New 993 C2 Cab Owner - How to Drop Top?
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Last November I traded my '91 C4 Cab 964 for a '97 C2 Cab 993. I love that the top can now be dropped while the engine is running (saving battery charge), but I see the zippering is different from the 964's cab top.
All I can see is a big zipper around the whole plastic window, and two short (6"?) zippers on the sides of the top, about even with the headrests of the front seats. The owners manual is terrible about showing how this is to be done.
Today is the first time since purchase that its warm enough to drop the top (FINALLY!!), but I don't want to bugger up the plastic window, or snarl the electro-mechanical top folding mechanism.
So... what's the proper procedure to drop the top from fully up and closed to fully down and driving away?
Sorry for the newbie question, but I don't want to screw up the top NOW and have to drive top up for the next several months waiting for repairs or parts or whatever.
Thanks for your help!
Rod
All I can see is a big zipper around the whole plastic window, and two short (6"?) zippers on the sides of the top, about even with the headrests of the front seats. The owners manual is terrible about showing how this is to be done.
Today is the first time since purchase that its warm enough to drop the top (FINALLY!!), but I don't want to bugger up the plastic window, or snarl the electro-mechanical top folding mechanism.
So... what's the proper procedure to drop the top from fully up and closed to fully down and driving away?
Sorry for the newbie question, but I don't want to screw up the top NOW and have to drive top up for the next several months waiting for repairs or parts or whatever.
Thanks for your help!
Rod
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Just press the button on the console in front of the gear shifter. I don't touch the zippers. Keep the button held down until the light on the dash goes out and your done.
What I do is actually stop the top at the half-way point, get out of the car and make sure the rear window is folding nicely (no weird crease or ripple) then hop back in and put top all the way down.
You're trying to make it harder than it is.
What I do is actually stop the top at the half-way point, get out of the car and make sure the rear window is folding nicely (no weird crease or ripple) then hop back in and put top all the way down.
You're trying to make it harder than it is.
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Just press the button on the console in front of the gear shifter. I don't touch the zippers. Keep the button held down until the light on the dash goes out and your done.
What I do is actually stop the top at the half-way point, get out of the car and make sure the rear window is folding nicely (no weird crease or ripple) then hop back in and put top all the way down.
You're trying to make it harder than it is.![Smilie](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
What I do is actually stop the top at the half-way point, get out of the car and make sure the rear window is folding nicely (no weird crease or ripple) then hop back in and put top all the way down.
You're trying to make it harder than it is.
![Smilie](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
I ask because dropping the 964 top involved unzipping the rear-window zipper so it laid flat on the backshelf... if you didn't it developed a nasty curl (at best) or a crease (at worst).
Thanks for your help!!
Rod
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So you don't undo ANY of the zippers, just drop and go? That'd be great, but are you sure that doesn't damage the rear window at all?
I ask because dropping the 964 top involved unzipping the rear-window zipper so it laid flat on the backshelf... if you didn't it developed a nasty curl (at best) or a crease (at worst).
Thanks for your help!!
Rod
I ask because dropping the 964 top involved unzipping the rear-window zipper so it laid flat on the backshelf... if you didn't it developed a nasty curl (at best) or a crease (at worst).
Thanks for your help!!
Rod
Nice looking car by the way
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What I like to do is open the top half way, push down (hand or cloth) the plastic window to get the crinkles out. I then lower the top a little at a time going from side to side making sure the cloth folds properly. make sure the cloth is moved away from the pins on either side or you will get pin marks. Those marks will turn into holes after time and then it's time for a new top.
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As someone above mentioned, it isn't a bad idea to stop halfway down and make sure the window is folding nicely, and if you are really ****, perhaps insert a soft terry cloth towel to keep the window from rubbing on itself.
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I've never done anything but pushed the button and let 'er go. The window always folds properly. It doesn't scratch itself. When the plastic window gets cloudy there are a few products that will clean it up. I used the ones made by Meguir with my old top. As far as the holes that can get punched in the top, I believe that is caused by a faulty bow (I think it's the fifth). My '89 cab was pretty much the same. Just push the button. Everything always folded properly.
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Tonight when I put the top back up, the rear window was creased in the top corners, so for whatever reason, my plastic window won't just fold down on its own. It looks like the creases will smooth out on their own after being stretched, but I wouldn't want that to happen too often.
You guys all probably live where its warmer than here, so your plastic window is probably a lot more supple than it would be here. When I belonged to the local Miata club with my '90 Miata (also with a plastic window), we used to insert a foam pool "noodle" into the window when we lowered the top - the noodle helped prevent the curl radius from getting too small. The only problem is that if you forgot about the foam when you pulled the top back up (a manual effort from the driver's seat), it would pop out and fly away. Lots of members "lost their noodle" this way![Smilie](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Rod
You guys all probably live where its warmer than here, so your plastic window is probably a lot more supple than it would be here. When I belonged to the local Miata club with my '90 Miata (also with a plastic window), we used to insert a foam pool "noodle" into the window when we lowered the top - the noodle helped prevent the curl radius from getting too small. The only problem is that if you forgot about the foam when you pulled the top back up (a manual effort from the driver's seat), it would pop out and fly away. Lots of members "lost their noodle" this way
![Smilie](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Rod
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the only zipper I use is for the windstop / wind breaker ...which I leave on unless I have the kids in the back
If you have issue with the plastic rear windscreen ...I have just started using hindsight ...from the UK that cleans and lubes the palstic ...I cant verify as its only had one application ...mine wasnt too bad but want to keep it that way
http://www.hindsightuk.com/
What is more of a worry is
1. cables fraying and cutting the canopy
2. the 2 roof motors ..man are they expensive
3. or if improperly aligned ..I found the fuse would blow ...
I do most of my weekend driving with the roof down
If you have issue with the plastic rear windscreen ...I have just started using hindsight ...from the UK that cleans and lubes the palstic ...I cant verify as its only had one application ...mine wasnt too bad but want to keep it that way
http://www.hindsightuk.com/
What is more of a worry is
1. cables fraying and cutting the canopy
2. the 2 roof motors ..man are they expensive
3. or if improperly aligned ..I found the fuse would blow ...
I do most of my weekend driving with the roof down
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You guys all probably live where its warmer than here, so your plastic window is probably a lot more supple than it would be here