Soft Top Alignment

[jluetjen]

I recently added a 2002 Boxster with a hard-top to our fleet. One of the issues that needs to be addressed is that the soft-top roof doesn't seem to line up when it is being raised. Here's how it looks after it reaches full extension using the button on the dash.


Left side


Center (rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise when I uploaded)


Right side

As it is, it's easy enough to pull it into alignment and then latch it, and when latched the fit seems fine. But I know that this isn't the correct level of fit -- I test-drove a different car where the roof mated with the top of the windscreen perfectly.

Anyone else ever see or fix an issue like this? I suspect that the answer is yes.

Is there a process to align or adjust the fit? Is the frame potentially bent? Or might a weak or sticky motor or cable cause this?

Since the hard-top is on for the winter, this will be a project that I'll tackle in the spring. As it is, it's going to ultimately need a new roof since the plastic rear window is cracked. But I'd hate to get a new roof on and then learn that the problem still exists.

[850dunstall]

does it have the top push rods like the 987's, which are adjustable? might check to see if they are set to the same length each side

[jluetjen]

Thanks. I'll check them!

[jluetjen]

BTW - I found the problem. The plastic cup at the end of the push-rod on the right side had broken off, and the now loose end of the push-rod was just lying in the well behind the door and contributing an annoying thunk whenever going over a sharp bump on the right side. I bought replacement plastic cups for about $12, and discovered that the threads were damaged on the end of the push-rod. (Picture of the push-rod courtesy of our host)



So then I took out my metric taps and die and discovered that the threads on that end of the rod are courser than is common for that diameter of rod. I could have spent $26 for the correct die, but even that would not have been usable because it didn't have a hex outside shape that I could use to hold it while cutting the threads. So I just sucked it up at this point and bought the complete replacement rod from Pelican.

This fixed the lazy right side of the roof and the annoying thunk on the right side!

Thank-you Porsche for using Unicorn threads on a consumable part!