How is your top

chad.mcvay350 · 04-22-2016, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TopHydraulics

Okay, here is a first draft for a DIY to manually unlock and open the 370Z roadster top. This may be the toughest part of the whole DIY diagnostic and repair, but I hear that it is not that bad once you know what you are doing. Thus, an improved DIY for manual unlocking would be great, and a video would be awesome! We need more photos and comments in order to create a really good DIY for this important step. Lookup, I hope that you can help us out with this.

To manually unlock the top, you need to unbolt the striker from the rear bow (the section with the rear window in it). It is located centrally under the end of the rear bow frame. This striker is the part that hooks into the rear bow lock, which is mounted under the tonneau cover tonneau cover = storage compartment cover). I will describe the process of striker removal below, but first some pics...

Striker unbolted from rear bow, but still inside the rear bow lock:

Striker removed from rear bow lock - see the striker, its two mounting bolts, and the clamp it is screwed into:

Striker as normally mounted on the rear bow:

Rear bow lock as mounted under the soft top storage (tonneau) cover:

Rear bow lock striker removal:
1) Remove storage lid deflector. That's the piece between the roll bars. Simply remove four mounting nuts and bolts. See attached pdf. Would appreciate comments and photos.
2) Remove "soft top cover inner": lift up "cover inner" marked as item 1 in attached pdf, and remove three inner clips marked as item 2. Would be nice to find a more descriptive name, and comments and photos would be helpful.
3) Remove both rear lock striker bolts (marked as item 3 in attached pdf) from the service hole. Would appreciate comments and photos.

Lift rear bow and front bow simultaneously. Now you can unlock the storage cover manually as described in your owner's manual (attaching and pulling on the cables in the trunk - would be nice to get some pics of this). Let me know when and if you need help.

Now you can start discovery, which we will get into in a follow-on post. You will have to attach and lock the striker and the rear bow lock again if you want to drive the car with the top up (or keep the rear bow lock removed and attach a bungee for temporary use).

Hope this helps, and looking forward to your comments,

Klaus

GLAD MY PHOTOS HELPED! It was an easy job, hardest part was turning the two bolts, just took me a while.

ZETIRED · 06-10-2016, 11:00 PM

On March 7th, 2016, I noticed that there was slight tearing on the passenger side on the inside of the headliner at the 2nd bow. Called Nissan, have extended warranty and let them know about the problem. Took car in to Dealer, Tonkin Nissan in Wilsonville, Oregon. It took 3 weeks to get the issue resolved and they agreed to pay for it. Nissan specialist suggested that a felt strip between the bow and the liner would keep it from repeating. Original cost quoted to me by Dealer was $2220, and originally they said it would not be covered by E-Warranty. My deductible was $50, but apparently I had to pay for the Felt strips so it cost me $272.05. I wonder where they get their felt from, but I think they charged me for the work to put the felt in?! Anyway very pleased that they owed up to the problem. Took a total of just under a month to get my Z back. Just in time for good weather coming up. The only thing I objected to is that every time Nissan called me to give me updates they made it sound like they were trying to decide whether or not give me financial assistance, and not really admitting that top was self-destructing. Car only has 37500 miles on it and that should not have happened.
Zetired
2010 GT Black Cherry Roadster

jkatt · 06-17-2016, 04:05 AM

2010 no problems @ 40,000mi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldGuyFla

Hi

I haven't seen any posts for people having top problems for some time & was just wondering how everyone's top is performing these days?
I've looked back through the posts & it seems to me that a good number of the problems had been with the 2010 models. I hope that Nissan has cured the problems & we can look forward to a long trouble free time.
I've had mine for about 1.5 yrs. now & haven't had any problems. Living down here I have my top up & down all year long, so it's gotten a good workout.

Comments please.
Dan

blueranger · 06-21-2016, 07:05 PM

Bad News... My top is stuck will not open or close after several attempts of shutting off and on.

Does anyone know how to manually close the top?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

OldGuyFla · 06-22-2016, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueranger

Bad News... My top is stuck will not open or close after several attempts of shutting off and on.

Does anyone know how to manually close the top?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's not good, here is a link to close it manually.
Starts at the bottom of page Rf-24

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/370Z/Coupe/2010/RF.pdf

Good luck!

blueranger · 06-22-2016, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldGuyFla

That's not good, here is a link to close it manually.

