bump. my 02 just got these holes today. AND both top latches broke today too!! talk about strange timing. i have to fix all kinds of *ish tomorrow. two broken latches and two holes in the soft top...

i didnt realize replacing the soft top was part of the 50k maintenance.

 

I can't believe that NONE of you used the search button!

It's a reasonably common problem (design flaw?) and has nothing to do with the latch or anything in that area. Yes, I have had it and the extended warranty covered it all. I had no costs whatsoever and even got a rental car during the time it was in the dealer.

I don't have my car here so I can't go look and tell you exactly which cross member it is, but there is an elastic strap almost above your head that is supposed to pull the top mechanism together as the top is being lowered. BUT if you leave the top up all the time the strap loses it's elasticity.

As you lower the top the cross member doesn't retract as much as it should and causes stresses on the fabric portion. This causes the front latch mechanisms to be physically thrust thru the fabric of the top. I had 2 fist size holes in mine.

Modifry sells a stronger elastic strap which is a quick fix.

The first sign of this is that your top doesn't seem to lower quite all the way or it seems to pause when the top is almost fully lowered. Before it gets bad enough to punch holes in the top it will sit higher in the well. While it may look like the top is down, it sits higher in the well and you will begin to see it in the rear view mirror.

 

i did use the search button - how else do you think a thread from over a year ago surfaced???? lol

 

The hole under the drivers latch is caused by the latch rubbing on the top when it's down. If you look at the paint on top of the latch, it's worn too.

Check your passenger side you'll find the same thing happening. This particular tear is unrelated to the top bar that moves.

To fix prevent holes under your latch, open the top so it's loose not taut. Take some sunbrella or other poly material and some fabric glue (joanns fabric) and cut out a small patch . Glue it on the inside where the latch rubs, do it on both sides.
Be sure and push the slit it has together as it sets up. After it dries, put the top up and look at the hole from the top side. You can add a little more fabric cement into the slit if it's still visible and pull some threads out of your sunbrella and embed them into the slit if it needs it till you're satisfied with the repair.

The top bar problem is unrelated to this repair but to check it, just put your top down and watch, if the bar falls back on it's own you're ok, if it doesn't either get modifrys fix of push it back manually when you open the top. Another way to tell is if the bar isn't falling back, you can't put your boot on.

fltsfshr

 

thanks - thats very helpful info.


sucks - this sounds like a very common problem.

 

The pic, while very blurry which makes it tough to see the hole clearly, does seem to show the top bar problem. It appears to be a push or stretch problem rather than a rub problem.

Pushing or stretching is caused by the pressures put on the fabric by the top not retracting smoothly.

Rubbing wear happens when the top is down for extended periods of time. That particular spot isn't subject to rubbing wear when the top is up.

 

Now I've got to worry about a tear in another location? I have a brand new top.