A Small Gap Both Sides When The Roof Closes

[Guest scrumpy]

Hi there hopefully someone can give me some help. i have a 1991 mk5 when i raise the roof back up there is about a 20mm gap each side. it is getting a bit of a problem as i do up the right hadle which goes in fine but then have a struggle to get the left hand side clip in. also when the roof is finally closd there is a small gap at the back of the roof on both sides against the rear window. i wasnt sure if the roof needs a bit of tlc so it is a bit more flexable or if the moving parts of the roof need greasing. any exprience or wisdom would be great cheers very much

[gingergman]

you could grease the frame if you can get to some joints on it. have you tried ajusting the handles? that sounds like the problem to me. has it been like it since you have owned it ?

[Guest scrumpy]

it has been like it since i bought the car could you tell me how the handles adjust i saw that the hooks are threaded that lock into the roof. do you think it could be to do with the vinyl roof maybe the flexabilty has gone?

[gingergman]

if the car has been stored with the roof down for a long time it can cause the vinyl to shrink, making it hard to close.

 

there should be a nut on the hook part, undo it and spin the hook, 20mm tho is alot for just the handles, does the roof frame seem twisted at all?

 

you could also try looseing the bolts that hold the frame to the car body, then pulling the frame forward to see if it shifts it forward.

[Guest dave29]

you could also try looseing the bolts that hold the frame to the car body, then pulling the frame forward to see if it shifts it forward.

 

i think there is i bit of adjustment from the hood frame to the car body so it might be worth loosening the bolts a little along with the tension cables either side n see if if brings the roof closer to the wind screen top then nip the tension cables up if it does..