Rear Rail Weather Strip Removal
 

I have an April 2010 Model.

I am trying to replace my 5th Bow Bungee Cords which doesn't look like a horrendous job. I like to think that I am quite handy with the spanners (sorry I'm a Brit - should that be wrench?? :rofl2:) but I am struggling with removing the Rear Rail Weather Strip. The service manual says to "Remove cutout A" on page RF201. I'm buggered if I can find said cutout. The manual I have is a 2011 but surely nothing much changed before then.

Can anyone point me in the right direction with photos if possible and plenty of abuse if I am being a complete arse?

Thanks in advance.

Chris

Chris,

I have the service manual for the 2014 year, and one page later than the page you describe it refers to the exact same procedure.

From years of working on cars in a restoration shop, I read the procedure for the "cutout" as follows:

The figure 8 diagramed cutout means that at that point in the weatherstrip, it is hollow, and the weatherstrip is stretched on all sides of that cutout to go over the "B" tab on the rear most bow section above it. There is no fastener there, the rubber seal is just stretched over the tab and when released slides in behind it, to hold the seal in place.

From the manual's description, you should be able to find that tab by feeling along the bottom of the weatherstrip for the tab within the rubber. Then pull that section of the weatherstrip gently from all sides around the tab to release the weatherstrip.

I think I'm correct on this, because it allows the rubber to fasten to the frame without a fastener that would over time compress through the weatherstripping and mar the surface paint of the tonneau cover.

Please keep us posted as to the bungee cord change out, as many of us here will be doing that same job I suspect in the future at some point. Thanks! Good Luck!

Gene

Gene,

Thanks for that. As it is not an essential job I don't know when I will get another chance to look at it. But I will keep you posted.

Thanks again.

Chris

cb1228,

I'm tossing this out for what its worth, ... and maybe not that much ... it really depends on your personal situation.

My 2016 Roadster, too, has the tonneau cover hitting the soft top frame on one side when opening. The car was an Nissan executive car before I bought it at 11 000 kms, before the 2017's hit the market. Over the years I've always let the previous owner take the depreciation hit and have avoided buying new.

From day one it has had this issue, and given the time it has taken me to join the forum, download and study the factory service manual, determine that I had an issue, and then find the solution, in my case, is it worth fixing at this point?

The factory service manual solution is to replace the two 5th bow bungee cords (MSRP $101 each on one side) and that's without labour charges, a job I can do myself.

Since I have 3 other vehicles to drive, and the Z is just a toy that comes out when the temperature is right and weather radar says no rain. I think I'll wait until a year from now to decide to go the warranty route or not. For sure, I'll get the problem documented with the dealership now, so that future decision will have a track record with Nissan.

In the meantime, and this is where I've been going all along with this thread, I'm opening the top from the driver's door switch (standing outside of the car), and when the 5th bow folds up, I'm helping it towards the front of the car with my hand (about a 3rd of the way across the bow) to fold up that extra inch or so, so that the tonneau cover doesn't strike the 5th bow.

I may decide to shorten the 5th bow bungee cord and see how that affects the issue. When anything bungee related stretches over time, it may be that this could be a solution as well. And it could be that replacing these bungee cords is an every 3 year thing, due to their stretching. Who knows?

My car has just hit 16 000 kms, is just officially 2 years old, and has another full year of warranty left, ending sometime early in September of next year.

I'll keep everyone posted as to what I decide in a year's time.

Gene

Gene,

Surprised by the cost of the 5th bow bungees. My Brother-in-Law, who lives in Chicago, got me 2 genuine Nissan bungees for $25.

Anyway, had a go at removing the rear raill weather strip as I wanted to put a 'Stormsure' patch on the inside of the roof where it was wearing between the door window and rear window - a common fault. While I was there I wanted to see what sort of job replacing the bungees would be.

You were right about the cutout. It was clipped over a plastic clip. Removing it was a bitch and replacing it was worse. I don't think I even needed to do this as I could have just removed the rubber strip from the rail and left everything else in place. With the rubber strip removed it was quite easy to remove the fabric roof from the rail.

The bungee replacement didn't look as easy as I first thought so I've put that job aside for another day as my tonneau cover only hits the rail gently when cold and is fine when warm.

If you do decide to do this take my advice on the weather srip and only remove the absloute minimum that you have to.