Help, please... My convertible top has shrunk
Nora
physically "shrunk", it's just become hard to latch. The two most common
ways to generate a symptom like the description is to leave the top down for
months on end (hot or cold) or to try to latch a cold top.
Many new owners could be misled into thinking the top has "shrunk" when in
fact it has just become unused to being in an abnormal condition, i.e. up.
:D
--
Nora (imagine a Canadian flag here)
========================
and the Rollerskate (imagine a '99 gleaming recently waxed silver Miata
here)
http://www.nheh.ca/ HOME PAGE
http://hobbystage.net/miata/nora/ Rollerskate
http://www.nheh.ca/FFFR/FFFR4/FFFR4main.htm FFFR 4 pix
http://www.nheh.ca/RATG/2003/RATG3.htm RATG III pix
http://www.nheh.ca/SBFR/2003/03sbfr.htm NH Spring Run
http://www.nheh.ca/FFFR/FFFR5/FFFR5main.htm FFFR5 maps
"Leon van Dommelen" <dommelen@REMOVE_THIS_TAGmiata.net> wrote in message
news:25gpnvouo4sh54ruo...@4ax.com...
> "Nora" <no...@mccord.lan.mcgill.ca> wrote:
>
> Except that the top is not stiff, it is *shrunk*. I am afraid your
> idea may make the carpet shrink too. Even now that the car wash
> has become a "hand-job" place. How smart can they be, slapping
> a little soap and water on cars in the unheated part of the
> car-wash garage? You will probably be getting wax out of your hair
> for months.
>
> Leon
>
> --
> Leon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
> To reply to me, the word Miata must be in the subject.
> EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)
Shep
<gf...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>It is getting cold and my vinyl convertible roof has shrunk to
>the point where I can not put it up!
>
>I have been unemployed for 1 year and can not afford to buy
>a new one...
>
>Does anyone know any softeners retail, commercial, industrial
>or otherwise that I can use to soften and stretch my vinyl top?
>
>I am really desperate!!!
>
>Thanks!
>
>Steve
>gfr...@hotmail.com
Steve, perhaps I've missed something in the follow-ups but I'm
assuming you have adjusted the latches to their loosest position,
right? I'm refering to the turnbuckle at the windshield header latch
assy.
Leon van Dommelen
>It is getting cold and my vinyl convertible roof has shrunk to
>the point where I can not put it up!
>
>I have been unemployed for 1 year and can not afford to buy
>a new one...
>
>Does anyone know any softeners retail, commercial, industrial
>or otherwise that I can use to soften and stretch my vinyl top?
>
>I am really desperate!!!
Let it warm up half up in the sun?
Steve Forrester
Great suggestion!
Having already employed it to its fullest, I feel I am in need of a chemical
answer, i.e., a softener of sorts, to achieve my objective.
Thanks, again!
Steve
"Leon van Dommelen" <dommelen@REMOVE_THIS_TAGmiata.net> wrote in message
news:8mrinv4ms6443nhbc...@4ax.com...
Steven Spits
> It is getting cold and my vinyl convertible roof has shrunk to
> the point where I can not put it up!
I must say this is the first case of "shrunk tops" I have ever heard of...!
Is it an aftermarket roof, or the original one?
Steven
- - -
RichH
long chain molecules of the vinyl .... and keep on stretching.
In a windless location, put the top/car in a sunlit place where the top
is in direct rays of the sun. Let the top soak up the heat for an hour
+/- and begin to g-e-n-t-l-y pull it back into shape; add heat from
inside by turning on the heater to "full blast". You can assist the
heating with a heat gun - but be VERY careful not to burn it - dont use
a heat gun near the seams.
You might have to do this a few times until it returns to its original
shape. Just be patient, dont overtly force the top or you risk tearing
out/splitting a seam!
PMcaza
i hope to replace my top this weekend due to a burn mark put on it by a
"body shop in hamden, ct". it does have a spot on it but it is in pretty
good condition otherwise. cost of shipping, its yours
peter
Steve Forrester
I have tried the "heating & stretching" process and it no longer works.
