Advice please - Snapped soft-top cable

[Loudman]

I've got a fracture of the rear cable on my S2 short-roof soft-top. It still works OK but its a bit baggy as it doesn't get any tension. I've got a hardtop which I'll put on in a month or two but am after some advice on how best (and cheapest) option to get this fixed? Its not really the money but I hate using main dealers as I normally leave with the feeling that I've been screwed, but is there another option?

[kevin ritson]

Try a Vauxhall dealer - the VX220 uses the same cable

[Sam_68]

I'dd normally agree with you about main dealers, but last time I checked the factory did a hood refurb service in their own trim shop for a very reasonable price (c. £75, IIRC). You had to leave your hood with the dealer and they'd send if back to the factory for you (presumably when they had a parts delivery).

Only downside was that they quoted a turn-around period of up to 6 weeks.

[kevin ritson]

A cable won't cost £75

[Sam_68]

No, but fitting it might, if you haven't got the skills/inclination to do it yourself. Plus the Lotus service gave a full refurb of any components that were worn/damaged on the hood.

[kevin ritson]

The cables have been improved, quite a few have perished long before the roof needs any work done to it. Forking out £75 just to replace a cable is frankly outrageous

[Captain Ahab]

Replaced mine last year - about £25 from the main dealer - very easy to replace , you just need a long bit of wire to pull the cable through the material and then adjust the ends to get the right tension.

[Loudman]

Captain Ahab said:

Replaced mine last year - about £25 from the main dealer - very easy to replace , you just need a long bit of wire to pull the cable through the material and then adjust the ends to get the right tension.

What did you do? did you just get the main dealer to supply you with a cable and then fitted it yourself?

[Justin S]

http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Fixing_a_broken_roof_cable
This will answer your questions.

[Captain Ahab]

Yes - ordered one direct from the dealer - took a couple of days to come from the Hethel factory and fitted it myself.

[Loudman]

Thanks all, i've just ordered the part from Elise-shop online, with a frankly laughable cost of £11 for P&P (which appeared to be the only non-collection option) this totals £58, which shouldn't break the bank. The Seloc giude looks fairly clear to follow.