Is there something missing?

[KimsJeep]

Just curious if something is missing on my door? Is there something that is supposed to be in the middle section at the top? When I got into the Jeep today, after it sat in the rain overnight, I shut the door and a ton of water leaked down right in the middle of the area pictured, on the inside. That is why I am thinking maybe I'm missing a section or something?

See where the hard plastic ends, then there is a gap, and then more hard plastic. What is supposed to be in that gap?

 

[TJ_2000]

The top and the side window both should clip into the door surrounds.

 

[KimsJeep]

The top and the side window both should clip into the door surrounds.

So, does mine look like it's not? I have no clue what they are supposed to look like. Anyone have a pic of what one is supposed to look like?

 

[JDS123]

So, does mine look like it's not? I have no clue what they are supposed to look like. Anyone have a pic of what one is supposed to look like?

Notice how you can see into your Jeep between the plastic and the roof? The roof is supposed to clip into the plastic so that it seals the door off. Without the canvas clipped into the plastic, you basically have no sealing at all. It also looks like your rear windows aren't clipped. Could you post a photo from further back that shows how you have the roof setup near the doors? It should look like the photo below, where the roof is clipped into the plastic door surrounds.

 

[TJ_2000]

I don’t have any pictures of the top section. But this how the side window should look. There should be a plastic lip on the top section and the side window that allows it to clip into the door surround.

 

[06TJ35's]

Here’s the soft top clip that goes into the channel just under my thumb

and here the rear window you can barely make out clip on the soft top window but it goes into the channel you see there.

 

[06TJ35's]

Here are the channels in yours.

 

[KimsJeep]

OHHHH, ok, I see now. I have some full on shrinkage going on. LOL I am in need of a new soft top. I can't afford one right now.

I went out and saw how it was supposed to be hooked into the door area, and tried to hook it. It won't zip once it is hooked, so that is why the PO must have just zipped it with out hooking it. I think what I will do on the sides at least, for now, is get some 3M foam double stick tape, and tape the part that is supposed to hook, to the part it is supposed to hook into. I know I will have to clean tape off once I get a new top, but that is better then having it allow air and water in. For the top part above the door, I don't know what to do yet. Thinking maybe flex tape to the top of the canvas ( along the edge, not the hole top) to the door hard plastic piece? Any other ideas for a temporary fix till I can afford a new top?

Here is my pics.

I thought it was weird that I could see day light driving down the road ( looking over at the passenger side) but I thought well, it doesn't get me wet when driving in the rain, so it must be ok. LOL

 

[JDS123]

You're not going to be able to hook the sides with the back of the top clipped in. There is a specific order you need to install the top to make it go on easily. The top pieces should be able to clip in right now, but the back windows won't be able to go in unless you unclip the rest of the window. I would try reinstalling the top from the start to see if it will fit. Do you know what brand your top is or how old it is?

 

[06TJ35's]

Try leaving your jeep in the sun for maybe an hour let your soft top get hot it would be easier to hook the soft top in the channels.

 

[jjvw]

You're not going to be able to hook the sides with the back of the top clipped in. There is a specific order you need to install the top to make it go on easily.
...

Going by memory...

-Install the main canopy. Hook the header into the windshield, but leave the latches open. Leave the splines above the doors loose.

-Install the side windows. Zippers first, bottom spine, door spline, then Velcro.

-Attach canopy splines above door.

-Close the windshield latches.

A warm day helps.

 

[MountaineerTom]

Here's a pretty good video on the order of how to install the windows. If it's cold outside, it will be hard to stretch the fabric and you could tear something. If cold, you could try to put the jeep and top in a garage and run a space heater in it until it warms up, if you have access to a garage. Sitting in the sun may help too.

 

[KimsJeep]

Thanks you guy's. It appears that the hooks that are supposed to be clipped into the top of the door are gone. The driver side has maybe half of it, but the passenger door it is gone all together. So there is no clipping that part.

I'm a bit worried with how old the top is and how shrunk it is, that if I try to release the latches up front and do as suggested, it may rip the seems??? The weather is cold and cloudy so there is no leaving it in the sun for a bit.

I'm going to say it is probably the original top, well except for the back window, it is tan. LOL

Here is a pic of what I want to do. The green arrows show where I want to put the flex tape ( That crap is super sticky). That would seal the top at least. Yah, I will have to clean it off the hard plastic later down the road, but I would rather do that and stay dry.

 

[bobthetj03]

It takes a little effort to get those clips to clip into the door surrounds. Unzip the side windows most of the way, then you should be able to get the plastic retainer in front to clip into the side of the door surrounds. Like folks said, warm weather will aid, but that ain't happening here this week.

 

[KimsJeep]

Here's a pretty good video on the order of how to install the windows. If it's cold outside, it will be hard to stretch the fabric and you could tear something. If cold, you could try to put the jeep and top in a garage and run a space heater in it until it warms up, if you have access to a garage. Sitting in the sun may help too.

Thanks for the video.

I have a garage, but getting to it and getting into it is another story. LOL I'm just worried that this top is so shrunk, the even with warmth, it will still rip. I may just leave things along for now, it's not supposed to rain tomorrow and I have been driving it in the rain with pretty good success on staying dry. LOL So I may wait till this weekend and see what I can do.

 

[MountaineerTom]

If you're planning on replacing the top in the future, just get a complete top with door surrounds and you won't have to clean the tape mess off you current surrounds.

 

[bobthetj03]

It looks like that top is just plain thrashed. Your tape method will get you by at least.

 

[JDS123]

Here's a pretty good video on the order of how to install the windows. If it's cold outside, it will be hard to stretch the fabric and you could tear something. If cold, you could try to put the jeep and top in a garage and run a space heater in it until it warms up, if you have access to a garage. Sitting in the sun may help too.

Completely off topic, but that video is from some guy in the 10,000 person town in Wyoming I used to live in. I know exactly where that video was shot. Kind of funny considering I have no clue who the guy is.



I think getting a new top is probably your only option at this point considering how messed up that top is. Your tape method isn't a bad idea and will work for a while.

 

[KimsJeep]

Thanks guy's. I'm going to do the tape method for now. Thanks for the suggestion of getting a top with the surrounds. I will do that. Any suggestions on a good top with surrounds? That way I know how much I need to come up with. LOL I figure the tape will do for the remainder of the winter, then summer I just don't care about a top. LOL So I have till next winter to save for one.

 

[danof76]

You're missing the plastic part that goes into the channel? That's no bueno. Unfortunately that part by itself you can't get, you'll have the replace the whole thing.

Best replacement is going to be Bestop:

https://www.amazon.com/d/Car-Tops-R...place-1997-2002/B000VLHCBI?tag=wranglerorg-20

This is fabric only, so you should be able to use your original soft top frame and attach the new fabric to it. This link is for the sail cloth, which is the same as OEM, if you want to spend a premium you can get the twill version. It's supposed to retain temperature better and cut down on noise while being much thicker and better material. It's not going to be quite as robust as the much cheaper sail cloth but if you're not planning on getting it beat up off-road then it's a more luxurious alternative.