losdeanos

I was looking the top of my Cab's roof today and noticed a few weird wear marks. Are these normal or is the top rubbing somewhere? What if anything can I do to fix it or minimize it?

Tim

nick49

Having a '99 cab with the original top, I'd say yes. I recently sold my car with 61k miles, and I didn't have those abrasions. I also have a '99 Boxster that had the top replaced under warranty in '04 and it still looks mint. Fold your top half down and check what's causing the problems. Maybe you can make some adjustments.

Shark Attack

duct tape the locationd that are rubbing.

How often do you operate the top. I knew a guy that wore his out in 2 years. Every morning it when down, he got to work it went up, Done with work it went down. Got home, it went up. Go out to dinner it went down, Got to the restuarant it went up. Done with dinner it went down, Take girlfriend to movie, Get to movie, it went up, Then to mall, Another cycle.... they back to his place to hit it and and another cycly.. then take her *** home so he didnt have to listen to her whiny *** in the morning another cycle.... Then repeat. This was a mustang GT

So he woudl run that top as many as 15 times a day

Dharn55

I have a few of those marks on the top of my 2000, and know several other owners of cabs with the same type of wear. I don't think it is uncommon.

wyovino

I have two small abraded spots that are symmetrically located left and right on the top. I can't tell from the photo if they're in the same spot as mine, but my guess is that they are. Lift your top a bout half way and stop it. Run your hand on the underside of the body piece that lifts up in the back. There are small pieces of hardware on both sides that have two screws. The screw heads on mine felt a bit sharp, so I covered them. I used small oval pads that are used for calluses or corns on your feet. They are padded and have adhesive on one side and cloth on the other.

losdeanos

Over the summer I did put it up and down a few times a day, a typical day was up twice and down twice. I just checked and didn't feel or see anything that would rub that area. I'm going to find a convertible shop in the aera and get it checked out.

I've got a hard top which will probably go on pretty soon, is there any issues with leaving the top on for a few months? Or should I take if off every few week and pull up the soft top?

wyovino

When you're putting the top down for the winter, make sure you stop it half way to ensure that the window is folding flat. Smooth out any wrinkles.

losdeanos

Great tip thanks!

roadsession

Losdeanos - you have an 02 - with a glass window - not a plastic window so you don't have any window to 'fold flat'...

losdeanos

I assumed he was talking about the fabric that sits on top of the glass, thats they general area were the wear marks would be when folded.

Orient Express

My top has almost exactly the same rub marks. So it goes.

No HTwo O

Also how do you care for the top? Do you:

1) Only wash with a stream of water?
2) Don't use soaps or detergents.
3) Ever use Ragg Topp Cleaner and Protectant? Great product!
4) Clean the top weekly with a sticky tape roller?

These all help to prolong the life of our tops.

Orient Express

Yes to all of the above, and I still have the wear marks.

fpb111

Same wear marks and yes to the Ragg Topp cleaner. Mine is Blue and I use Permetex silicone sealer/gasket maker for gaskets on different projects around the garage. it matches the top color so I used a dab rubbed into the frayed areas on the top to tie the ends together. We will see if it helps to prolong top life in those areas.
I also bought one of these to reduce the number of times that I need to put the top up and down. Although I think it is probably more of a problem when you keep the top closed/folded most of the time.

GolfTango3

The top on the Carrera has the same marks, also my 330ci had them.

I figured it's endemic to the breed.