Starts at the bottom of page Rf-24

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/370Z/Coupe/2010/RF.pdf

Good luck!

Took it to the dealer today for a master tech to look at it. They had to keep the car overnight and they said j would get a call in the morning.

Hoping it's not outrageous like some of the quotes I have read.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

blueranger · 06-23-2016, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueranger

Took it to the dealer today for a master tech to look at it. They had to keep the car overnight and they said j would get a call in the morning.

Hoping it's not outrageous like some of the quotes I have read.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well that "Master Tech" was only good to say my top is broken and I need to replace the "ENTIRE" top assembly at an incredible price of $18,000.00 and the brilliant service adviser tells me "I would do the repair sell the car and get your money back". I told him would you give this advice to your Mother, Sister or Brother? All I got was silence...

The sad part was I requested the dealer to manually close the top regardless of what was needed. So then the adviser tells me the "Master Tech" could not do this because of the broken pieces.

I found a shop that the Ford Dealership subs out all of their top issues to and this guy manually closed my top in two minutes for free! He said he will try to find the parts I need through one of the dealers he does work for (another Nissan dealer) or he will do a national hotline search with the salvage yards to find a reasonably priced replacement part(s).

I will post a picture of the broken part to reference this wonderful journey I have begun.

blueranger · 06-23-2016, 10:34 PM

One concern I have regarding a manual close is the caution notice I read on the roof top manual:

Be careful not to leave the vehicle outside for a long period
of time or drive at high speeds.
The soft top is not locked completely, and this may allow
wind, rain and foreign matter to get into the vehicle.

Any feedback on this?

michele's 370 · 08-20-2016, 12:04 PM

thank you for this link, my wife's convertible top is now stuck in the down position and the trunk wont open. Our local dealer claims there is zero information from Nissan about diagnosing 370z convertible top issues.

Kirkster · 06-24-2016, 06:35 AM

2010 and my top is doing fine. No holes rips or tears. A little wear where the top folds but that is it. Though I just shredded a supercharger belt so the car is down for a bit...

Bummer · 08-14-2016, 07:58 PM

Interesting. Looks like now I need to dig through the top section of the service manual looking for rubber bungee cords. I had no idea there were any.

cra3y · 11-01-2016, 04:20 PM

Is it definitive build date, after that tops are less prone to break? I read, that from MY2009 to MY2011 are most problematic, but I want to confirm that.

OldGuyFla · 11-01-2016, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cra3y

Is it definitive build date, after that tops are less prone to break? I read, that from MY2009 to MY2011 are most problematic, but I want to confirm that.

It seems that the number of problems of the newer models are far less, but maybe just because they aren't as old. I haven't had any problems with mine & it is 2 yrs. old. I have my top down most of the time I am out & if I stop at a store I put it up & back down when I come out again. The top has gotten a lot of exercise.

Sasha · 11-16-2016, 11:41 AM

I bought a 2017 model 2 months ago, I had a problem with the top since day one. My problem is when the deck-lid hits/rubs the top when opening, it happens after leaving the top in the closed position for an hour or so. I believe it is related to the top being stretched while in the closed/up position.
I have been to the dealer 3 times so far, in fact the car is at the dealer right now, they replaced the bungee cords and made some adjustments with no luck. Now, they're saying they will most replace the whole top.
Stay Tuned...

OldGuyFla · 11-16-2016, 02:20 PM

That's a real bummer. It's good that they are willing to replace the top without you having to fight about it. Keep us updated on your progress. Good luck!

06-10-2016, 11:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
ZETIRED Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tigard, OR. Posts: 15 Drives: 10' 370Z RDST. BC,7A Rep Power: 16	On March 7th, 2016, I noticed that there was slight tearing on the passenger side on the inside of the headliner at the 2nd bow. Called Nissan, have extended warranty and let them know about the problem. Took car in to Dealer, Tonkin Nissan in Wilsonville, Oregon. It took 3 weeks to get the issue resolved and they agreed to pay for it. Nissan specialist suggested that a felt strip between the bow and the liner would keep it from repeating. Original cost quoted to me by Dealer was $2220, and originally they said it would not be covered by E-Warranty. My deductible was $50, but apparently I had to pay for the Felt strips so it cost me $272.05. I wonder where they get their felt from, but I think they charged me for the work to put the felt in?! Anyway very pleased that they owed up to the problem. Took a total of just under a month to get my Z back. Just in time for good weather coming up. The only thing I objected to is that every time Nissan called me to give me updates they made it sound like they were trying to decide whether or not give me financial assistance, and not really admitting that top was self-destructing. Car only has 37500 miles on it and that should not have happened. Zetired 2010 GT Black Cherry Roadster OldGuyFla likes this. Last edited by ZETIRED; 06-11-2016 at 01:47 PM.

