Found this part in rear drain

[z281974]

I have an 01S and heard a popping sound while closing the top a few days ago. The top at closure was not as close to the windshield as usual. After going through the many posts here on this topic, I opened up the back and looked around, finding the driver's side ball pin in the drain hole. I then saw that the red clip on this side was not attached. I found a new nut for the ball pin and re-attached the ball pin and red clip. Everything seems to be back to normal - hopefully the red clip will stay attached to the ball?

[Tool Pants]

The nut for that ball is known to back off over time. Next time I would suggest loctite or if you do not have it a drop of super glue on the threads. You are lucky you caught it before any damage was done.

[juniinc]

very lucky, a lock nut washer wouldn't hurt

[z281974]

very lucky, a lock nut washer wouldn't hurt

Thanks for the comments. I used a self-locking nut I found in my garage to secure the ball pin. I looked carefully around the area and saw no damage. I did stop using the top as soon as I noticed something awry. I checked the passenger side and noticed that the securing nut had a red mark on it aligned with a matching mark on the arm (to indicate loosening rotation, I believe). I never found the original nut.

Tom

[black_boxsters]

Hi,

I was about to post the very same problem you had.

I too found the same part in the drain.

Could you please explain what you did to fix it.

Thanks in advance.

[black_boxsters]

I figured it out.....

Fitted the part back in the arm and attached the white cup and roof working perfectly ;-)