Targa Panel Repair.

[vladd]

While driving to work the other week I gave my S2 a bit of a bootfull up a dual carriage way and on hitting just over the ton my drivers side targa panel decided to take flying lessons. I managed to drive around the block and pick it up, thankfully in one piece, so no real harm was done. The tabs on the front and rear of the panel (that fit into the holes on the windscreen surround and the read hood) have been fairly well botched so I'd now like to get them in proper working order. Has any one done this and can I get proper parts or is it a custom job?

[steve b]

Yes, I have repolaced all of mine.

I bought mine from Christopher Niel, they were relatively cheap £3ish I think. You simply yank out the old ones (I used mole grips and lots of tugging) and tap the new ones in, you could use a bit of fibreglass resin to fix them if they are loose when fitted (I did not needed to).

Good luck.

Steve.

[njw]

I bought replacement tabs from CN. Have yet to install them. Would recommend anyone with dodgy tabs to replace them or you might find your roof panels taking flying lessons.
Will probably have to bond mine in with Fibre glass.

[johno]

I am presuming you guys did not have the clip done up or do not have them. I would also wonder how loose you rear struts are aswell.

I hear this happening and struggle to understand why. I have had the roof on with the car absolutely flat out. Several other occasions with it on and cruising for a couple of hours at over the 100 mark (continent) with no issues. I also tend to keep the roof on while on track and never had a problem....

I know PaulV and I have had both our cars flat out and he only reported a very slight lift in his panels when we doing this. I would try and investigate the whole roof and ask why this was happening. I only replaced the stud on the drivers side panel at the front on the right in the last 6-8 months and I hadn't had any problems even with that one and it was missing completely !

I really do not think it is purely a result of those studs being worn etc..

Cheers

Mark

[M@H]

I think its also to do with the roof struts.. My roof pins are a bit knackered ie two of them are just the metal tab left from where the plastic broke away, but the roof stays well in place at high speed. It takes a good bit of effort to snap the roof struts into place though, I have to do it from in the car kneeling on the seats, and even then its a bit of a job.. sometimes find I have to give them a whack with the palm of my hand to get them to pop back into place.. are yours all like that or looser??

Cheers
Matt.

[vladd]

Thanks for the replies guys. Johno, the front tabs on my panels are just small metal tabs badly covered with insualtion tape. The one nearest the centre has never really connected well as the roof sits slightly higher there than one the passenger side, which I've never had a problem with, so I'm not hugely suprised that it didn't hold. I've got a new rear hood and the stays are very solid, so I'm guessing that that's not the problem. The panels need redoing anyway as the fabric covering is a bit scruffy, so I may as well do a full overhaul. I get round the problem now by driving with the windows down a bit to equalise the pressure.

[Paul V]

Did you have the catches at the front done up?

[vladd]

I had the one on the drivers side attached, but the bit that the catch clips onto is loose, so it probably didn't help much.

[M@H]

quote:
..the front tabs on my panels are just small metal tabs badly covered with insualtion tape. The one nearest the centre has never really connected well as the roof sits slightly higher there than one the passenger side, which I've never had a problem with..

Exactly the same as mine, barring the inslaution tape ..roof even sits slightly high as described..

[njw]

Mine is eaxctly the same. Rusty tabs and one side higher than the other. Perhaps this was an optional extra...?

[Hopper]

Talking about the leather on the top of the roof, mine has come away and is sagging, what's the best way to sort it out? Does the leater stretch and look rubbish if it is refitted, or can I peel it off and restick it?

[vladd]

Matt,

My struts require a fairly severe push to get them to lock. My rear hood is new so I'm guessing that it shouldn't be the cause of the problem. Are the rear tabs any good on yours?


Steve and Nick,

from your posts it seems as if the old metal tabs have to be removed rather than just attaching new bits on to the tabs. Is that right?

Cheers.

[vladd]

Almost forgot, I don't suppose anyone driving an F plate blue S was in the Exeter area this week as I saw one heading down the A30.