How about "sponge-bathing" the vinyl top with DIDP or some other
plasticizer?
Any thoughts?
Steve
"RichH" <Rhm...@NOSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:3F799316...@NOSPAM.net...
Steve Forrester
Really, a "shrunk top" is rare?
Might I have another problem?
Steve
"Steven Spits" <steven...@servico.be.net> wrote in message
news:blc0oj$9eq$1...@reader08.wxs.nl...
Roald Oines
news:dLmdnUP8jt3...@comcast.com...
: Original, I think...
: >
:
:
I've been lurking in this group for a couple of years now, and this is
the first time I've heard of a shrunk top also. There's no mention of
it in the garage section of miata.net either. If it's not just less
flexible because of the cold, something must be tweaked in the top's
frame mechanism.
--
Please remove the under_scores if sending me mail.
Ken Stoorza
Please be certain to cross post the best response to this problem from
either rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata or rec.autos.makers.chrysler.
Best,
Ken
"Steve Forrester" <gf...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:dLmdnUP8jt3...@comcast.com...
Leon van Dommelen
While I have not heard about shrunk tops either, "Caring For the
Soft Top", which came with the car, says:
"NEVER lower the top when it's [sic] wet. This promotes mildew,
shrinking, and deterioration."
Hence shrinkage is apparently possible. It also notes that
the top should be left in the up position if stored for long
periods of time and overnight, to reduce chances of
shrinkage.
Wild guess: try wetting the top maybe?
Roald Oines
"Leon van Dommelen" <dommelen@REMOVE_THIS_TAGmiata.net> wrote in
: "Roald Oines" <r_f_...@bresnan.net> wrote:
<snip>
: >I've been lurking in this group for a couple of years now, and this
is
: >the first time I've heard of a shrunk top also. There's no mention
of
: >it in the garage section of miata.net either. If it's not just less
: >flexible because of the cold, something must be tweaked in the
top's
: >frame mechanism.
:
: While I have not heard about shrunk tops either, "Caring For the
: Soft Top", which came with the car, says:
:
: "NEVER lower the top when it's [sic] wet. This promotes mildew,
: shrinking, and deterioration."
:
: Hence shrinkage is apparently possible. It also notes that
: the top should be left in the up position if stored for long
: periods of time and overnight, to reduce chances of
: shrinkage.
:
: Wild guess: try wetting the top maybe?
<snip>
Hmmm, serves me right for buying used (w/o the original manual or
other documents). FWIW, Robbins (
http://www.robbinsautotopco.com/ )warns about storing boots or tonneau
covers when wet to avoid shrinkage, but they only warn against
discoloration or "other damage" about lowering a wet top.
BTW, "it's" is correct when it represents the contraction for "it is",
as in this case. :)
dingo
i once had the same problem, the firsttime i used the top after a hardtop
winter.
i solved the problem by parking in the april-sun. and wait for 15 min.
Its not that the top is really schunken but i just feeld like the car growd
a inch during the winter.
scarry.
Tommy
"Steve Forrester" <gf...@hotmail.com> schreef in bericht
news:8aKcncFHVbI...@comcast.com...
> It is getting cold and my vinyl convertible roof has shrunk to
> the point where I can not put it up!
>
> I have been unemployed for 1 year and can not afford to buy
> a new one...
>
> Does anyone know any softeners retail, commercial, industrial
> or otherwise that I can use to soften and stretch my vinyl top?
>
> I am really desperate!!!
>
> Thanks!
>
> Steve
> gfr...@hotmail.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Nora
up and zoom off.
Or
Find a heated car wash, ditto.
Or
Find one of those do-it-yourself rent-a-garage places, pay for a few hours,
ditto.
Or
Drive so far south the sun stays up longer, park somewhere, ditto
Or
Find a bunch of those rubber bed-warmers (AKA hot-water bottles), fill them
with hot water, place them over the top, ditto.
Or
Find an underground parking facility in an office building or a mall, ditto.
Most of the above cost about $14-20 Canadian, and some are free! Lemme know
how it turns out.
