Hardtop Doesn't Fit Chrome Mounts

Sian · July 8, 2017, 09:01

It's very annoying! I'm going to have a proper mess next weekend (I'm away this weekend) and if I can't figure it out I will try and find someone nearby with a hardtop. At least then I'll be able to rule out whether it's the chrome mounts or the roof. Although my money is on roof!

MisterK · July 10, 2017, 20:43

Has this been resolved? If not, take off the hardtop & place upside down on a sheet or towel etc on grass preferably, and compare the 2 catches at the back of the hardtop where the bulges are. My guess one is bent, as from what has been said before I can't think of any other reason why it doesn't fit. Happy to be proved wrong though s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

It sounds as if you've tested everything. When fitting the hardtop use two people and place the two bulges just behind the chrome catches and slide the whole top forward towards the front of the car. The catches in the top should catch under the loops on the chrome catches on both sides and all should appear level. Then do up the 4 catches in the car & all should be fine. This is how mine fits so if you're doesn't, something is bent by the sound of it s:(

s:(

Sian · July 10, 2017, 20:53

Quote from: "MisterK"This is how mine fits so if you're doesn't, something is bent by the sound of it s:( s:(

I've not got a chance to look at it now until the weekend but yes my money is on one of the hooks being bent. I've fitted it all exactly as everyone as said. Something definitely isn't lining up. I just hope it is possible to bend the hook back in place with a bit of elbow grease... otherwise not a clue what I'm going to do about it!

Ardent · July 10, 2017, 21:36

Where are you based.
Must be someone local to compare

jase77 · July 10, 2017, 22:23

Hi I'm from stoke and have a hardtop if you need look at my chrome mounts let me no.

Ardent · July 10, 2017, 22:42

OT
Location does not display on my tablet.
Quite clear you are in stoke when viewing on PC

Carolyn · July 11, 2017, 07:54

Hate to be a doomsayer. So it's only a possibility. The top could be twisted out of shape.

Call the midlife! · July 11, 2017, 08:52

Do they warp if not stored well? In hot weather etc? Just curious as I've no experience of them and storage space would have to be a consideration for me in future.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

MisterK · July 11, 2017, 10:05

I've not heard of one warping, but it could happen I suppose.

During the summer mine is stored in the made to measure storage bag which comes with 2 loop straps. I also got 2 special hooks which prevent the loops slipping off when the bag is hung from them. The hooks are at the top of my garage wall and the hardtop stores neatly in the bag hanging from the loops, so it's not under any pressure. It takes up very little space & there is plenty of room to park the car under/alongside the hardtop. It's probably the best way to store them - out of the way and no risk of being damaged.

1979scotte · July 11, 2017, 10:48

Never heard of a HT not fitting on an MR2.
My dad had an SL and the HT wouldn't seel properly.
Turned out the chassis had a slight twist from a accident.

Call the midlife! · July 11, 2017, 11:50

Quote from: "MisterK"I've not heard of one warping, but it could happen I suppose.

During the summer mine is stored in the made to measure storage bag which comes with 2 loop straps. I also got 2 special hooks which prevent the loops slipping off when the bag is hung from them. The hooks are at the top of my garage wall and the hardtop stores neatly in the bag hanging from the loops, so it's not under any pressure. It takes up very little space & there is plenty of room to park the car under/alongside the hardtop. It's probably the best way to store them - out of the way and no risk of being damaged.

Cheers for that..!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sian · July 11, 2017, 12:03

Quote from: "Carolyn"Hate to be a doomsayer. So it's only a possibility. The top could be twisted out of shape.

Yes I suppose the entire thing could be twisted. How would something like that happen? I will bear it in mind if I can't see anything obviously wrong with it when I take a look. I'm guessing if it is twisted there's not going to be a fat lot I can do about it. We will see!

Sian · July 11, 2017, 12:09

Quote from: "jase77"Hi I'm from stoke and have a hardtop if you need look at my chrome mounts let me no.

Yay a Stokie! I thought I was all alone (at least on the forum) so that's a relief. I've seen a PFL silver around occasionally and I saw a PFL red for sale that's now disappeared. I wonder if it's still in the area.

Do you have an actual hardtop or do you just have the fitting kit installed on your car? It would be good to see if I can put a different hardtop on correctly. Then I'd know if my issue is the hardtop or the car / fitting kit.

I'm going to have a mess this weekend but if I can't figure anything out I may get back to you. That would be very helpful.

Call the midlife! · July 11, 2017, 12:12

I bet you're super glad you joined the club now aren't you Tiff? We've gone from "welcome, you're car looks lovely " to deciding you've got a dodgy hard top that won't fit on your twisted chassis!
Like the Four Horsemen...
We all just like to help [emoji23]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sian · July 11, 2017, 12:51

Haha yes the only comment that concerns me is if the actual car chassis is twisted. That would be gutting, but I don't know how much it would matter really - other than a hardtop not fitting quite right. It drives well and genuinely seems well looked after so I'd be extremely surprised if the car is the issue. If the hardtop itself is beyond repair then oh well, in the bin it goes. Take the financial hit and find a new one.

