Convertible top blues.... HELP

gbhrps

suzook,

I've followed every thread concerning the top issues since long before the purchase of my roadster. That and hours of wandering through the FSM sections of the top mechanism, makes me think that your issue is as OldGuyFla has suggested, the 5th bow bungee cords.

These thin metal straps with an elastic bungee cord are reponsible for pulling the 5th bow(bow below the rear window that sits on the rear tonneau cover when closed) out of the way of the tonneau cover lid, so they don't strike each other during opening and closing operations. As the car ages with many openings and closings, those two bungee cords stretch, allowing the 5th bow and the lid to contact. It sure sounds like your issue.

Recently someone posted here of this very issue, and after a 4 hour dealership fix (both bungee cords replaced) the owner reported that his top problem was fixed. An online search of Nissan parts showed that the bungee cords were about $107 each as I recall (far too expensive for what they are in my opinion, but that's the car parts business). All in all, if this is your fix, the dollar damage should be under a $1000, if that's any consolation. Good Luck! Keep us posted.

Gene