toprattles

Top Rattles

The original post was:

Any way to stop the rattle of the soft-top against tops of side windows?

My 2001 base has suffered with this for years but it is getting worse. The rattles only happen when the canvas is dry, the windows all the way up and driving on rough surfaces.

When the top is wet I guess the tension reduces and the rattles stop. I think the canvas must shrink a little when dry - too much tension = lots of rattling.

Gumifledge has no effect - this is not squeaking or a rubber seal problem.

Should I reduce the tension in the top lines? Top working perfectly and in great condition.

Anything I can adjust or lubricate to help?

And the reply from the resident top guru:

You can first test to see whether you can lessen or eliminate the noise by adjusting the tension that the rear main bow exerts on the canvas top when the clamshell closes down against it.

That adjustment can be done at the lower end of the tensioning cables that are attached at the top to the underside of the rear main bow, and at the lower end to a metal ball that adjusts up and down by means of turning the 14mm (or 15mm) bolt just to the side of the metal ball/lower end of cable. This is located to the inboard side of the V-levers, jutting out from the foam liner/drain tray under the sides of the clamshell.

Here is a photo of the bolt (red arrow is pointing to it) and of the metal ball which is covered by the lower end ball cup of the cable (green arrow). IIRC, turning it clockwise will decrease the tension, and counterclockwise will increase the tension.

If that does not cure the problem, you can next try to adjust the maximum "up" position of the windows for a tighter seal.

If you want to first try to "train" the windows when the top is dry, just press the window button in the "UP" position until the window reaches its maximum up position and then KEEP the button depressed for an additional five seconds.

If that does not solve the rattling problem, you have to resort to more drastic measures, which, fortunately do not involve removing the door panel.

There are four rubber plugs located on the door bottom surface. To adjust the height of where the window stops, you must first remove (pop out) the two OUTBOARD plugs.

Then, reach through the holes with an E6 Torx driver and turn the screws, one at a time until you achieve the desired adjustment. To keep track of how much you have adjusted, mark the top of the window with masking tape or, preferably with a wax pencil, tracing the top surface of the window where it meets the seal at the top (while the window is in the maximum up position). There is a little more than 1/2 inch of adjustment through this method. Your rattling problem (since it doesn't happen when the top is wet) will probably involve only 1 or 2 mm of adjustment.

Note that the Torx adjustment screws are on an angle, raked back at an angle similar to the rear edge of the door. Here's a photo that should help you get oriented:

Note: The green arrow shows the outboard plug that must be removed, at the forward part of the driver's door. The red arrow shows the very edge of the inboard plug (which should only be used to adjust the inboard/outbard angle of the window by means of loosening and then shifting each leg of the window regulator). The outboard ones are the ones you want to remove so that you can access the Torx screws for your particular adjustment.

With a little patience, you should be able to minimize or eliminate the rattling noise (and avoid a trip to the dealer).

Regards, Maurice.

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