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

I'm noticing that after you've had the top down for a while, and then you put the top back up, there's a raised bump in the fabric that eventually flattens, but is clearly a point where eventually I think it will wear through. Seems as if a metal bar is poking it out when the top is down or something. Anyone with an 03/04 top not have this come up? I'm wondering if there's an adjustment I can play with to prevent it. It happens on both sides.

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9jese1uf.jpg

YES! Thank you for posting this picture; I have an 03 base and now I know I'm not alone! Mine has it on both sides and has even gotten far enough to put a small 5-8mm hole in it. I first tried suturing it closed with nylons and that held for a year or two and now I just put some extra thick gorilla tape on the inside. I put the top up and down at least once a day if weather is good and always store the car top up in my garage. I have no clue what causes this though but at least there's someone who has the exact same thing.

Haha, at least we know it's a problem! Without digging into it yet, it looks like something from below the top is poking into it from the underside which makes the bump and also the dimple to the right of it in my picture.

Mine started out like that, then there top would shutter when closing. I ended up with a hole on each side. I checked the transmissions and motor and they are both fine it is something wrong with the frame not wanting to fold properly. I disconnected the arms so I can manually lower the top but the clamshell is still powered. When looking at the top from the inside I noticed a bar with a tab sticking up. That is what rubs on the spot.

Thanks for the info. Is there a way to adjust the bar so that it doesn't touch the fabric you think?

Ran down to the garage and took some photoshttp://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1493485155.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1493485169.jpg

Thanks for the pics. You got me thinking now. Gonna have to take a look in there today too. Will let you know if I can figure anything out.

Been there, done that. The passenger side got so bad it put a small hole in the roof. I removed both pieces shown in Fintro's bottom pic. I have no issues since taking the quite useless pieces out.

I used some black silicon seal to cure the hole inside and out. It works fine until I decide to replace the top.

Ok, so I wanted to be sure that those tabs were actually touching the fabric on the top, so I put some baby powder on the tab and put black duct tape on the fabric side to protect the fabric a bit. When I put the top down and then back up, I saw the baby powder right on the black tape, which proves the tab is what is pressing into the fabric. I left them there for now cause I'm sure there's a reason for them to be there (perhaps to stop one of the frame ribs from moving further back when the top is retracted)? Hoping the tape delays the top from ripping for now.

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/a...psg3zdpcib.jpg

Yes, and I'm about to replace mine. I feel a minor mod in my future...

I was going to look for an 03/04 top to replace my 01 at some point in the future. Is that tab attached to the extra bow that Porsche added? This must be happening to some extent on all of these tops...might have to re-think my options unless you folks see a mod/repair that would be a fix, maybe the tape will do it.

Yeah, I think it's on the extra bow. I haven't had a problem with wear until now though, and you can remove the tab. I'm just keeping it there for now.

Thanks Boxtaboy...I imagine that tab is there for a reason, but what :confused:

Haha. Not sure why it's there, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have that there for no reason so it's staying for now.

Another 03 owner with the top dimple. Mine is more pronounced on the driver's side. I just put two layers of black duct tape on the inside with the hopes that it won't get any worse.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a5e53b9aa8.jpg


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Quick question: how did you get access to this section. I have the same problem and I'm trying to think of how to reach it

Thank you for posting this. I have a hole on the drivers side, which burns me up every time I get in the car as I see it every day. The passenger side is worn but does not have a hole. Yet.

Until someone demostrated that it was caused by chafing of the top on a metal tab I had assumed that it was just a function of aging fabric.

I have been considering a patch of some kind, maybe gorilla tape as was suggested earlier, but I'd love to hear other suggestions


http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1493511487.jpg


2003 Boxster S

You have to stick your hand between the headliner and top fabric in order to see it. Once you get in between there, you can easily see the tab.

I guess we can either remove the tab or cut off the section that rubs against the top. Otherwise, tape on the inside is the only other option.

I took the tabs out a year ago. Leaving it in made it worse. Since removing them the top folds perfectly fine and the clamshell closes better. I cannot see a reason for them but once the small bulge starts the tab just hooks in there and things get progressively worse.

