Before anyone flames......I searched but, its broken.


I just bought a hardtop for my car and the fitment is great and looks FREAKIN SWEET..........BUT it rattles like crazy. I screwed in the front latches tighter, but that didnt help.

WHAT CAN I DO?!?



-SaL

 

I am kind of going through the same thing. Dealer installed been back 3 times. Going back soon for 4th visit. Thing to make sure :

Latches that are attached to soft top are they in locked position or loose ?

Was the rubber shinitzu greased before HT put on ?

Are they too many or not enough shims in the latches ?

I am not a mechanical genius I can only share what I have gone through,

 

the latches latch on, but not tight like the soft top ones......whats shinitzu grease?


I was thinking about just running some rubber insulation all around to possibly get a tighter feel?



-SaL

 

These are the two things I do when mine starts rattling - I have a Mugen top, so things may be a little different for me:

Get Shinitzu grease (your Honda dealer has it) and apply a very thin layer to the part of your windshield frame that touches the hardtop - just on the rubber molding.

Then play with the rear latches (where they are attached to the hardtop). I loosen mine up a little (this is much tougher to do with the OEM top), roll the windows down, and while the hardtop is on the car I push the top toward the rear of the car. Then I put the windows back up just to make sure I haven't gone too crazy in my pushing, retighten the bolts holding the adjustable part of the latches to the hardtop and go for a quick spin to see if that took care of the problem.

After the first time it takes all of 5-10 minutes to knock this out

 

Shims in the latch

I never heard about this. What do you use for shims, just simple washers?

I have the crazy latch rattle Without the hardtop! I tighten the latch (only rattles and loosens on the left side for whatever reason) and it loosens up after a day or 2 of driving and then it rattles again like crazy. You can actually take the latch and move it side to side with my left hand, thats how loose it gets!

I hear the Hardtop latches may resolve your problem but in my case, i dont know if this will cure the latch from loosening and rattling. Other than adding some Loctite to the two screws.

 

I had this exact problem and fixed it.

I took a small piece of clear duct tape and covered the striker where the latch hooks on to. A couple of pieces and the latch no longer moves around or rattles.

If you do this, use small pieces -- You can't even see the pieces when the latches are closed.

I did this two months ago and it has been rock solid.

 

u think you can take a quick pic of this??

thanks
-Sal

 

This is a ghetto camera phone pic -- the flash makes the tape look much more obvious than it is. Still, though, if you take your top down a lot, black duct tape may be a better choice..In any event, I basically wrapped the surface of the striker where the latch contacts.

 

awesome! thanks man.....I'm gonna go try that out right now



-SaL

 

Thanks for the tip RobotKiller

I will try it. I also read here that small peices of clear fish-tank tubing works much like the duct-tape you used. (wrap it around the hook of the latch) I know i have duct-tape around here so ill try that. I honestly didnt think something this simple would prevent the latch from rattling again.