sqeaky top......an old topic no doubt

[able2ski]

Among the many projects I've learned about and tackled on my own thanks to you guys, I went to work on the god-awful squeaky top on my 2000 cabriolet.

I did the research on old posts and went out to the garage. Hoping all I needed was a smear of lube here & there, I was dismayed to find that the small "rubber bumper" that is recommended to lube is mangled on both sides of my top. The felt-like covering is torn and crumpled off to the side. Obviously lube isnt enough; these need to be replaced. I also looked at the "tabs" that mate the top to the upper windshield. One had a rubber coated tip over its tab, the other side was missing the coated tip. I came inside and found the same thing on my hardtop stored inside (except the missing tips were on opposite sides).

Futhermore, under the deck lid, there are 2 plastic sliding track devices (one on each side). One has separated entirely; fortunately it was still sitting in the recess, not lost on the highway. I simply put the separated peices back together as the opposite one was. I assume these devices are to allow some sort of adjustment of the way the decklid sits, right?

I need to make a punchlist of items to bring to the dealer. Obviously the more I know, the less they can jerk me around (I'm a little peeved at the nearest dealer). Anything else I should look for or know pertaining to roof sqeaking prior to dropping off the car?

Andrew