'86-'87 Giugiaro Removeable Roof Problems

[mchlrodrigues]

Has anyone had a problem with the removeable roof popping loose when going over the slightest pavement ripple? Mine pops loose incessantly on the passenger side. Neither the pin nor latch show any signs of visual wear and I've tried every adjustment possible with no luck.

Has anyone come up with a fix or upgrade?

[andydclements]

I'd suggest one possible cause is insufficient force pushing against the glass when it is latched closed. It's possible the seals being replaced could help.

Andy

[mchlrodrigues]

Andy, my car is a US car with a composite roof. They use a smaller version of the striker pins and latch similar to the deck lid.

I agree replacing the roof seal will increase tension and reduce rattling of the roof, but notwithstanding, if the latch is functioning properly, the pin shouldn't be able to to get past the latch plate. The roof only pops loose on one side.

I'm thinking the riv nuts that secure that the bottom part of the latch were not properly aligned when the car was built meaning the latch doesn't properly secure the striker pin.

The build quality of this particular car when new was not very good. For example, the fuse panel was stuffed up under the dash secured by zip ties; there was neither a bracket for the panel nor a fuse panel door as shown in the owner's and parts manuals.

Since there's no way to relocate the latch plate, I'm thinking that maybe making a striker pin with a larger diameter head will cure the problem.