Plastic Rear Window Cracked in the Cold

Let me help you out here. I have learned an awful lot about a mondial cabriolet in the past almost six years. When I got my car the top was a royal PITA to put down and even worse to raise. So bad in the first couple of years it went down in the summer and stayed down. My top was showing it's age so two years ago I bought a top off ebay for around 525.00. I think they are still around that. It is a very decent quality and to replace the window the top will have to be removed anyhow. Why put a new window in an old top. My installer did a fabulous job but it was more for installation than the cost of the top. He told me NEVER put the top down and leave it. Your problem may well have had nothing to do with temperature. Fold a piece of plastic for 3 months and see what happens. Here is where it gets interesting. The problem has always been hooking and latching the top. The first try is always at least a two person job. I was lucky enough to find two new adjustable latches but they almost instantly broke. Connecting link was pot metal and a very poor design. Replacement links are available and I understand work well. I went to my local hardware store and got materials to fabricate my own links. What I did was make mine a custom length which made the initial latch a one man operation. Then side to side a couple times and you were done. The reason I have taken you on this long journey is because my installer told me some things that made a.lot of sense. You top needs to be stored in the up position. Plastic wrinkles and fabric shrinks. I made the connecting links for my latches 1/4 inch shorter and they hook up almost effortlessly. Every time it goes to bed now the top is up. Hope this is a help for you. If you would like detailed pictures of my latches send me a PM. Good luck and enjoy!

 

The top on my Mondial has been down for a couple of months now.

After reading this thread, I went out in the garage late last night and put it up!

It was 38 here in sunny Central Florida this morning, the garage was warmer, but why take a chance?

Thanks!
Alden

 

Now, after reading that, I'm not sure which is worse – operating the top on a cabriolet or attempting to use the sunroof on a coupe! Seems about even in terms of potential nightmares...

 

The top, properly adjusted, with good latches is actually pretty easy to operate.

I don't think we do it often enough to remember the small details in the procedure that make it easy.

Second roof bar up or down?
Pull forward on the B pillars when closing the top.
Back windows down not up!
Don't be in a hurry and break an OEM toggle.

I have done (or not done) all of these things and still can, on a good day, have the top up without fanfare!
Alden

 

It gets cold here in MD also. I drive mine every chance I get so a top is needed this time of year. You will like a new top.