side windows - automatic drop and raise when opening door

[Smokey Boyer]

Just had a new roof fitted, and have a new problem that I did not have before. When closing the door with the windows in the fully up position the glass sits on top of the fabric rain gutter/flap rather rather than under the flap.

Obviously I can push the buttons to drop and raise the side windows, but wondered how easy it was to modify the electric windows to add a feature that drops the side windows slightly when the door is opened, and raises the side window when the door is closed. This is a standard feature on Tuscans and a good number of other modern soft top cars.

Any suggestions and instructions gratefully received.

[Smokey Boyer]

Thanks - will have a look for that. It might help, but once lowered and raised the windows are currently fitting very well so do want to move them too much.

[Smokey Boyer]

Thank for the feedback. Mine is an early 94 plate chimaera and has the door release buttons behind the door near the hood, rather than in the wing mirror. I assume that makes the job a little more challenging.

[Smokey Boyer]

ray von said:

Who did your roof?

Classic Car Services in Leicester fitted the roof, and did a pretty good job in my opinion. They fitted a hood with the smaller square shaped window, supplied by Mazda Hoods in Romford. All in it was £786.

I will post some pictures when the weather picks up and I can get the car out and photographed.

So far I am happy with the smaller window. It folds down much easier than the previous and original hood. Steve (the fitter) did comment that the roof from Mazda Hoods was easy to fit as the fabric had a bit of stretch/give in it.

The windows overlap on the rain gutter/flap is perhaps only 1 or 2mm, and may sort itself out over time anyway as the flap finds its own position on top of the glass, if I can get the flap to stick out a but more rather than following the line of the roof panel down towards the glass.

Edited by Smokey Boyer on Monday 11th July 12:31

[Smokey Boyer]

Milky400 said:

Not criticising there work, but you say they have done a good job but have now left you with another issue!!!

I'd expect for that money that they returned the car to me with a new roof and all working fine and not experiencing issues you describe.

The install of the roof is fine, and the windows fit in to the rubber seals far better tham they did before and I do not have a problem with their work at all.

My only issue is that the door glass very slightly catches the fabric flap if the door is closed with the window up. If I open the window slightly and close it once the door is closed everything fits together very well and the fabric flap sites outside of the glass as expected. I am reluctant to change too much on the glass or seal position as it is way better than it has ever been.

I am just trying to find a solution to a problem that TVR created in the first place by not automatically dropping the windows slightly when the doors open, and then raising them when closed. They added this feature on to the later T generation cars, and wanted to know how feasible it was to retro fit that to an early Chimaera. It might just take a bit of time for the flap to form to the required bend so that it sticks out a bit rather than following the line of the glass.

On the positive side of things, at least I still have the rain flap in place. I have heard of some fitters not bothering with it and just forming the fabric to the roof panel flush all the way around.

Edited by Smokey Boyer on Monday 11th July 15:50

Edited by Smokey Boyer on Monday 11th July 16:52

[Smokey Boyer]

An idea, that using a £13 Universal Window Closer might get me close to the solution I need. I could either set it work from my alarm, or possibly from the courtesy light switch in the door sill. At least it will allow me to do the windows up when leaving the car.

Just need to find something that will automatically drop the glass slightly when opening the door. I should know, but assume the door opening ball in the centre console is mechanical, operating a brake cable type cable, rather than an electronic system (1994 Chimaera). Is that correct?

[Smokey Boyer]

yes, dropping and raising automatically is the most desirable solution. I know this will only close, but this does mean I can actually close the doors with windows down slightly and then raise them from outside the car when leaving it.