Driver's side latch for soft top doesn't lock

Li7hium · Postby **Li7hium** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:16 am

Hey guys,

Discovered this morning as I was taking the top off for another fabulous drive into work, that I could unhook the latch without having to depress the "Unlock" button. The passenger side still works as intended.

Just wondering if this is a common issue and whether there is something simple that can be done to rectify it.

Matt

Bevan · Postby **Bevan** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:40 am

I've never had to use the 'unlock' button in either of my NB's...

RRdstr · Postby **RRdstr** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:20 pm

Mine does the same Matt, only the other way around . . . I would also appreciate any fix it advice out there too.

Brad · Postby **Brad** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 3:17 pm

Likewise. I have some older ones which do lock, but the plasic bits are pretty badly deteriorated and have no springs or rubber. Comparing the two it seems there is a little knob on the unlock button which has worn down on one, causing the large plate to push past the button and open.

fig · Postby **fig** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:29 pm

Mine wont open without pressing the un-lock button! Maybe they wear out over time? cars done 67K and by the fading on the blue soft top, I gather the previous owner didn't have the roof off much, therefore the clip locks are still active???? Dunno

Li7hium · Postby **Li7hium** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:34 pm

fig wrote:I gather the previous owner didn't have the roof off much

From reputation, I don't believe Lara's history with previous owners is by any means similar to your car's previous owners history, and thus I expect much taking the top off was had.

Oh well, given the great weather it will only be a short period of time, I expect before the passenger side one wears out too.

Matt

fig · Postby **fig** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:08 pm

Li7hium wrote:
fig wrote:I gather the previous owner didn't have the roof off much

From reputation, I don't believe Lara's history with previous owners is by any means similar to your car's previous owners history, and thus I expect much taking the top off was had.

Oh well, given the great weather it will only be a short period of time, I expect before the passenger side one wears out too.

Matt

Prob coz the camel couldn't fit his head under the hood :lol:

* runs out of the room to miss the flying camel hoof *

Craig · Postby **Craig** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:18 pm

OI!

I fitted better in the NA, but probably because my fat arse flattened the seat a little...not that it help Matt being the shortarse he is! :lol:

irwin83r · Postby **irwin83r** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 10:25 pm

latches arnt just loose are they?
if you dont know how to adjust them look here (though this is on an nb8a dont know how much latches changed over years)

http://archives.aus-cartalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=15011

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:27 am

There is a write up on miatanet about this. You can disassemble the latch and file a bit off the release button to compensate for the wear. Much cheaper than buying a new latch from Mazda.

It seems to affect NB's more than NA's for some reason.

AWOL · Postby **AWOL** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 10:38 pm

On my NB mine actually started to self unlock (pop open) which was scary. Fortunately they were changed under warranty. Mazda couldn't 'adjust' them to compensate for what I assume is wear.

fig · Postby **fig** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 10:59 pm

AWOL wrote:On my NB mine actually started to self unlock (pop open) which was scary. Fortunately they were changed under warranty. Mazda couldn't 'adjust' them to compensate for what I assume is wear.

Holy clip releases Batman, now that is something you don't want happening, especially at 100k's

Bevan · Postby **Bevan** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:34 pm

Really? Mine only unclips if the visor is down and I hit a really hard bump. The sunvisor should provide more than enough support for it to stay clipped.

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:28 pm

The red bit is the bit you need to file off

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/273000-273999/273010_359_full.jpg

more info here

http://forum.miata.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=17;t=003989;p=[url][/url]

RRdstr · Postby **RRdstr** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 11:50 am

Garry . . . .T H A N K Y O U ! ! !

When I got into my latch, I couldn't see any RED bit . . . :shock:

. . .

Only joking . . . .gentle filing job . . . less than 1/16, I reckon . . . job done . . .

F A N T A S T I C result . . . I really appreciate this forum, and the great guys (like Garry) who are always ready to help