Convertible Top Problems

[Smurf350z]

I guess it was to be expected seeing as how many people get tears and whatever else on their tops....but this morning I was driving my s2k and the top didn't want to go up. I got it up manually but it was very odd....the back would try and lift a couple inches and then crouch back into its original position....and then when I closed it manually it didn't want to come all the way down on the drivers side.....it has been binding on the passenger side in the rear too when I put it down the last week or so. And of course I found a tear today. I am kinda pissed off the car has 22k on it and its an 05 and I am very maticulous about the top....put conditioner on it about every other week and keep it super clean. I was just wondering if neone has had a similar problem or might know what the cause is. It has a warranty but I would rather not have someone else's hands in my cookie jar...know what I mean??

thanks in advance for any help

[Mountain-man]

Is the elastic on the centerbar loosing its stretchiness? Not sure if the AP2s even have that, but I know my '03 did. When the elastic goes (it pulls the centerbar back when putting the top down) it can bind up and cause problems/stress in the top because it's not folding correctly into the bin.
. . . otherwise, there might have been something that fell into the lower top mechanism. This was something that happened with my second car. Found a box of perscription female constipation meds that was getting all chewed up in there! I always thought constipated women drove BMW 5 series.
Get out of the car with the top down (in different positions if possible) and take a look down into the hinges right next to the seats. You might need a flashlight if the sun isn't high enough.

[Smurf350z]

Originally Posted by Mountain-man

Is the elastic on the centerbar loosing its stretchiness? Not sure if the AP2s even have that, but I know my '03 did. When the elastic goes (it pulls the centerbar back when putting the top down) it can bind up and cause problems/stress in the top because it's not folding correctly into the bin.
. . . otherwise, there might have been something that fell into the lower top mechanism. This was something that happened with my second car. Found a box of perscription female constipation meds that was getting all chewed up in there! I always thought constipated women drove BMW 5 series.
Get out of the car with the top down (in different positions if possible) and take a look down into the hinges right next to the seats. You might need a flashlight if the sun isn't high enough.

thanks for the insight I'll have to take a look at that this evening after work