Vitara soft-top rear window

The zip on our Vitara's rear window is slowly but surely giving up the
ghost: first the metal pin at the end of the loose side came off, now
the heat seal patch is disintegrating, and soon I suspect we won't be
able to get it shut at all.

I'm loath to buy a complete new soft-top just for the sake of a zip, and
I'm not sure if we can cope with the car being off the road long enough
to get the zip replaced (if that's even possible).

I'm loath to pay Suzuki prices for a new OE one - even if it would fit
our soft-top, which I don't think is the original.

Does anybody know of a UK supplier that can do just a new rear window?

Eddie fumbled, fiddled and fingered:

> The zip on our Vitara's rear window is slowly but surely giving up the
> ghost: first the metal pin at the end of the loose side came off, now
> the heat seal patch is disintegrating, and soon I suspect we won't be
> able to get it shut at all.
>
> I'm loath to buy a complete new soft-top just for the sake of a zip,
> and I'm not sure if we can cope with the car being off the road long
> enough to get the zip replaced (if that's even possible).
>
> I'm loath to pay Suzuki prices for a new OE one - even if it would fit
> our soft-top, which I don't think is the original.
>
> Does anybody know of a UK supplier that can do just a new rear window?

Try a caravan awning repairer. I had an awning zip and a "window" panel
replaced last year and I'm sure a soft top is a similar thing


--
Steve Parry

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

http://www.arrivedeprived.org.uk/

K100RS SE
F650
(not forgetting the SK90PY)

Steve Parry wrote:

> Try a caravan awning repairer. I had an awning zip and a "window" panel
> replaced last year and I'm sure a soft top is a similar thing

That's a good idea, I'll give it a try.

Only problem is, as I said in my original post, that I'm not sure we can
do without the use of the car for long enough to get the repair done.

Hmmm... we could get it done while we're on holiday. That'd work.

Hang on, let's try somewhere...

Result. First place I phoned is obviously used to doing roofs on sports
cars and the like, and they understand the need to have the car off the
road for as short a time as possible. £15/metre for the zip, supplied
and fitted. Excellent.

On Friday, in article <[email protected]>
[email protected] "Steve Parry" wrote:

> Eddie fumbled, fiddled and fingered:
>
> > The zip on our Vitara's rear window is slowly but surely giving up the
> > ghost: first the metal pin at the end of the loose side came off, now
> > the heat seal patch is disintegrating, and soon I suspect we won't be
> > able to get it shut at all.
> >
> > I'm loath to buy a complete new soft-top just for the sake of a zip,
> > and I'm not sure if we can cope with the car being off the road long
> > enough to get the zip replaced (if that's even possible).
> >
> > I'm loath to pay Suzuki prices for a new OE one - even if it would fit
> > our soft-top, which I don't think is the original.
> >
> > Does anybody know of a UK supplier that can do just a new rear window?
>
> Try a caravan awning repairer. I had an awning zip and a "window" panel
> replaced last year and I'm sure a soft top is a similar thing

In that general vague line, there used to be a firm round here which did
everything from lorry sheets to saddlery. The common thread was heavy-
duty stitching. These days glue and welding is more common. Anyway,
apart from that, you may get a pointer from a marquee hire company as
well.



--
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.

Wrought under license granted by Her Majesty's Apostropher Royal AD MMIV

A local sail maker would be able to help. Check yellow pages. or try phoning
your local sailing club.

Cheers
Dave

""David G. Bell"" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Friday, in article <[email protected]>
> [email protected] "Steve Parry" wrote:
>
> > Eddie fumbled, fiddled and fingered:
> >
> > > The zip on our Vitara's rear window is slowly but surely giving up the
> > > ghost: first the metal pin at the end of the loose side came off, now
> > > the heat seal patch is disintegrating, and soon I suspect we won't be
> > > able to get it shut at all.
> > >
> > > I'm loath to buy a complete new soft-top just for the sake of a zip,
> > > and I'm not sure if we can cope with the car being off the road long
> > > enough to get the zip replaced (if that's even possible).
> > >
> > > I'm loath to pay Suzuki prices for a new OE one - even if it would fit
> > > our soft-top, which I don't think is the original.
> > >
> > > Does anybody know of a UK supplier that can do just a new rear window?
> >
> > Try a caravan awning repairer. I had an awning zip and a "window" panel
> > replaced last year and I'm sure a soft top is a similar thing
>
> In that general vague line, there used to be a firm round here which did
> everything from lorry sheets to saddlery. The common thread was heavy-
> duty stitching. These days glue and welding is more common. Anyway,
> apart from that, you may get a pointer from a marquee hire company as
> well.
>
>
>
> --
> David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.
>
> Wrought under license granted by Her Majesty's Apostropher Royal AD MMIV

