jiboo44

Hey all,
Can someone please help?? I purchased an '04 a few weeks back and with a few days of having it, I put the top down (with the latches reclipped so they weren't dangling) and then when I put it back up, it tore 2 holes. I know this has been a problem, and THANK GOD Honda is stepping up and goodwilling it...BUT, my question is this:

What is the proper way to put the top down? Should I unhinge the latches and then reclip them before putting the top all the way down? Ever since the tear incident the latches seem to be getting stuck, even when dangling and I put the top back. The black plastic on the sides of the hinges keeps snapping off. It's ugly

Do you guys reclip the hinges when you put the top down? THANKS!

f23power

i always reclipped mine...it just seemed logical to reclip them instead of leaving them dangling.

-a

robodeath

reclip!

vtec9

always reclip

snakeeater

I don't understand what you are talikeng about. Are the tears in the fabric right where the clips are? Post pictures.

You can run top down with clips open or closed. It doesn't matter except that they will make a little more noise when they are left open.

mxt_77

If I understand what you're asking, then I say always re-clip. If you don't, then you risk the hooks catching the latch again as you go to put the top down (my ex did this when I allowed her to unlatch her side of the roof).

Whatever your technique, you're definitely doing something wrong. I've never heard of a tear from the latches, and there definitely shouldn't be any plastic snapping off.

S2KenC

Always Always reclip your latches before folding the top down. There have been others who have punched a hole through the top because they didn't reclip their latches. Also, check to see if the elastic straps are worn. If worn, this will prevent the top from folding correctly.

I had to replace mine last year (I have a 2005 model). Here's the straps that I am referring to:

http://modifry.com/products/ctf/details.htm

jiboo44

thanks for all the replies! its pretty hard to explain...but these answers help.
Basically, I was told to unclip the hinges, then use the roof button/switch and let the roof mechanics do the rest...leaving the hinges "unclipped" and dangling.

But, when I tried to reclip them before pushing the roof switch because it seemed more logical to me, somehow when I put the roof back and tried to raise it the latches got stuck and tore small 1-1.5" tears right near the latches. A bit puzzling and I wanted to be sure that if I reclipped the latches BEFORE hitting the roof switch that this would not happen again.

It's possible that the elastic strips are worn - but that would be replaced with a new roof, right?

I still can't figure out why the black plastic is cracking off other than it just banging around and breaking off because the latches weren't reclipped.

Thanks again for the help

tekstar

You can tell if the elastic strips are worn or not if when you put your top down halfway, the bar that attaches to the straps is not down all the way (try pushing it down with your hand). This will ensure the top goes down all the way.

jiboo44

thanks...i'll have to go check that out...appreciate the help!