Mstein

Ok,
I've been driving an S2000 as my only car since I bought one new in 2004. After over 200k miles, I recently replaced my original with a 2006.
Of all the great things about this car, I would never have owned one were it not a convertible.
However, this afternoon, I went to put the top down, and for the third time (over all tops on all cars), it ripped, around the passenger side latch. An inch by a 1/4 inch tear.
Well, I'm just not going to immediately replace the top (2.5k).
So 2 questions:
1) what is the best patching solution?
2) this is clearly a systemic issue. How can I prevent this in the future?
Thanks in advance,
Mike

b_ron

The tops are known to rip over time. I had a small 1cm tear before my hardtop and I put gaffer tape on the inside and put a bit of black silicone to patch it up from the outside. Not sure where I got that idea from, but it worked.

SennAP1

I just bought my S2000 with a couple of ugly tears on the top.
In my experience working at a marine and boat center years ago; you can't go wrong with E6000 or clear silicone marine glue.
You can apply black ballistic nylon (or whatever color your top is) to the tear and glue it on with either of those adhesives.
Just take your time in application or you will rue the day you discovered this stuff, it is PERMANENT.
Marine and boat adhesives are water proof so much in fact they can cure underwater!

Mstein

Thanks guys.
is there some particular screw up that causes the latch to tear the top? I feel this was my fault. I had a top tear only 6 months after install, and now this one, about 6 months after acquisition. I'm pissed beyond words.

Langelo DeMysterioso

The elastic straps that pull the bar back should be replaced. I bought an S that was a garage queen with only 2800 miles and the latches ripped the top less than a year later. Talk about pissed. Turns out the straps loose their elasticity over time and will not fully retract the bar. At any rate when they replaced your top a set of replacement straps should have been installed as well. My Robbins top came with a set of replacement straps. Modifry makes improved strap replacements. When I replaced my top I used these instead of the ones included in the kit. I'm very happy with the install.

Chuck S

Not sure the Modifry straps are superior but they're easy to install to replace the limp OEM straps and work well.

I fixed the small hole that appeared last summer with a black Gore Tex (tm) patch kit from Dick's Sporting Goods. The color is a good match and the patch is less noticeable on the car than in the photo which I tweaked so it would show. Maybe $9? On for a year now. Spare patch kit stored in the Secret Compartment.

Inside. There's a burr on the top bow at that location which I sanded off before patching. Just scratches the fabric but over 10 years of scratching wore thru.


Outside:


-- Chuck

Chuck S

Not my photo but here's the problem area. Check for tiny burrs.



-- Chuck

Langelo DeMysterioso

The holes caused by the strap failure will be located at the front latch locations. The Modifry straps are superior to the OEM as they are thicker and wider than the OEM straps. Those holes shown in these pics by Chuck S are from the frame rubbing the top. This is the most common problem. When I replaced my top they sanded down this area as well. My next plan of action is to reinforce these areas with a patch on the inside.

davidc1

There are several (usually 3) points on each side of the top that rip eventually. Just patch those areas from the inside and you are fine.

But, um, where did you get an estimate for $2,500 to replace the top?! That's outrageous.

A new Robbins top would be $550-750. And replacing would be $250-450.

tjungroth

There is a patch Kit the Black hole patch been around for 10 plus years and is a great fix for the S2000 top web site blackholepatch. good luck