Soft-top warranty issues

Anonymous · August 28, 2003, 14:44

Hi,

Months ago I discovered the problem with the disconnecting soft-top straps that prevent the hood from tucking neatly into its bay.

http://www.euroroadster.com/articles/ShowArticle.asp?File=SoftTopStraps.xml

I've tried reconnecting this strap, even got Toyota to try and sort it out, but it will invariably disconnect after just a few hood up/down manoeuvres.

It got to the stage where I was finally convinced by Toyota that this was a general problem almost all MR2 Roadsters had.

However, this summer being exceptionally warm etc. I've seen loads of MR2s parked with their roofs down. And guess what? All of the MR2s I saw had their hoods neatly tucked -- with no "ears" sticking out or slanted roofs. I even saw one guy put his roof down at a traffic light and could not believe the roof just fell into place neatly. (OK, the scorching hot weather probably helped a little bit.)

I checked the straps again today, and besides the fact that they are (what a surprise!) disconnected again, there is also a rip in the strap that goes round the metal support.

I am wondering how many people have this problem and if anyone managed to get it fixed once and for all.

My 3 year warranty runs out in January, but because from October onwards I have the hard-top on, I'd like to get this issue fixed under warranty in the next few weeks.

What should I tell the Toyota dealer to get this thing fixed? Would they go all the way and actually replace the whole hood?

All suggestions or testimonies are very much welcome.

Cheers,

John H.

-------------

Blue 2001 MR2 - TRD member braces - TTE anti-roll bars - S03s allround.

Anonymous · August 28, 2003, 15:14

I would suggest you show the dealer where the strap is ripped and say that there should not be ears sticking out... thats why the roof has those straps. hopefully they will replace it for you.

Anonymous · August 28, 2003, 15:17

Go for the new roof NOW. That tearing you see is going to get worse. I am in the process of using an adhesive to try to repair mine now. There's a thread with many links to peeeksures over on SC somewhere about this issue.

Anonymous · August 28, 2003, 15:41

My strap has come undone once but I think it was probably due to me being a muppet rather than a hood problem.

J

Anonymous · August 28, 2003, 16:15

I managed to blag a free soft-top from Toyota, all I suggest is that you make it clear that:

* It never used to be like that - i.e. your roof was fine before
* You belong to a UK MR2 club and you know it is a common problem
* Get down on your knees and beg s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

Good Luck!!!

Sundance s8)

s8)

Anonymous · September 16, 2003, 23:59

Many thanks for your help and support!!

Brought the car into the dealers.

They maintained that the fact that the hood does not fold properly and the "ears" stick out is normal.

However they acknowledged the splitting and cracking that is starting on the edge of the soft top (just above the left window) and also noticed some marks at the base of the hood (at rear) that look like some manufacturer defect (marks in the PVC).

They want to take some photographs and send them to Toyota directly for assessment. So I volunteered to take these photos myself-- just to make sure the defects are *highly visible*.

If anyone is interested, I can post these photos.

Now I just have to wait for the verdict... the jury is still out.

Again, thanks!

John H.

Slacey · September 17, 2003, 08:18

Post away, any reference material and pictures could be useful to other members - hopefully you will get a result, seing as a couple of others (Sundance & Darren Juggins spring to mind) have made succesful claims, I think you should be OK.

Anonymous · September 17, 2003, 08:35

Morning.

Phew.. I consider myself very lucky then that my hood has been tip top for the last 3 years - no sign of the dreaded "ears" yet.. touch wood!

Incidentally, I helped a guy at work figure out how the ear-folding strap should be attached on his '2, and he'd managed to pull it free of the car, completely out of the little channel sewn into the rear of the hood!

So the strap seems easily replaceable if it's starting to stretch/tear.. but I agree that if you have any imperfections, now is the time to start thinking about that warranty claim!

Tim

Anonymous · September 17, 2003, 09:22

I'll try and get them posted on-line by tomorrow...

Ta!

Anonymous · September 17, 2003, 09:26

Quote from: "phat"They maintained that the fact that the hood does not fold properly and the "ears" stick out is normal.

