Pics of my top with some problems

[Dale_K]

I just bought the car this week and been looking around the site and found a thread with some pictures of the top mechanism. I just went out to the garage and partially opened my top. It looks like there are some problems.

The driver's side (sorry this is out of focus)

The passenger side is missing one of the straps.

My finger is pointing to the spot on the top where it looks like the missing strap used to attach.

I don't see anything of a string cord mentioned in another thread. The top goes up and down and seems tight. I haven't driven the car with the top up and the windows down, so I don't know how tight the headliner is in the wind. The top is pretty noisy going over bumps with squeeks and rattles from both sides at the rear. There is also a sound like loose coins behind my head when I go over certain sharp bumps.

What does the missing strap on the passenger side do? How would I go about replacing it DIY? (no dealer around here)

Edited December 19, 2010 by Dale_K

[1schoir]

I just bought the car this week and been looking around the site and found a thread with some pictures of the top mechanism. I just went out to the garage and partially opened my top. It looks like there are some problems.

The driver's side (sorry this is out of focus)

The passenger side is missing one of the straps.

My finger is pointing to the spot on the top where it looks like the missing strap used to attach.

I don't see anything of a string cord mentioned in another thread. The top goes up and down and seems tight. I haven't driven the car with the top up and the windows down, so I don't know how tight the headliner is in the wind. The top is pretty noisy going over bumps with squeeks and rattles from both sides at the rear. There is also a sound like loose coins behind my head when I go over certain sharp bumps.

What does the missing strap on the passenger side do? How would I go about replacing it DIY? (no dealer around here)

Dale:

One of the purposes of the missing strap is to pull the edge of the top on that side into the guide channel over the window. It's easy enough to sew a new one in with a little sewing awl.

Not all Boxsters have that "little string" thing going from left to right under the top canvas. It depends on the year and whether it's a 986 or a 987.

Take a look at this link for photos and dimensions for replacing the strap: http://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/thetop-itsmaintaince%26replacement , and go to the section entitled "When the Top Edge doesn't Fall into the Guide Channels".

The "loose change sound" may be caused by (an) improperly adjusted tension rope(s).

Regards, Maurice.

[Dale_K]

Thanks very much. Lots of good stuff I needed to know in that link.

[1schoir]

Thanks very much. Lots of good stuff I needed to know in that link.

Dale:

Excellent! Let us know how you progress.

Regards, Maurice.