Just removed those tabs on my 03. No holes in the top but dimpled. The tabs unscrew and the top goes up and down just fine. I know they are there for a reason but they can easily be reinstalled.

Anyone want to buy some genuine factory Porsche top frame tabs? They are in excellent condition, and I'll sell em to you for a great deal!

Removing the second tab is under considerable. As for the tape, I think I will leave it on. As I mentioned, I already have a hole in one side and the other side is showing significant wear

Makes sense to keep the tape on if the area is worn out. Good luck, and hope this makes your top last longer.

Removed the tabs from mine a few nights ago. Haven't put the top back down again but will do that soon.

At a guess I would think the tab is there to align the other bow above it when it's closed and to stop it pinching the roof itself.
Looks like it causes more problems than it solves.

I think it does that as well as keep the whole top frame from moving laterally when cornering hard, which could potentially pop the plastic caps off the ball joints. We'll see what happens after these are off long term, but so far I'm just glad there's no more bumps in the fabric. Those tabs were pressing so hard against the fabric that the rubber backing behind the fabric was stretched out. It was bound to rip through sooner or later.

Is this issue specific to the 2003? I don't seem to have this problem on the 2004. I guess you have to remove the interior liner to view the tabs. Mine seem to be flat and smooth. I'm curious what the difference is.

You don't have to remove the headliner to see the tabs. All you have to do is take your hand and pull it away from the roof fabric, and look in between. You'll then see it. I don't think it's only a problem specific to the 03, as the 04 top is the same. Also, there's someone with an 04 top that I know has the same problem. Mine also didn't exhibit this problem for the first several years I had it. It only recently came up as a problem about a year ago. I think over time, the location of the roof mechanism shifts a little so that the frame folds in a way that when fully down, allows the tabs to press hard against the fabric. The longer you keep the top down, the more pronounced the bumps are after you put the top up.

If you're not seeing the problem yet, then don't do anything, I say. Once you start seeing the bumps, then you know what you can do.

I don't have those bumps or wear marks on the top of my 2003 which I've owned from new. But after the first winter I had my hard top on, 3 winters ago, my top developed some different wear marks on both sides a bit higher up. I think the marks developed from the top being folded down for such a long period, I never had them before I got the hard top.

Chuck W, Gunter is also dyslexic. He believes Excellence Was Excepted. I think he also designed the glued-in coolant pipes on the GT1 block!

Side question here:

For the past theee years I have been trying to figure out where to hook the strap hopefully this is the right spothttp://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1493865199.jpg

That's not the right spot actually. If you look right near there, but a little more inward and UNDER the top, you'll see a plastic tab/hook where the strap should hook onto.

I put mine there as well, a bit easier to get attached than on the corner as I did prior. :o

Don't see it on my 2004 S top.

Look under the bottom edge of the black surround piece under the back of the top, under the window where the canvas ends. If it hasn't come loose, there is a piece of Velcro glued on that - not sure if the part is metal or plastic. The strap runs along the bottom of that part from the driver side to about 3/4 of the way to the passenger side and is attached to the Velcro. It was only on 2003 and 2004 glass window tops.

That strap is supposed to go UNDER the side of the top, so that it can be hooked onto the locating tab on the front of the convertible top frame.

When you are done with it, it gets unhooked and then gets folded over onto itself and be stowed by pressing it onto the velcro section that is located under the rear main bow.

Your other situation (relayed to me by Boxtaboy) with the top binding on the back of the roll bar hoops looks like it may be alleviated by relocating the entire frame a tiny bit back by loosening the 3 bolts on each side of the frame (and one possible phillips head screw).

Regards, Maurice.

Have to admit that all along I've been using the strap in the same way as Schoir. You learn something every day

Hey Maurice,

Thanks for the info. The problem I am having is the glass window did not want to fold down so the rest of the top started binding against it. Removing the two tabs seems to have fixed it. I'll try take a video it's hard to explain how it binds properly

BEWARE. After reading this and having the same wear marks I have just removed the said tabs. I then tried the roof a couple of times and the white ball socket on the end of the hood strut broke and shot off.
Can't be sure it related but it's hell of a coincidence.
I now need to spend £70 for a replacement oem strut, however I see on ebay you can get a metal replacement socket only for £25. I think it must be an aftermarket product and not oem.

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Do not use the metal ball socket. These items were made of plastic for a reason - to break if there was undue pressure on the strut - saving you from even worse damage. Buy the aftermarket plastic ones. I suggest buying a few so you have an extra on hand. Also do not operate the convertible top electronically until the socket is replaced - that strut will poke a hole in your foam drip tray.


