A new "Top" problem

vifferman · 06-27-2010, 02:34 PM

Was devastated today to find a big problem with my 3-week-old roadster's top. Went out for a topless morning drive (just 10-12 miles)...returned home, pulled into the garage & raised the top. Was rearranging some garage storage items when I glanced up at the car and felt my heart start to race. There's a big bulge (maybe 3 inches square) at the frame rail on the driver's side about 10 inches back from the windshield, and 7 inches in from door. It feels like some sort of plastic component (guard) that may have broken or become detached. I can push it back down into place, but it just springs back to create the bulge again. I'll call the dealer tomorrow; but I'm literally half sick over this.

P.S. I have the beginning's of Z_U_Later's top tearing issue too. Perhaps I should have given Nissan (and/or Magna) more time to work the bugs out. Oh well, the car was only $48,000!!!

Z_U_later · 06-28-2010, 12:30 AM

Wow that sucks do you have pics the show the problem?

Trips · 06-28-2010, 01:41 AM

Sorry to hear about your Issue.

The dealer should be able to have it fixed. Good luck

Hey Z_U_later = Brian, hows it going? Hope to see at the big fontana meet? Look it up in the Socal section

.

No disrespect Op carry on.

vifferman · 06-28-2010, 08:07 AM

There's a rather poor, low-res shot in My Picture Album, but I can't figure out how to display it with my post.

Trips · 06-28-2010, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vifferman

There's a rather poor, low-res shot in My Picture Album, but I can't figure out how to display it with my post.

Here you go!

vifferman · 06-28-2010, 05:13 PM

Many thanks Triple's.

vifferman · 06-28-2010, 05:18 PM

Is this how you did it?...

[/IMG]

vifferman · 06-28-2010, 05:25 PM

One more try --
Nissan 370Z Forum - vifferman's Album: My 2010 370z Roadster - Picture

vifferman · 06-28-2010, 05:28 PM

Okay, this works, but still not right. How do I properly post a pic with my message?

Z_U_later · 06-29-2010, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vifferman

Okay, this works, but still not right. How do I properly post a pic with my message?

Well if you want to just post a quick reply with a photo just go down to the reply box at the bottom of the page and click on the advance button. Then scroll down to the additional option section and in the attach file area click on the manage attachments button. Another window should open and click on one of the choose file button and select your photo. once you have selected all your photos hit the upload button and wait for all your files to but uploaded. When that is done you have the option to preview or submit your post. Hope that helps.

vifferman · 06-30-2010, 05:59 PM

Well, this is really strange and hard to explain, but my top bulge seems to have self-corrected. It first appeared after a top-down drive on Sunday morning, and was still prevalent on Tuesday after several efforts to diagnose/correct. Went for a top-down drive last evening, and stopped at a friend's house to show off my new baby. Raised the top to demonstrate the process & to let him view the problem. What? - it's gone! Followed through with a 9:30 appointment at the dealer today to check the top issue and replace a faulty illuminated kick plate. New kick plate looks good, and the technician said that while he didn't have a final answer from Nissan yet, his contact said that they will most likely replace the top. Got home, did two more top-down/up tests, and everything seems good again. Hmm...fingers are tightly crossed, as I would hope to avoid the trauma of a top replacement at this early date (my ZR is just 3 weeks new).

BTW - the tech (seemingly a smart, good guy) said that they've already replaced a couple of tops (one was improperly stitched, and separated at the driver's side rear seam). Hope we're not all in for a bad adventure here.

vifferman · 07-01-2010, 04:42 PM

Eureka! I think I've solved the mystery "top bulge" problem myself (no thanks to the dealer tech who was dumbfounded, and called Nissan before making any real attempt to diagnose the problem himself). He said, "well, there's no access to the interior of the top, so my initial call to Nissan suggests that we'll have to replace it." WRONG!...got to thinking last evening, and lowered the top just half way to reveal a full open view of the area in question. The culprit is a nylon pad/guard (as expected) that is velcroed to the top fabric to cushion it from a plastic rail clip assembly below. My guess is that the bulge occurred when the pad got caught on the back edge of the clip, and then eventually freed itself and returned to normal. There's another nylon guard that runs the middle length of the frame rail, and it may have been a catch point as well. Made a few adjustments, and so far so good. Can't begin to express my sense of relief, but now wonder if I should trust the dealer even to do the Free first oil change. The "top" issue didn't exactly inspire confidence.

Haz · 07-01-2010, 09:15 PM

Sorry to hear about the problem you were having Vifferman, I know how hard it is to see a brand new car that you paid all that money see having a problem like this.
I picked up a white one for my wife, she already disappointed with the top. there is crinkle some where at the right hand side in the front we don't know what it is.
Pictures by ben111335 - Photobucket
This is mine, or I should say is hers. I am waiting for Camaro SS Controvertible next year.

vifferman · 07-02-2010, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haz

Sorry to hear about the problem you were having Vifferman, I know how hard it is to see a brand new car that you paid all that money see having a problem like this.
I picked up a white one for my wife, she already disappointed with the top. there is crinkle some where at the right hand side in the front we don't know what it is.
Pictures by ben111335 - Photobucket
This is mine, or I should say is hers. I am waiting for Camaro SS Controvertible next year.

Haz - could you post a close-up pic of the "crinkle?" The problem may be similar to mine, and I may be able to help.

darrnix1 · 07-02-2010, 10:16 PM

For God's sake.. all this talk about faulty convertible tops has me second-guessing my decision on purchasing a 370Z roadster... maybe I might want to wait until Nissan gets their act together and perfect the top assembly before I plunk down my hard-earned bucks for one... I'm eyeing this black one w/black top and outfitting it with 20 inch wheels. But THIS... man.. this truly bursts my bubble..

