THSCC Forums

Greetings,

I've been trying to track down a leak in the Miata's top since I bought the car. It was hacked a bit by the PO and, being anal, I'm trying to fix the thing properly now. Here's what's happening:

The drivers side window has an air gap of about 1/16" in the exact middle of the window. The front of the window has a good fit, the rear does as well. There is about 3/8-1/2" of bow apparently to the convertible frame itself.

Does anyone here know how to adjust the shape of the upper window opening on the Miata? I don't want to start bending things as I'd think there would be some way to adjust this without bending.

I can't find anything on Miata.net, although someone asked an amazingly similar question a few days ago. No one has given a useful answer there yet though.

Thanks,
--Kevin H.

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2003 WRX (again!)

That gap you're referring to might be adjusted out by moving the weather seal.

If you pull the weathe seal out, you can see the track that holds it is held in place by. . . two. . . maybe three screws. The holes in the track are oblong so you can make adjustments.

At least that's the way it works on my 93, not sure what year you have but I think that would hold true for any of the first gen miatas.

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

Yes the hack that the PO made to "fix" this was simply adding some shims between the chrome tracks that hold the weatherstripping and the top frame. Unfortunately that looked ugly and simply caused other things to leak. I'm trying to fix it right and no amount of lateral adjustment of the tracks has helped.

--Kevin H.

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2003 WRX (again!)

Okay. I get it. Now.

I have no idea how to go about tweaking the frame on one of these. The only other adjustments I know about for the top are the latches and I dpn't think that's going to help.

You might be able to pick the brains of someone at an auto upholstery shop.

Good luck.

(Sidenote: The topic review below the reply post window doesn't include signatures. Which is why I had to say "don't know what year you have" immediately below your signature.)

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

There's an uphostery shop (Connor's) off Hillsborough St in Durham that does all the Mazda top work for the dealers. He replaced the rain rail once under warantee and then the entire top when it was slashed on our Miata. He's very knowlegable about Miata tops, it would be worth it to stop in there and let him take a look at it.

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

It's probably not the frame. It could be the position of the frame relative to the windscreen. The gap you describe indicates that perhaps the top is not extending (unfolding) enough.

You might want to check the frame attachments behind the seats to see if you can reposition the frame further aft or downward. If this is possible (not saying it really is...), this might allow the top to extend toward the windscreen more and flatten out, thus, closing the gap on top of the window. (????!!!)

This is an old MG trick. However, if this is not the answer, perhaps you may be interested in a very large maul I have for use as a pursuader...

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Brad

I was thinking the same as you Brad. Sadly, it's definitely not that. I moved the rear attachment as far back and down as possible (not much) earlier in the week and it didn't make any difference. Adjusting the front latches didn't help either. Assuming I can't figure anything out this weekend I'll take it in to a professional sometime next week.

Anyone have other ideas? Someone on miata.net suggested checking the window adjustment -- I don't think that will help as the window fits properly at the front and back corners.

Thanks everyone,
--Kevin H.

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2003 WRX (again!)