06-21-2016, 07:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
blueranger Track Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 577 Drives: 2010 Roadster 7AT Rep Power: 307	Bad News... My top is stuck will not open or close after several attempts of shutting off and on. Does anyone know how to manually close the top? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ F.I. Stage 1 Twin Turbo #48 \| E85 FlexFuel \| Built 7AT \| F.I. 34 Row Oil Cooler \| F.I. Flex Plate \| F.I. 19 row Trans Cooler \| MT ET Street S/S \| ECUTEK Tuned by Seb \| RPM Roll Bar

06-23-2016, 10:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
blueranger Track Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 577 Drives: 2010 Roadster 7AT Rep Power: 307	Question... One concern I have regarding a manual close is the caution notice I read on the roof top manual: Be careful not to leave the vehicle outside for a long period of time or drive at high speeds. The soft top is not locked completely, and this may allow wind, rain and foreign matter to get into the vehicle. Any feedback on this? __________________ F.I. Stage 1 Twin Turbo #48 \| E85 FlexFuel \| Built 7AT \| F.I. 34 Row Oil Cooler \| F.I. Flex Plate \| F.I. 19 row Trans Cooler \| MT ET Street S/S \| ECUTEK Tuned by Seb \| RPM Roll Bar

06-24-2016, 06:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
Kirkster A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Peoples Republic of MD Posts: 1,792 Drives: Roadster of DOOM Rep Power: 20	2010 and my top is doing fine. No holes rips or tears. A little wear where the top folds but that is it. Though I just shredded a supercharger belt so the car is down for a bit... OldGuyFla likes this. __________________ Powertrain Warranty voided on 5/14/2011 Mod List:GTM Supercharger,SmartTop module, Oil Cooler, GT-R Start button, Nismo Exhaust, BC Racing ER Coilovers, Backup Camara For eastwest:

08-14-2016, 07:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
Bummer Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 303 Drives: 13 370Z RTS SR M6 Rep Power: 51	Interesting. Looks like now I need to dig through the top section of the service manual looking for rubber bungee cords. I had no idea there were any. __________________ Steve

08-20-2016, 12:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
michele's 370 Base Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: folsom Posts: 4 Drives: 370z convertible Rep Power: 9	thank you for this link, my wife's convertible top is now stuck in the down position and the trunk wont open. Our local dealer claims there is zero information from Nissan about diagnosing 370z convertible top issues.

11-01-2016, 04:20 PM	#12 (permalink)
cra3y Base Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: ZG Posts: 9 Drives: waiting for Rep Power: 9	Is it definitive build date, after that tops are less prone to break? I read, that from MY2009 to MY2011 are most problematic, but I want to confirm that. __________________ Regards Chris Last edited by cra3y; 11-01-2016 at 04:31 PM.

11-16-2016, 11:41 AM	#14 (permalink)
Sasha Base Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: California Posts: 1 Drives: 2017 370Z Roadster Rep Power: 9	I bought a 2017 model 2 months ago, I had a problem with the top since day one. My problem is when the deck-lid hits/rubs the top when opening, it happens after leaving the top in the closed position for an hour or so. I believe it is related to the top being stretched while in the closed/up position. I have been to the dealer 3 times so far, in fact the car is at the dealer right now, they replaced the bungee cords and made some adjustments with no luck. Now, they're saying they will most replace the whole top. Stay Tuned... vman12 likes this.

11-16-2016, 02:20 PM	#15 (permalink)
OldGuyFla A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Indian Lake Estates Fl Posts: 1,049 Drives: 14 370Z TS Roadster Rep Power: 19128	That's a real bummer. It's good that they are willing to replace the top without you having to fight about it. Keep us updated on your progress. Good luck! __________________