Broken Soft Top Bar

gbhrps

SnowXTC,

I really sorry to hear of your top issues. You have my sympathy.

I'm sorry to tell you that you have purchased a car with perhaps the most intricate convertible top possible. There are 8 hydraulic rams that open and close the top, each one with a sail switch (tells the ram position), and its all computer controlled and must work seamlessly or ... you have what you have .. an issue.

There are so few of these cars (the roadsters) sold, that very few Nissan dealerships ever get to repair one, and that means that finding someone with the expertise to correct a problem is a crap shoot. The system is so intricate, that if a dealership can't nail down an issue correctly in a reasonable length of time (meaning lots of customer's dollars diagnosing the issue), Nissan of America's response is to tell the customer to replace the entire top assembly = prices in the $13 000 range. Yes, I said $13 000.

Now in response to your specific issue.
First ... there are products on the market that can be used to repair the tear in the top material. Off hand I can't recall what the name is, but I've seen it on YouTube, I will track it down, and get you the info. I believe you'll be very pleased with the repair results, and it is very much a DiYer type of job. No service person required, but a convertible top repair shop would be able to do a better job than a newbie for sure, using the same product.

OKay, so that saves you a bundle.

Next, we (you and I) need to be talking the same language. You say "the first bar is broken". I believe you may be actually referring to the 2nd bow, and not the first. If it is the 2nd bar, the fix is fairly simple in comparison.

So that leads to your next step. You need to download the FSM (factory service manual) for the car. Its free, I'll give you the link, it takes 15 minutes to download, and you or someones else can fix anything on your car, without needing the dealership.

Download the entire manual, all pdf files, and then scroll down to the RF section (RF for roof). There are a pile of files and pages. Take the time to scroll through them (I've spent hours, because I know that someday I'll be in your shoes, and I'm a wrencher. I'll do my best to fix the problem myself). Go to page RF-175 and look at the diagram and the list under neath it. Are we both talking about the 2nd bow?

If we are, you can see that the bow can be changed or removed and rewelded? with just the removal of two bolts/screws. Lets hope so.

I have more to share, but I'll come back to it if you can do some homework first. Download the FSM, find that page RF-175, and then skim through the entire RF section to understand the intracacies of the top assembly.

I'm RVing for the next few days, and if I have good access to the internet, I can do follow ups, but be patient if I can't get back on until I get home. I've been working on cars for 55 years, many of them on antique convertibles I've owned, and I see them as a challenge. I've researched the tops on these 370z's, and I do all of my own work where possible (motor/tranny changes, but I wouldn't try to rebuild a tranny, if you get my meaning). So hopefully I can point you in the right direction.

That said, after you've seen the manual, etc., and understand your issue, see what your Ford guys will do for you. Be friendly, but firm, and see what gives. Maybe much, maybe not much, but if you are armed with the knowledge, ... they won't be able to BS you, and you may well find yourself in the driver's seat on this. Even if it goes south with the Ford dealership, you still will have a way to salvage the issue for not a lot of dollars. These are great cars, I've owned one of every generation Z car since 1971. They get in your blood, particularly because not everyone outthere has one. Fingers crossed!!!

Here's the link to the FSM: Index of /FSM/370Z/Coupe

Gene