Hi folks, i just recently bought an mx5, i just needed some help on how to fold the hood down, it folds halfway, but then it kinda stops, is there a proper way to fold it down?
Probably because it’s a bit cold. Warm the hood up.
As already said - it’s very cold. This makes the 5 hood very ‘stiff’ and hard to fold down.
If it’s warm - always look for something on the back shelf blocking it being lowerd.
As you fold the roof, pull the rear bar of the frame forwards slightly, and that should sort it.
If the material is so cold that it is stiff to fold, then you risk it splitting, which needless to say is a tad costly, so I’d avoid it if pulling the loop forward does not sort it.
From your photo I guess you have a mk2 with glass window?
I used to have the same problem as you, checked on youtube and found a mk2 “first launch” review Japanese video, they suggested you undo the catches, get out of the car, lift up the hood a bit and push down the glass while you fold the hood down
This method works fine on my hood but slightly annoying as it’s not easy to do inside the car. But sometimes when I am in luck I can still get my hood down without pressing the glass
Even with the plastic window, I always unzip and lay flat before lowering the hood. I also have a rear screen protector thingy on the rear shelf that the window lies in to stop it getting scratched.
Clement, really? That sounds like an awful lot of effort! I don’t know whether it’s 'cos I’ve got a mk2, or because the replacement hood is better designed, but I can drop mine from inside the car by undoing the latches, then pushing the handle in the middle up and back. If I do it right, it collapses neatly onto the parcel shelf without my hand having to go behind my head…
Up is a bit tricker, but I’ve discovered the technique for that is to stand part way up in the drivers side footwell, then reach round and back with my left hand and lift the handle up and pull it over. It’s a bit of an effort, but I can just manage it. I suspect women would probably struggle though as the angle’s quite awkward.
I think I’d get quite frustrated with it if I had to get out of the car every time I wanted to put it up or down!
I wish I had got one of these when I got my car 3 years ago. The rear plastic screen is a bit of a mess now with all the scratches from the roof being down. Its a bit too late for me to worry about getting one of these now, although the ones Ive seen look like they do a perfect job of protecting the screen.
When I eventually have to replace the current roof will, I will got one with a glass screen anyway [;)]
A 15 pence hand towel from Ikea does the job!
I’d like to make a gadget from pipe insulation that incorporates a fabric to protect the plastic screen - this should allow the roof down without un-zipping.
The swimming aid tubes from toys-r-us do the same job, but be very careful in the cold weather. My BRAND NEW rear screen just cracked, and I had unzipped the rear screen.
Clement - I have exactly the same issue on my MK1 (glass window) - the hood will go down when I am inside the car but it is much easier on me and the hood probably if I get out and do it.
I havent been sitting at the lights yet and suddenly had the urge to drop the roof…(Its usually down from the get go [;)]) But If I ever find myself in this position I know it will annoy me if I need to get out of the car!
I just put it down to the MK1 not originally having the glass window etc
Got a link to this video, please?