Soft Top "ears"

[GIDDLEPIN]

When folding the hood there is a link strap that runs across from one side to the other, if this is missing or has become disconnected then you will get the dreaded "Ears" syndrome, this literally looks like a pair of ears sticking out when the hood is parked.

Below are some pictures that will give you an idea.

As you start folding the hood back you should see it lifting upwards at the joint, this is where you will see the ends of the bridging strap

This is the part attached to the hood and it has a popper fitting for the strap

Viewed from inside the hood, here is the end of the strap....this goes round the outside of the hood frame then threads through a tunnel stitched in the hood

A sequence of how it should work

How it should look parked

More hint's and tips can be found HERE

[Teddylicious]

Oh oh, I think my strap has been broken since I got the car, I take it my car shouldn't look like this?...

[cfc1]

Your top seems to be sitting high, was it cold when you folded it down?

When closed it should look like this...

***Old picture alert look at my old Yaris.***

[Teddylicious]

Unfortunately It was shorts weather, no cold excuse that I could of clung on to :(

It's always been like this from day dot, what do I need to do to remedy it?

BTW - Niiiice motor, looks pretty good!!

[cfc1]

When you fold the roof down try gently pushing the window down into it's final position (make sure nothing is on the rear shelf) before putting the rest of the hood down.

It could just be the angle of the picture, but it looks like your roof sits a good 6" higher than it should do.

[Teddylicious]

Thanks for your pointer, I've just tried a bit of prodding and poking and it's worked a treat, looks alot better now.

It feels as if the bar in the soft top towards the rear of the car is not been pulled down by anything. A quick push and all looks good.

thank you for your guidance. :D

[Jon01]

Thanks for this. MY roof wasnt sitting properly when folded, so I checked what was shown, nope theyre fine! So I looked a little deeper and saw a bottle of Ribena was lodged where the RHS of the folding mechanism would sit! (I'd like to mention it must have been there since i got it a few months ago) Removed that and it now folds soo easy and much lower then it used to1 :D

[Bob Brown]

Hi guys,

Is there anyway to get hold of the photos that were posted, they're not displaying for me and I've definately got the soft-top ears going on most of the time.

When I got my MR-S the strap that runs through the roof was not attached at both ends, and after attaching it how I thought it should be attached one of the buttons kept getting caught in the driver side roof support. Oddly it didn't happen on the passenger side, so I think I must have done it completely wrong or atleast didn't make it symetrical.

I think the photos might help

Many thanks!

[cfc1]

If you send me a PM with your email address I'll forward the pictures in this thread.

They don't all belong to me, but as they are posted on a public forum they are in the public domain.

[Bob Brown]

Thanks cfc1, photos seem to be working at home. Must have been blocked at work.

Edit: Wow GIDDLEPIN your roof and black plastics look amazing, and cfc1 is that a DVD player?

[Bob Brown]

Looks like the passenger side button was loose so every time I put the roof back up it would pop undone and the drivers side would snag because the strap was free to feed out that side.

[GIDDLEPIN]

Looks like the passenger side button was loose so every time I put the roof back up it would pop undone and the drivers side would snag because the strap was free to feed out that side.

Do what I did Bob

After popping together just roughly sew them together, I did mine a few years ago and it is still holding

Les

[cfc1]

and cfc1 is that a DVD player?

It is a DVD player, but I don't have it anymore, things have changed a little in the ICE department...

[MC_MRS]

Hi, I can pull the straps out as they are not attached with the press studs, is this simply a case of feeding the strap through the hood and pressing the studs together?

thanks for your help,

mark

[GIDDLEPIN]

Hi, I can pull the straps out as they are not attached with the press studs, is this simply a case of feeding the strap through the hood and pressing the studs together?

thanks for your help,

mark

Hi and welcome to the club Mark

You will find a small stitched tunnel that runs across the hood where the press studs are, find something to feed the strap through (I used a thin bamboo stick) and make sure you lead the straps over the right part of the frame. If your studs keep coming loose just do what I did and tack a few stitches where they pop together, I did the same and it has lasted years ;)

Les

[Bob Brown]

I managed to feed mine through without aid, just a tiny bit of patience.

Does anyone notice that if they take the hood down in the morning its a little tighter fit in the evening? I had mine down in the warm weather and it seems to shrink slightly. Making me worry a little when putting it back up.

I also think my folds may not be that good as I noticed what could be a wear patch from having it down - I will have to inspect more closely soon!

[PierreS]

Hi, I've been looking for a Right hand drive Pillar pod like the one in the photo. Any indication where I can get one from. Thanks.