--
Nora (imagine a Canadian flag here)
========================
and the Rollerskate (imagine a '99 gleaming silver Miata here)
http://www.nheh.ca/ HOME PAGE
http://hobbystage.net/miata/nora/ Rollerskate
http://www.nheh.ca/FFFR/FFFR4/FFFR4main.htm FFFR 4 pix
http://www.nheh.ca/RATG/2003/RATG3.htm RATG III pix
http://www.nheh.ca/SBFR/2003/03sbfr.htm NH Spring Run
http://www.nheh.ca/FFFR/FFFR5/FFFR5main.htm FFFR5 maps
"Steve Forrester" <gf...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
Mike
"dingo" <di...@vt4.net> wrote in message
news:K8Feb.51981$rs4.2...@phobos.telenet-ops.be...
Leon van Dommelen
>BTW, "it's" is correct when it represents the contraction for "it is",
>as in this case. :)
Right. I had them mixed up myself.
Leon van Dommelen
>Find a heated car wash, ditto.
Nora, do you really think this is such a hot idea?
Nora
All it requires is timing. Time your entrance to one of those "hand-job"
places so's you're in a line-up with others. Usually the line-up's in the
heated part of the car-wash garage. Once the top loosens up, whip it up in
time for the hand-job guys/gals/other to slap a little soap and water on the
now fully deployed topped Miata. You end up with a clean shiny topped Miata.
It doesn't take much to loosen it up, even from a full freeze.
--
Nora (imagine a Canadian flag here)
========================
and the Rollerskate (imagine a '99 gleaming recently waxed silver Miata
here)
http://www.nheh.ca/ HOME PAGE
http://hobbystage.net/miata/nora/ Rollerskate
http://www.nheh.ca/FFFR/FFFR4/FFFR4main.htm FFFR 4 pix
http://www.nheh.ca/RATG/2003/RATG3.htm RATG III pix
http://www.nheh.ca/SBFR/2003/03sbfr.htm NH Spring Run
http://www.nheh.ca/FFFR/FFFR5/FFFR5main.htm FFFR5 maps
"Leon van Dommelen" <dommelen@REMOVE_THIS_TAGmiata.net> wrote in message
news:2sqmnv8cptpslcsc4...@4ax.com...
Leon van Dommelen
>Sure, it's a hot idea.
>
>All it requires is timing. Time your entrance to one of those "hand-job"
>places so's you're in a line-up with others. Usually the line-up's in the
>heated part of the car-wash garage. Once the top loosens up, whip it up in
>time for the hand-job guys/gals/other to slap a little soap and water on the
>now fully deployed topped Miata. You end up with a clean shiny topped Miata.
>
>It doesn't take much to loosen it up, even from a full freeze.
Except that the top is not stiff, it is *shrunk*. I am afraid your
idea may make the carpet shrink too. Even now that the car wash
has become a "hand-job" place. How smart can they be, slapping
a little soap and water on cars in the unheated part of the
car-wash garage? You will probably be getting wax out of your hair
for months.
Leon
Pat Shelton
> Except that the top is not stiff, it is *shrunk*. I am afraid your
> idea may make the carpet shrink too. Even now that the car wash
> has become a "hand-job" place. How smart can they be, slapping
> a little soap and water on cars in the unheated part of the
> car-wash garage? You will probably be getting wax out of your hair
> for months.
>
> Leon
>
Stiff, shrunk, carpet, hand-job place, slapping soap & water on,
removing wax from hair.
Are you talking about convertibles or adult services? ;-)
Pat
'96M
Big Lizard
>time for the hand-job guys/gals/other to slap a little soap and water on"
Gee.. I dont know Nora.. your car wash places sound a whole lot more
fun up there than ours! Think I'll start driving up to Canada for my
washes from now on! ;-)
On Thu, 02 Oct 2003 14:02:57 GMT, "Nora" <no...@mccord.lan.mcgill.ca>
wrote:
John
I have A 1988 MB 560 SL with a canvas soft top that has also shrunk. It looks
like new but previous owner had not taken hardtop off for last 15 years and I
cannot get it to stretch enough to fasten in place. Any suggestions?
--
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