MX-5 OC Forum

The zip on by hood is faulty. Otherwist the hood is pretty good.

Is it feasible to get the zip replaced?

Cheers,

Steve

 Hi Steve

I also have a faulty zip on the hood of my MK1.  The zipper came off the end of the track but the zip is closed.  It means I cannot undo the window when putting the hood down.  I use a round cardboard former from a rollof garden fleece to ensure that the plastic window is not kinked when I lower the hood.

As I understand it the rear section of the unzippable section is fastened onto the body of the car with the rest of the hood.  Presumably as any zip will need two matching halves then the hood would have to be removed from the car entirely.  I suspect that in this case it would probably be easier, (although more expensive) to renew the entire hood.

I have seen rear windows for sale on ebay, if its an original hood I understand it will have MX5 on the zipper.  Otherwise you could be into mixtures of zips which wont work! Perhaps someone has exchanged the window only and can comment.

Regards

Mike

Thanks for the reply Mike.

My zip is open and I am unable to zip it up as the zip has failed near to the beginning.

I have since found that you can buy a replacement zip for about £30. Says its ease to fit with a domestic sewing machine but if you have to remove the whole hood to fit it....

Not sure how this can be easily done.

Cheers,

Steve 

My job entails dealing with zips quite a lot (normally in riding boots) and if the actual teeth of the zip are still in good condition and you have the original puller, it is possible to separate the closed zip and pull the old puller back on. I have a Mk2.5 though so I cannot comment on if this is possible!

 you can also buy the puller seperate from Mazda, if a Mazda hood, not aftermarket

 Thanks for the info.

The puller hasn't come off.

It is still on but when you pull it up the the zip parts behind it.

I cant see and damaged teeth but it does not fasten as it goes up.

Is it possible that the problem is the puller?

Cheers.

Sounds like it is the puller to me if all the teeth are still fine - the pullers can wear inside or bend out so they then can't guide the teeth together as closely as before. You would be able to tell for definite if you had another puller to compare it with - but try and have a look if the puller is painted black then the insides will have worn to bare metal, if excessively then that is probably the problem.

If it doesn't look that worn then it could be the top and bottom of the puller have bent away from each other - in which case a gentle tap with a hammer on a metal bolster could do the job - but it could also close the puller too much!

Pullers on zips often bend out when used on boots (specifically riding boots) as the tab you use to pull the puller up causes the main puller part to tilt (along with the awkward angle when doing up your own boots) which over time forces the two parts of the puller apart. Zips on coats etc there isn't this problem as the fabric bends before the puller can tilt.

The trick to keep zips from wearing is keep them clean and ensure the zip is held together before the puller is pulled so there isn't any stress on the puller which will wear the puller prematurely and could break it.

Got a bit technical there sorry! Lots of pulling going on!

 Thanks guys,

Replaced the puller. £6.19 from a Mazda dealer. Took less than 10 mins to replace and problem now solved.

If you have simolar problem the Mazda Part number is - Zipper Tab, NA01R1250B

What a relief, wasnt looking forward to removing hood to sew in a new zip.

Cheers,

Steve

 Steve

Do you by any chance know the part number?

Mike

Opps sorry didnt see that bit on my e-mail thanks

Mike 

 Hi,

A bit of extra info I found... fitting the new puller really is that easy...I think I strained my old puller by not releasing the catches before using the zip, especially to close, won't do that again!

Cheers,

Steve

Hood Zip Care. - Ways to extend the life of your hood zip.

• Before using the zip, release both the front hood catches.
• Don't re-zip the rear window after securing the hood.
• Coat the zip with a very thin film of silicon grease to lubricate.
• If you require a new Zipper Slide the Mazda Part number is - Zipper Tab, NA01R1250B
  How to Replace your broken zip. - Use a pair of needle nose pliers to remove the staples from the end of the zipper where the slide will be when the window is unzipped. Put the top down enough, so that you can work and see from both sides. Remove the old Zip- slide carefully as not to damage the two halves of the zipper. Once removed,  align the zipper ends and slide the new one into place. It should start zipping the two side of the zipper together as you go. Re-fix the staples to stop the zip coming off the end of the zipper.
  

 Excellent to hear its sorted!