Steve Parry fumbled, fiddled and fingered:

> Eddie fumbled, fiddled and fingered:
>
>> The zip on our Vitara's rear window is slowly but surely giving up
>> the ghost: first the metal pin at the end of the loose side came
>> off, now the heat seal patch is disintegrating, and soon I suspect
>> we won't be able to get it shut at all.
>>
>> I'm loath to buy a complete new soft-top just for the sake of a zip,
>> and I'm not sure if we can cope with the car being off the road long
>> enough to get the zip replaced (if that's even possible).
>>
>> I'm loath to pay Suzuki prices for a new OE one - even if it would
>> fit our soft-top, which I don't think is the original.
>>
>> Does anybody know of a UK supplier that can do just a new rear
>> window?
>
> Try a caravan awning repairer. I had an awning zip and a "window"
> panel replaced last year and I'm sure a soft top is a similar thing

Well past the originl post now but in case it's any use to anyone else
the email address for the awning repair people I used is

[email protected]

just remember to remove "theobvious" ;o)


--
Steve Parry

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

http://www.arrivedeprived.org.uk/

K100RS SE
F650
(not forgetting the SK90PY)

Eddie fumbled, fiddled and fingered:

> The zip on our Vitara's rear window is slowly but surely giving up the
> ghost: first the metal pin at the end of the loose side came off, now
> the heat seal patch is disintegrating, and soon I suspect we won't be
> able to get it shut at all.
>
> I'm loath to buy a complete new soft-top just for the sake of a zip,
> and I'm not sure if we can cope with the car being off the road long
> enough to get the zip replaced (if that's even possible).
>
> I'm loath to pay Suzuki prices for a new OE one - even if it would fit
> our soft-top, which I don't think is the original.
>
> Does anybody know of a UK supplier that can do just a new rear window?

PS Eddie ... this looks as if it could be useful reading

http://www.totalbmwmag.co.uk/HandsOn/TechFeb03.PDF

Its for BMW cabrios but soft tops are soft tops uh )

--
Steve Parry

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

http://www.arrivedeprived.org.uk/

K100RS SE
F650
(not forgetting the SK90PY)

Steve Parry wrote:
>
> PS Eddie ... this looks as if it could be useful reading
>
> http://www.totalbmwmag.co.uk/HandsOn/TechFeb03.PDF
>
> Its for BMW cabrios but soft tops are soft tops uh )

Absolutely - I've been wondering if there's any good way of cleaning it.

In particular, I need to get rid of a few marks from where sap has
dripped out of the roof beams in our garage during the summer. I left
them alone until the drops had dried out completely, then they just
flaked off, but they've left white marks where they were.

And just in case anyone else needs a zip replacing: we got ours done for
GBP32 by the Tent & Awning Clinic in Newcastle. Looks like a good job,
and a better quality zip than was on there originally.

On Thursday, in article <[email protected]>
[email protected] "Eddie" wrote:

> And just in case anyone else needs a zip replacing: we got ours done for
> GBP32 by the Tent & Awning Clinic in Newcastle. Looks like a good job,
> and a better quality zip than was on there originally.

Thanks for passing on the info that finishes the story.

Now, which Newcastle

--
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.

"I am Number Two," said Penfold. "You are Number Six."

David G. Bell wrote:

> On Thursday, in article <[email protected]>
> [email protected] "Eddie" wrote:
>
>>And just in case anyone else needs a zip replacing: we got ours done for
>>GBP32 by the Tent & Awning Clinic in Newcastle. Looks like a good job,
>>and a better quality zip than was on there originally.
>
> Thanks for passing on the info that finishes the story.
>
> Now, which Newcastle



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