Stratocaster

The driver rear catcher are differant. It has to do with the electical switche inside the catcher it'self. Hardtopguy told me that if my defroster worked, then I have the right catcher (I bought a used HT from an MY01 and installed on my MY02) FRom what I usedstand, Honda changed the installation kits for all hardtops to use the newer catchers. This simplified the kit for them. So if the HT was bought after the "Long Back Order" last year, then it has the newer catchers.

It has to do with the defroster and that the MY02+ came with 1/2 of the system already installed, but the MY00-01 did not. But for this installation consider them the same. Bolt it on, and mount the top. Done Deal! You will still have to "Adjust" the sheet metal with a hammer to get the driver's side catcher installed, but that is the same for all years.

When you remove the catchers, you need to keep the bolts he had them installed with and use them for your installation. They are longer. You can give him yours.

Now if you want to get the defroster working, now come the part that requires differant parts by model year/vin.


Note: The front strikers on MY02+ cars where designed to take the hardtops and as such are no longer replaced during installation (Per installation manual)

Dragon_F6

I'm in much the same boat. I just got a 03 HT for my 00. I know the brushes have to be changed. What about the left and right rear pillar trim. Is changing the brush inserts enough or must the rear plastic pieces change too?

Stratocaster

Dragon

Yes, you should swap those. the MY00 had the brushes "welded" in place and are not changable. This is one of the reasons the install kit A cost so much. Also they did not have the hole in them fo r the defroster connector either. But after VIN 57?? they changed them in the factor and you could change just the brushes.

Dragon_F6

Thanks Jeff,
I've got a higher VIN number...58xx. My rear panel already has the knock out for the defroster plug. That's why I wasn't sure if the panels needed to be replaced of just the brushes.

So like this won't be as expensive as I thought.

Thanks Wyatt, for posting the questions.


Steve

WyattH

Awesome! So since I am not worrying about the defroster, just mounting, we should be able to mount the 03 catchers on my 01 and trade bolts.. Simple and cool! Thanks a lot!