Soft top sagging and leaks

Sagging

• After a long fast drive the top can look saggy, and the rubber seal at the back of the roof (held on with double-sided tape) can be pulled away from the body. At speed the hood is pulled tight and balloons because the pressure inside is lower than outside. Other convertibles do the same.
• It should go back to normal. One owner finds a top that has been on for a while sags a little, and tightens again if left off for a bit and refitted. Another says cleaning and proofing the fabric tightens it back up.
• Snow: one owner asked how the top copes with a load of snow. Nobody in the thread knew.

The cable adjusters

The tension cables are adjusted at the passenger side. Each cable is attached to a sleeve that screws onto a threaded rod fixed to the hood, and turning the sleeve changes the length. See Soft top cable replacement for photos of the end fittings.

• What the cables do: one owner's understanding is that the cable pulls the hood tight over the front and rear seals. It doesn't change the tension of the fabric, so adjusting it won't cure a saggy top. The owner who first suggested adjusting it agreed it probably wouldn't fix sag, but had to adjust his because the lugs that fit into the slots were too low and the cables had no real tension.
• A loose cable leaks. One owner had a leak until he tightened the cables.
• Don't over-tighten. The wire can snap if you overdo it. On one NA the rubber above the windscreen split, which the owners put down to the cable being too tight. A leak is worse than a sag, so go carefully.
• A broken front cable is serious. At 40 mph the front of the hood lifts and funnels water into the car. The cable most often goes when the hood is refitted in the rain. See Soft top cable replacement.

Leaks

Owners say leaks aren't common, and that some leak occasionally. Most drips land on the plastic sill cover, which has small triangular cut-outs to collect the water, and the owner who described this says it is not much of a problem. Things to check:

• Fit the hood securely. Check the latches are home and the cables are tight enough.
• Seals. Leaks can mean the seals are worn, but they have to be properly shot. The later turbo-style seals have drip cups at the corners. One owner believes an extra "cheater" seal is available for the front of the door, but doesn't say where from.
• Door windows. If they aren't adjusted properly, water drips in around the door. The adjustment is easy but takes time. See Adjusting the windows.
• Water coming through the fabric. Re-proof it with Fabsil or a similar product, about every 6 months according to one owner. See Soft top cleaning and proofing.
• Split or damaged trim. See Soft top trim repair.