replacement zipper for soft top

[ards]

just went through the hassle of replacing the zipper for the plastic window on the soft top of the '95 NA i bought.

the main part of the zipper was still there, but the tag had broken completely off, not leaving a hole or anything, and i'd killed my fingers trying to wrench it across.

just throught i'd document this to hopefully help out someone else in the same position.

i searched google and found an american site which gave the actual part no, and when i rang up mazda in sydney they weren't very helpful but searched the computer and found a match for the part, but it was down in melbourne. The only description for the part is 'head' so it was a bit of a gamble paying $17.90 for the part to be brought up based on a miniscule picture that vaguely looked like a zipper. picked it up this morning and its the head of the zipper with the little pull tag and a leather sash to pull it with. it does look fairly flimsy though and its no wonder they break

part no (NA01-R1-250B) btw

anyways i pulled off the staple at the end of the zip, and took of the old zipper head, then tried to fit the new one. it was a bit of a biatch and wouldn't fit, so i ended up undoing the window manually and fitting the new zipper backwards. so now it works but just unzips towards the driver instead of away from.

through this process i also learnt to undo the roof, or at least unlatch it, so its not taught when you zip up or unzip the window, just to put less strain on the zip, and also was told by numerous ppl to unzip the window before putting the top down, or insert a rolled up towel in the crease in the window if you leave it zipped up. both of these to prevent those crease lines in the rear window that the previous owner left me. driving in the rain today is unpleasant if you have to change lanes much and you have crease lines through the window.

ranting a bit, but i thought i'd at least share the part no. simone at mx5mania rang them and they told her they didn't make the part anymore, so hoepfully a specific part no. will help...

-ards