Thanks....maybe I'll just remove them then. LOL.

Thanks for starting this thread Boxaboy. I have a 2003 top on my '01. My top looks pretty good and I would like to keep it that way. I just removed those two pieces. I keep the top down 99 per cent of the time. We'll see if not having them mounted causes any issues.

Did you guys have any problems with the top not wanting to close? I still have to lift the bottom of the glass a bit for the top to fold down right

I tried the top manually without those two parts. The top went down way better without them so I reattached the rods. The top goes down way better but the glass still does not want to fold down properly all the time

Can the tabs be easily reinstalled if needed?


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Cool to hear that the top goes down easier. I really never had any problems with the top going down though, and never had to adjust the glass. How did you guys remove the tabs without dropping the tab or the torx screw down below the top? With my luck, it falls down, and I won't be able to find it. LOL. The only thing I can think of that those tabs are for, are to help keep the top ribs from banging against each other when driving (up and down motion) or side to side movement when cornering. You guys that have removed them, please let us know if you end up seeing any metal to metal marks on the rib that has the tab removed or if the top seems like it has play when in the down position. I'm thinking the best solution is to remove the tabs and then cut off the part that sticks out (sanding it smooth), and then reinstalling.

EDIT: A good pal of mine, Maurice (1schoir) who is very knowledgeable about these tops has told me he'll look into it more and let me know, but he recalls that the tabs are there to prevent something from moving behind the rib. Maybe something might inadvertently be caught behind it, catch, and then block the top from going back up? Who knows. Keeping the tab there for now till there's a definitive answer on what those things are for. Can't be there for no reason (besides putting a hole thru the top).

Hey boxtaboy,

Could you ask him if he has ever seen or has any ideas of what would cause the glass to not want to fold down. Show him the video from this thread. http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/59226-convertible-top-operation.html

Sure, I'll actually ask him to check out this thread and see if he can help. Stay tuned.

Yes, a single screw holds them in.

I don't recall having a problem getting the screw or the tabs out.

Just checked mine. No bumps on the exterior or scuffing on the interior related to the tabs. With the top up, the tabs are not near the fabric on either side. I'll snap some pics when I get a chance. I do have some external scuffing on the top, but not related to this issue.

The bumps on my top disappear after a few hours. The tabs also are not close to the fabric when open, but for some reason, right after I put the top back up after having it down, those bumps appear. Try putting your top down for a few minutes and then up, and see if the bumps are there.

I get those on mine. Guess I'll be removing them soon. :o

I'll check it out. Probably will but some Gorilla tape in just to be safe.

F_it! I had those annoying bumps appear in the top fabric even after applying the gorilla tape, so I just removed those suckers just now. The tabs are easy to come out with a T20 torx screw, and can be returned if really needed. I see no need though. Removed them, put the top down, drove around to see if I could detect any extra movement in the top, pulled back into my house and put the top back up. No more marks on the roof fabric and I can't see any difference in the way the top works. Done...

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/a...psocudwo4l.jpg

I just spoke with Hans, a friend of mine at the Porsche factory. He said that one of Ferdinand Porsche's great grand nephews, Gunter, was responsible for the IMSB in the 986 and 996. Because he was related to Ferdinand they couldn't fire him. So, they moved him to work on the cab tops. Those tabs were his idea. Last Hans heard, Gunter was moved to work on the 2014 GT3 engines. But there was this issue with engine fires. Wonder what Gunter is working on now?

Now that's funny! ;)

Too funny, Chuck!


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Applied the tape to both sides. On the driver side it had worn completly through and the passenger side was very worn, almost translucent. I took the tab off the driver side and will monitor operations before doing the other tab.

Glad it wasn't just me.

I may be wrong, but you might want to consider removing the other tab as well. If you leave one tab there, when the top is folded, the other side may be tilted, and cause something in the frame to not sit right. I'd keep both sides on an even plane. JMHO. You can always return both tabs if you want in the future. Oh, and after removing the tabs, I also removed the tape. There's no reason to have any additional stiffness in the fabric while it's moving up and down, and no longer anything pressing on it.