Roof care in winter?

[treeroy]

I know, I know, another thread about the weather...

Does the roof require any particular maintenance or care when it's cold?

I've previously owned an MX 5 through winter and the roof was fine.

The MR2 roof seems tougher than the Mazda's. Defo heavier and has more layers of material.

However, sometimes it's difficult to operate. For example one of the days this week it rained, and after that, it was stiff and wouldn't fold down. Had to put it up and down a couple times to get it to stay down.
It does this quite regularly, not sure if it's caused by heat, cold, rain or dry.

Anything to note while in colder or rainier weather?

[Carolyn]

The vinyl roofs get stiff when cold. Helps to run the car and get some heat in the cab to soften it before putting it down.  Also help the rear widow to go into place with your hand by gently pushing down on it.

To keep it healthy a treatment with a good vinyl restorer is a good idea too.

[treeroy]

The vinyl roofs get stiff when cold. Helps to run the car and get some heat in the cab to soften it before putting it down.  Also help the rear widow to go into place with your hand by gently pushing down on it.

To keep it healthy a treatment with a good vinyl restorer is a good idea too.

Thanks for the info.
Do you think it will damage the roof at all if I continue to put it down when it's stiff?
I can't run the car on my driveway as my handbrake doesn't work and I live on a steep slope.

[Carolyn]

The vinyl roofs get stiff when cold. Helps to run the car and get some heat in the cab to soften it before putting it down.  Also help the rear widow to go into place with your hand by gently pushing down on it.

To keep it healthy a treatment with a good vinyl restorer is a good idea too.

Thanks for the info.
Do you think it will damage the roof at all if I continue to put it down when it's stiff?
I can't run the car on my driveway as my handbrake doesn't work and I live on a steep slope.

Chock the wheels?

[1979scotte]

The vinyl roofs get stiff when cold. Helps to run the car and get some heat in the cab to soften it before putting it down.  Also help the rear widow to go into place with your hand by gently pushing down on it.

To keep it healthy a treatment with a good vinyl restorer is a good idea too.

Thanks for the info.
Do you think it will damage the roof at all if I continue to put it down when it's stiff?
I can't run the car on my driveway as my handbrake doesn't work and I live on a steep slope.

Chock the wheels?

Or get it sorted. I live on a hill and had it roll into the road. I was indoors and saw her go. Not a pleasant feeling. Could of hurt someone.
Now I chock wheels and leave in gear even though the handbrake is operable.

[househead]

+1 for leaving in gear ... should be the opposite gear to the natural direction of travel (first if facing uphill and reverse if facing downhill). I'm sure my driving instructor also said to turn the wheels toward the kerb too if parking on a hill (away from kerb if uphill and toward if downhill).

Of course the best "fix" is to sort the handbrake, the above is only extra precautions for if and when it fails unexpectedly.

[treeroy]

In my entire driving life I don't think I have ever deliberately parked a car and left it in neutral. I was taught on day 1 of driving lessons to always park in gear, so I have always done that.

I said that I live on a slope and that my handbrake dont work.... how else do you think I have been parking my car lol ?

I will get it fixed at some point but I don't really "need" a handbrake so making do for now.

Also Househead it doesn't matter which gear you leave it in for each direction. Whether it's in reverse, first, second, third whatever, it won't move if it's in a gear.

[1979scotte]

In my entire driving life I don't think I have ever deliberately parked a car and left it in neutral. I was taught on day 1 of driving lessons to always park in gear, so I have always done that.

Nothing wrong with it but quite old school.
Never needed to do it in any other car as handbrake works.
Wonder what an examiner would think of it? Probably nothing as your supposed to check its in neutral before you start.

Handbrake was one of the first things I get fixed on MR2s
I'm funny like that I guess.
Wanting it to pass mot's and everything.