Note to all Convertible owners – check your top.

Thought I’d alert all Vert owners so they check their top.

About a month ago – my son noticed a very small hole on the passenger side of the car. The hole is small – about a quarter – maybe a third - of an inch slit, about an inch up from the window and about an inch back of the hard forward part of the top.

I was miffed (to say the least).

I couldn’t figure out how it could have happened – and rationalized that it must have been a low branch or foliage of some sort that attacked my top.

Made a note to look into it and make some sort of repair before the rainy season hits.

Well, a few days ago I finally look on the forum – first check the TSB section – see nothing about Vert tops, then search around for repairs and came up empty on that as well.

So I posted a new thread asking for repair suggestions and the next day got a response from zaghloul (big thanks!!) that it might be caused by the mechanism when it folds and that there is a TSB out.

Sure enough – the TSB (06-19-5 “Convertible Top Wear”) addressed the issue exactly.
I’ve discovered a follow-up TSB (06-22-16 – “Convertible Top Wear – Built Before 10/11/2006”) that goes into more detail.

These (and a bunch of others) can be found here:
http://www.stangnet.com/Tech-Articles/S197-Technical-Service-Bulletins-060923.html

As per zaghloul’s suggestion – I printed off the TSB’s – went to the dealer – and am scheduled to have my new top installed next week.

These holes can be very hard to see.



I published an album to help you out:

http://picasaweb.google.com/adam8g/VertHoles

If you raise the top up half way, you can see the wear from underneath.
I looked on the drivers side today – and I could not see anything from the top – but when I looked underneath – I found the wear points – doubled checked again – and sure enough – there WAS a tiny slit on the drivers side as well.

I suggest and Vert owners check very closely – both from the top but especially underneath.


http://lh3.google.com/adam8g/Rrzf6M5...JPG?imgmax=512

If you find the wear – get yourself and new updated top.

 

My dad's Merc Capri (1991) had the same thing happen. Ended up getting like 4 different tops before they finally fixed the problem in the framing that was causing the holes. Hopefully you don't have a similar experience.

 

Adam,

Thanks for the great info along with the pictures. This is what makes this forum such a great site.

I'll keep an eye out on mine.

 

Wow thanks for that heads up and the photos...will search hard for tears tomorrow morning.

 

Thanks

 

Yeah, good info, that's why this site is so awesome.

 

Thank you very much the heads up and photos. I'll continue to inspect our convertible top and post to this thread if there are any problems.

 

Hey Adam- Thanks for the heads up on this TSB. After reading your post, I checked my top while it was half way up. Sure enough, I have a worn spot on the drivers side! It's not all the way through yet, but I bet it will be in a few months. I think I'll wait awhile, then take a copy of the TSB to the dealer and have them put a new top on.

I sure would like to pay the difference and get a cloth top. The cloth option is still only available in black, right?

 

This happened to my top about a week ago and could not figure out how.
This is what a good forum is all about.
off to the dealer.
Thanks.

 

Cloth Top???
For '08 you can get cloth?

I had no idea - will look into upgrading
many thanks

Scheduled to go in tomorrow - will keep everyone posted

 

The real issue is why did happen in the first place? It's called testing. Nissan has a problem with their 'intelligent' key. Seems if it is with an inch or so of a cell phone, it goes dead and has to be replaced. A permanent fix is due out by December.

 

You mean the top has been redesigned and the new version going into production in December?

How is this 'new' top different from the replacement top with 'kit' that addresses the issues?

thanks ahead of time

 

Ford should offer a fix for people before the top gets ruined. That would be a lot cheaper than waiting for a hole to develop.

 

Yup, I have one just like that on the drivers side. Guess I'll be visiting the dealer!

 

Thanks for the info Adam

 

Ford started offering a black cloth top on the '07 verts. I think it is only an extra $250. You might want to get some opinions from people that have this top before ordering. There are pros & cons vs. the vinyl. I hope the replacement goes smoothly!

 

Does anyone have any info about a redesigned top. I have an 07 GT that has developed holes and my dealership has had it on order for over 2 weeks even thought they initially told me 3-4 days. Are we waiting for a redesign that won't be available until December.

 

My dealer said the top has been redesigned and all current Verts have the new improved top.

According to him, this is as of late last year.

Makes sense since TSB 06-22-16:

“Convertible Top Wear – Built Before 10/11/06”

http://www.stangnet.com/images/stories/docs/s197_TSBs/06-22-16.pdf

Sure makes it sound that a re-design took place a while ago.
I guess it just a matter of making sure that any new tops ordered and installed by the dealer conform to the TSB.

 

Those of you who have experienced this, how many miles on the car. My vert is an 05, but I just went over 14000. If my top is down overnight, I'll have a spot that looks a little stretched, but once the top is up a while, it disappears. My warranty is up next August, and it looks like they will only replace it under the TSB if you are still under warranty.

 

I checked my top and it doesn't seem to have the wear marks... I drop my top probably on average of once a day, so it gets used a bit, but only have about 7500 miles... I'd be interested in how many miles the people who had this problem have too...