Tell that fat, stupid, ignorant SOB he has NO IDEA whereof he speaks. Kick him square in the crotch just so he gets your point. Then, bend down close to him and ask him if it hurts. Tell him THAT is normal, and your top (hood... whatever you guys want to call it) is not.

Anonymous · September 17, 2003, 09:34

Man, that's exactly what I felt like doing... These guys must have been Lada dealers in their previous sad lives.

Then I realised that I would hopefully get a new soft top due to the cracks anyway...

But if nothing is done... humm, where's that baseball bat already? s;-) ;-) s;-)

Anonymous · September 19, 2003, 17:29

Here are the photos I submitted to Toyota.

I got a call from my dealer who said that even if I did not send the photos, they would replace the soft top... obviously, since the old one will be sent back to Mr T they will find out anyway what and if something was wrong with it.

Anonymous · October 6, 2003, 14:35

My local dealer replaced my hood last week, and the new one doesn't fit properly.

The hood is miles from the trim behind the side windows, about 10mm no one side, and about 20 mm on the other (not straight either).

Also the roof lining is ruckled and stretched round the middle frame bar, and it is loose so I can just pull it out.

I was told the new hood came on a frame, when it now turns out the hood came rolled up in a bag, with some instructions.

Can anyone who has had their roof replaced let me know how long this took, and whether it is properly fitted (ie as the original was), as if there is a magic word to get Toyota's technical rep out to sort this, I need to know it :-) :-) :-)

markiii · October 6, 2003, 14:41

according to the repair manual. The roof does comes as a bag of bits, it looks horribly complicated to install too.

Looks like a return visit for them to fix it I'm afraid.

I incidentaly have the same problem, I'm experimenting with how to fix it at present with reasonable success.

I'll post details once sorted.

Anonymous · October 6, 2003, 15:11

I thought they were going to change the entire convertible roof but in fact it was only the soft top.

Incidently, the dealer told me that changing the entire roof is much easier (just a question of removing the old one and dropping the new one in). I was surprised to hear that this was the first time they had to change only the soft top material -- and they are the main Toyota dealers in the region. (Vandals must have been giving MR2s a break!)

Anyway, got my car back last week. The roof looks brand new now, however the damn thing is now SO STIFF it feels like the whole roof is going to burst when I try to open or close it.

The dealer told me it would be stiff and asked me to "train" it. But one thing is obvious: the corners are not being pulled in at all now (eventhough the straps are in place). So when folded down, the roof sticks up in the back like some ugly 1980s spoiler. s:x :x s:x

I wish they had just replaced the whole thing!

Anybody else had this problem after replacing the soft top?

Thanks for all the feedback!

John H.

markiii · October 6, 2003, 15:26

just in front of the strap that started your problem is a steel wire with a spring at each end. chancesare the springs are over streched and need replacing.

Anonymous · October 6, 2003, 16:53

Quote from: "phat"The dealer told me it would be stiff and asked me to "train" it. But one thing is obvious: the corners are not being pulled in at all now (eventhough the straps are in place). So when folded down, the roof sticks up in the back like some ugly 1980s spoiler. s:x :x s:x

Hey John.

Are you doing the old "push down on the top edge of the glass until you almost trap your arm inside the folded hood" trick when you put it down? This usually tends to eliminate the "spoiler" look.. but does nothing for "ears" I'm afraid! s:roll: :roll: s:roll:

Tim

darrenjuggins · October 7, 2003, 12:23

Hi Had my roof replaced a couple of months back and was really frustrated to start with, but with a little "training" and getting out to fold things in right over a couple of weeks, everything is sweet now and I just throw it back as before.

I did notice that the rear glass seemed to move more than previouly, but when I checked the configuation of the roof against the 03, i was shocked to see that the 00 version has one of the bars tucked in whilst the 03 had both the roof bars showing in the car.... possibly a mistake at the factory!!!

anyway, the long and short is, the roof is cool, no marks now and out of interest they are allowed 2hours fitting, the poor lad, spent all day on mind, from 8:30am till 5:00pm, when I arrived to pick it up!!!

Hope this helps

Cheers

Mr J