The elastic engineers or Honda?

The elastic in your pants doesn't last either and depending on your eating habits, the S2000 top probably undergoes more stress than your waistband.

 

this happens to my latches/top all the time and i DO close the latches everytime..i have the SAME EXACT rip in my top..perfect right angle pretty much..also along with other multiple rips n holes from the top folding up and down.

 

Its because of the worn out elastic that moves the bar back. Before I knew this I popped 2 holes in my roof because of the excess slack. Now that I move the bar back by hand as I lower the roof haven't had a single issue. Replace the straps or move the bar back by hand.

 

it can happen if u leave the latch open. open ur roof half way or pause anywhere in between. this can cause ur latch to rip ur roof

 

There is a TSB out for it that would cover you if you were in warranty. I found out this past weekend that the extended warranty does not cover 'cosmetic' issues like that. I have the same exact rip as well.

 

good luck with Honda. I had some "wear" near one of the metal arms...

Honda basically accused me of putting a knife to it myself.
I took it to an independent upholstery shop to have it reinforced. This guy diagnosed my problem within 5 minutes. He had me feel behind the metal piece and it was rough, and that it is obviously a mfg defect.

 

There is a TSB talking about the latches having a rough edge or burrs on the backside that rips the top. Mine ripped exactly the same on my 07. I just was lucky enough to still be under warranty. My Honda dealership ended up sending my car to get a new top installed at a local trim shop. Good luck!

 

Even with the new straps, whenever I put the top back (almost everytime I drive the car) I push the bar back by hand to help the straps out. My last top ripped just like yours only worse so thats when I figured out that the bar was the problem. And clipping the latches back in helps as well.

After putting the new top on, I noticed that the top fabric is getting smooth and shiny where yours is ripped. This is because when I put the top back, it rests on the rest of the top and from driving, it rubs just alittle bit. Now when I put the top back, I bump it up just a little to keep the fabric from touching but not too high so that it bounces alot with bumps.

Hope this helps.

 

Elastic straps are worn out. Single bow gets stuck sometimes while going back causing tension on thelatches and the ittears through. Seen it happen quite a bit. I have also helped prevent it by replacing the straps.

 

i always close my latches...even if this problem isn't caused by it, I dont want them in a "movable" state.