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Good advice, thanks.
Maybe that's why I found a hole in the plastic foam when I first got the car!

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This Is making me reconsider removing the tab - I only removed the one on the side where it had worn a hole in the top fabric. Anyone else experience this?

Carlos

Like I said, I removed the tabs over a year ago. Roof has been up and down at least twice every driving day since. No issues and no tearing or bulges either. I do keep all the slide and pivot points of the roof and clamshell lubed with lithium grease and it works flawlessly.

To each his own.

I have been putting the top up and down a few times already, and no problems so far. I'll update if anything changes, but so far so good.

No holes in my top yet but definitely bulges and ware on the inside. Removed the tabs, top goes up and down fine, clamshell closes better without them. I'm going to keep them just incase but the poke marks in the top are already smoothing out. Glad I saw this thread.

My '04 Boxster has a similar "dimple", and my Dent Wizard dude tells me that it's a recall issue with specific models/years.(911, Boxster)
I can't find where, but he inform me there is a "specialist" that knows the fix in Elmwood Park, NJ.
Gonna go see him next week before the hole starts to rip through.
Anyone know how to reverse to 'push' of the dimple so it's flat again?
Even with a worst case scenario, investing in a new top, it would be a disaster to have it happen all over again if the fix was not clearly known.

Just take out the plastic tabs and you won’t see those dimples again. I’ve had them out all this time and have put top up down many times and no problemo. And how would a dent wizard guy know about a Porsche recall or TSB? :)

I would feel more confident if your Top Wizard guy knew the fix [emoji12]

Just take the tabs out and the dimples will smooth right out. I took mine out months ago, have put the top up and down too many times to count - with no ill effects.


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I have a question pertaining to my 03 top but it's not about those dimples. Between the second and third beam is a string that goes from one side to the other. There's a sleeve attached to the top canvas and that string sits inside that sleeve. Does anyone know how you tighten that string? The top on my wife's 03 rattles when you get up to speed. I'm pretty sure it's caused by the canvas flapping in the wind. If I push up on that area the noise will go away. You can also feel that sleeve getting beat against the canvas which in return is making the noise.

Because he's GOD
 

The reason my Dent Wizard guy know is because he's GOD.
I've owned 75+ vehicles in my life, and have had my share of dings and heartaches.
A few months ago he was referred to me on the VWVortex forum (my '16 GTI), and he is truly a wizard. Magic. Ding gone, no trace.
Last month a 2x4 accidentally fell on my front fender (Boxster) and ripped my heart out.
He's GOD, it does not exist any longer, it's gone, no trace.
I've had others (dings and 'ding masters') over the years but none as good as Bruno.
He knows a lot about cars, knows the right people, all the scoops, etc., his opinion and references for me are worthy of consideration, so I trust his references, etc.

Moving forward, I've read through all 4 pages of this post, and want to be sure I try this (before I pay someone to do it if it is as easily resolved as stated here).
This "tab" with the screw, remove them? That's it? No negative effect whatsoever? If so, what was the purpose of it to begin with? And, has anyone experienced any negative effects from removing it?
I'll re-upload the photo for reference, to be sure.
And just peel the top back to get at it when it's slightly open?
Appreciate the help/all.http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1508206175.jpg

Its been 6 months for me. No problem

Been about 18 months for me and no issues.

Woody the name of that string in the parts catalog is “Fold Placer”. I think it’s purpose is to pull that section of the top between the bows when the top goes down and folds. You can try shortening the ends of the string where it attaches to the push rails (top frame sides) but I don’t think that will help with the issue. My Fold Placer was always coming loose from those plastic ears and then one of them broke, so I removed the ears, used some small plastic washers and sewed the ends of the strings around the screw on each side. Since then they have stayed in place.

Reviving an old thread. The tabs discussed in this thread caused a minor hole in my top on the passenger side and notable wear, but no hole, on the driver side on my 03. People still not having any issues with the tabs removed? I’m going to take them out, no idea what they are supposed to do.

I’ve had mine out since shortly after I first posted on the thread back in 2017, with no issues on the top whatsoever.

Me too. It’s bin about 7 years for me and no issues.

Folks with 03/04 factory tops, do you notice this?...
 

Still no issues having removed the tabs years ago. And I have replaced my top fabric. No marks, divits, tears on the new top after 5 years.


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