Hi folks,
this place seems the best one to introduce myself, as my contributions will be limited to convertible top problems, malfunctions, and repairs. Some forum members have mentioned me (Klaus) or my company (Top Hydraulics, Inc) on this forum, so it's about time that I became active here. I know a lot about the hydraulic system in the 370Z, and hope to share some of that knowledge with you folks. The ultimate goal is to enable most 370Z owners to diagnose and repair their malfunctioning tops. That's a tall order, but it is possible with the help of fellow roadster owners who document their efforts, and I hope there will be lots of contributions, so that we can all create some good DIYs together.
I am a vendor, I don't own a Z, and I have worked only on a couple that folks in my area asked me to check out. We don't normally work on cars, as we are a mail order business - I simply couldn't resist the opportunity to check out the 370Z top system in person when those folks asked for help. I have just signed up for corporate sponsorship of this forum, which allows me to create technical posts with reference to my company's products and services.
The roadster top is activated and latched/unlatched by a hydraulic pump and eight hydraulic cylinders, connected by hydraulic lines (hoses). It is an elegant system, comparable to those in other high end convertibles with automatic tops. We work on the hydraulics of over 30 brands of convertibles, and none of them are bullet proof. The components in the 370Z convertible top hydraulic system can fail, of course, just like they do in any other brand.
The big issue is that Nissan does not sell the components as replacement parts, only the whole system. That's crazy, and it is extremely expensive for roadster owners once there is a problem. Don't feel bad - the same is the case for many other brands. That's where Top Hydraulics comes in: we rebuild cylinders, we manufacture new hydraulic hoses, we rebuild pumps, and we can offer core exchange (we send parts from our inventory first, then you send back your original parts for core credit). This will literally save you thousands of Dollars once you have a hydraulic problem with the top.
The best part is that we make the parts better than brand new ones, because we eliminate the weak spots. No kidding.
The more information is shared on this forum, the better, because the knowledge that malfunctioning convertible tops can be repaired at relatively low cost, will keep the resale value of 370Z roadsters a lot higher than it would be if everyone had to dish out some $10k once the hydraulics spring a leak.
Enough said for an intro, I will start responding to some recent convertible top posts soon. I don't have all the answers when it comes to troubleshooting the tops, but I know the hydraulic part of the system very well, and will do my best to help.
Here are some links to the 370Z section on our website:
Rebuild/Upgrade Service for 2009+ Nissan 350z Convertible Hydraulic Components - Top Hydraulics, Inc
Nissan 370Z Hydraulic Component Locations - Top Hydraulics, Inc
Klaus
klaus@tophydraulicsinc.com
Top Hydraulics | Rebuilt and Upgraded Convertible Top Cylinders, Pumps, Hydraulic Lines - Top Hydraulics, Inc
541-902-3214