06-27-2010, 02:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
vifferman Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 62 Drives: '04 TSX, '10 370ZR Rep Power: 16	A new "Top" problem Was devastated today to find a big problem with my 3-week-old roadster's top. Went out for a topless morning drive (just 10-12 miles)...returned home, pulled into the garage & raised the top. Was rearranging some garage storage items when I glanced up at the car and felt my heart start to race. There's a big bulge (maybe 3 inches square) at the frame rail on the driver's side about 10 inches back from the windshield, and 7 inches in from door. It feels like some sort of plastic component (guard) that may have broken or become detached. I can push it back down into place, but it just springs back to create the bulge again. I'll call the dealer tomorrow; but I'm literally half sick over this. P.S. I have the beginning's of Z_U_Later's top tearing issue too. Perhaps I should have given Nissan (and/or Magna) more time to work the bugs out. Oh well, the car was only $48,000!!!

06-28-2010, 01:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,732 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	Sorry to hear about your Issue. The dealer should be able to have it fixed. Good luck Hey Z_U_later = Brian, hows it going? Hope to see at the big fontana meet? Look it up in the Socal section . No disrespect Op carry on. __________________

06-28-2010, 05:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
vifferman Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 62 Drives: '04 TSX, '10 370ZR Rep Power: 16	Is this how you did it?...[/IMG]

06-30-2010, 05:59 PM	#11 (permalink)
vifferman Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 62 Drives: '04 TSX, '10 370ZR Rep Power: 16	Update Well, this is really strange and hard to explain, but my top bulge seems to have self-corrected. It first appeared after a top-down drive on Sunday morning, and was still prevalent on Tuesday after several efforts to diagnose/correct. Went for a top-down drive last evening, and stopped at a friend's house to show off my new baby. Raised the top to demonstrate the process & to let him view the problem. What? - it's gone! Followed through with a 9:30 appointment at the dealer today to check the top issue and replace a faulty illuminated kick plate. New kick plate looks good, and the technician said that while he didn't have a final answer from Nissan yet, his contact said that they will most likely replace the top. Got home, did two more top-down/up tests, and everything seems good again. Hmm...fingers are tightly crossed, as I would hope to avoid the trauma of a top replacement at this early date (my ZR is just 3 weeks new). BTW - the tech (seemingly a smart, good guy) said that they've already replaced a couple of tops (one was improperly stitched, and separated at the driver's side rear seam). Hope we're not all in for a bad adventure here.

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06-28-2010, 12:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
Z_U_later Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 46 Drives: 10 370z Roadster AT7 Rep Power: 16	Wow that sucks do you have pics the show the problem?

06-28-2010, 08:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
vifferman Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 62 Drives: '04 TSX, '10 370ZR Rep Power: 16	There's a rather poor, low-res shot in My Picture Album, but I can't figure out how to display it with my post.

06-28-2010, 05:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
vifferman Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 62 Drives: '04 TSX, '10 370ZR Rep Power: 16	Many thanks Triple's.

06-28-2010, 05:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
vifferman Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 62 Drives: '04 TSX, '10 370ZR Rep Power: 16	One more try -- Nissan 370Z Forum - vifferman's Album: My 2010 370z Roadster - Picture

06-28-2010, 05:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
vifferman Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 62 Drives: '04 TSX, '10 370ZR Rep Power: 16	Okay, this works, but still not right. How do I properly post a pic with my message?

07-01-2010, 04:42 PM	#12 (permalink)
vifferman Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 62 Drives: '04 TSX, '10 370ZR Rep Power: 16	Eureka! I think I've solved the mystery "top bulge" problem myself (no thanks to the dealer tech who was dumbfounded, and called Nissan before making any real attempt to diagnose the problem himself). He said, "well, there's no access to the interior of the top, so my initial call to Nissan suggests that we'll have to replace it." WRONG!...got to thinking last evening, and lowered the top just half way to reveal a full open view of the area in question. The culprit is a nylon pad/guard (as expected) that is velcroed to the top fabric to cushion it from a plastic rail clip assembly below. My guess is that the bulge occurred when the pad got caught on the back edge of the clip, and then eventually freed itself and returned to normal. There's another nylon guard that runs the middle length of the frame rail, and it may have been a catch point as well. Made a few adjustments, and so far so good. Can't begin to express my sense of relief, but now wonder if I should trust the dealer even to do the Free first oil change. The "top" issue didn't exactly inspire confidence.

07-01-2010, 09:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
Haz Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 4 Drives: 370Z 2010 Pearl Auto Rep Power: 15	Sorry to hear about the problem you were having Vifferman, I know how hard it is to see a brand new car that you paid all that money see having a problem like this. I picked up a white one for my wife, she already disappointed with the top. there is crinkle some where at the right hand side in the front we don't know what it is. Pictures by ben111335 - Photobucket This is mine, or I should say is hers. I am waiting for Camaro SS Controvertible next year.

07-02-2010, 10:16 PM	#15 (permalink)
darrnix1 Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1 Drives: 90 300ZX Red Auto Rep Power: 15	For God's sake.. all this talk about faulty convertible tops has me second-guessing my decision on purchasing a 370Z roadster... maybe I might want to wait until Nissan gets their act together and perfect the top assembly before I plunk down my hard-earned bucks for one... I'm eyeing this black one w/black top and outfitting it with 20 inch wheels. But THIS... man.. this truly bursts my bubble..