?

I had the same issue, paid a upholstery shop $55 to reseal the glass and add a strip of matching fabric over the top of the glass to reseal it. Worked great