Call the midlife! · July 11, 2017, 12:54

I'm sure there's a much simpler, less painful reason and solution, that damaged catch certainly looks the prime suspect.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

MisterK · July 11, 2017, 16:12

Look what I've found in the 'Reference' section - 'Toyota Hardtop Fitting Guide with Part numbers' which gives a nice link to download the full hardtop installation instructions along with some excellent diagrams. It shows exactly how the hardtop should be fitted and how the hooks at the back slot under the chrome loops. Have a look at this, it might help. If it still doesn't fit then unfortunately, it does point to something being out of alignment & hopefully it's not the car s:roll: :roll: s:roll:

Sian · July 11, 2017, 17:51

Quote from: "MisterK"Look what I've found in the 'Reference' section - 'Toyota Hardtop Fitting Guide with Part numbers'

Yes that's the guide we followed for fitting everything... And then taking it off and trying again a few times! I think something's damaged. Just praying it's not the car itself! Hardtop I'll be annoyed about but is ultimately an easy fix.

Andy-j · July 16, 2017, 22:24

Quote from: "tiff272"
Quote from: "MisterK"Look what I've found in the 'Reference' section - 'Toyota Hardtop Fitting Guide with Part numbers'
Yes that's the guide we followed for fitting everything... And then taking it off and trying again a few times! I think something's damaged. Just praying it's not the car itself! Hardtop I'll be annoyed about but is ultimately an easy fix.

Have you solved this yet? I'm in Stoke [Blurton] with a hardtop if you want to try one.

Sent from my P023 using Tapatalk

JoeCool · July 16, 2017, 22:53

If the chassis was twisted badly enough for the roof not to fit, I don't think the doors would shut cleanly either!!

I'm sure there's a more simple explanation in here somewhere.

1979scotte · July 17, 2017, 11:28

Quote from: "JoeCool"If the chassis was twisted badly enough for the roof not to fit, I don't think the doors would shut cleanly either!!

I'm sure there's a more simple explanation in here somewhere.

I agree that there is probably a more simple explaination however the fact still remains that we had an SL where this was the problem and the doors shut just fine.

Sian · July 17, 2017, 12:33

A little update:

After a false start on Saturday when it decided to tip it down just as I undid the clips, I finally got to take the hardtop off last night once rain subsided.

I flipped the roof over to discover that the general clip area had been slightly damaged and it had already been filed a bit at the edge. Its clearly been messed with before so I'm now at least confident the hardtop is the issue, not my car.

I'd rather buy a new one but I don't think it'd be fair to sell it knowing it most likely won't fit for anyone else either. Then I'd be down the money for another hardtop plus be lumbered with a broken one!

It's watertight around the windows and the interior isn't bad so decided to try and make it work. We filed more off the edge & after a few on & offs got it fitting better, not perfect, but better. It's definitely hooked under the chrome more now. There is still 1mm between the rubber seal and the car in that corner. I think adjusting the mounts by the seatbelt might help get it flat but I'll need to buy a torque wrench first...

Now I don't get the alarming clatter from that corner when going over a speed bump or pothole - so that's a relief! I'm now confident that with a bit more messing we can make it work. If that's the case then I'll probably get it resprayed as it's quite badly clipped across the front. Although another important lesson was learnt - my clothes scratched along the entire edge of the actual car when removing the top - ouch! It's not too deep, fingers crossed it'll buff out!

Thank you all for your suggestions. I originally posted thinking that as a newbie I was just doing something really obviously wrong, so it's a bit of a relief that it wasn't caused by my own incompetence!

Sian · July 17, 2017, 12:49

Quote from: "Andy-j"Have you solved this yet? I'm in Stoke [Blurton] with a hardtop if you want to try one.

Yes, another Stokie! I've just posted an update, I'm trying to fudge the hardtop I've got to fit the car. I should be ok if I can get this one working but thank you very much for the offer. What colour have you got? I will keep an eye out for you. Mine is sable grey with a black hardtop. I've seen a silver about a couple of times but that's it. Although I only started looking out for them a few weeks ago when I got mine. Maybe now the weather is getting better more will make an appearance!

Andy-j · July 17, 2017, 19:19

Quote from: "tiff272"
Quote from: "Andy-j"Have you solved this yet? I'm in Stoke [Blurton] with a hardtop if you want to try one.

Yes, another Stokie! I've just posted an update, I'm trying to fudge the hardtop I've got to fit the car. I should be ok if I can get this one working but thank you very much for the offer. What colour have you got? I will keep an eye out for you. Mine is sable grey with a black hardtop. I've seen a silver about a couple of times but that's it. Although I only started looking out for them a few weeks ago when I got mine. Maybe now the weather is getting better more will make an appearance!

Mine's silver with silver hardtop and crappie black wheels.
Glad you got it sorted, I don't think the silver bits are that important they are just a guide/locating type thing. The four inside are the important ones.
Hope all goes well, Andy.

Sent from my P023 using Tapatalk

Sian · July 17, 2017, 19:36

Quote from: "Andy-j"Mine's silver with silver hardtop and crappie black wheels.
Glad you got it sorted, I don't think the silver bits are that important they are just a guide/locating type thing. The four inside are the important ones.
Hope all goes well, Andy.

I saw a silver one a few weeks ago but with its soft top up. Couldn't see the wheels. Just saw a lovely green one at one of the Queensway junctions. I'm RF56, give me a wave if you ever see me!