Tried installing the window this weekend, but I'm having one consistent problem. As I start zipping it in, it goes about 8 inches and then the two zipper sides no longer join together. This lasts for about 4-5 inches, and then they join again.

I did this more times than I can count, and I get the same result every time. I'm about to the point of leaving it that way and just stitching the gap. Anyone else have a similar issue? If so, solutions?

So you'll know, I had someone helping, I "soaped" the zipper first to make it slick, I even tried to zip the old window back in, and it worked fine. I've got an email into Pete at eMiata as I kind of suspect it's a bad spot in the window zipper.

Thanks in advance for the help.

I had the same issue but was able to resolve it. Does it start splitting after the zipper goes around the corner? That was the deal with mine. The zipper was a few teeth out of synch so when the zipper on the cloth top started to curve upward the zipper on the window still had a few more teeth on the straight portion.

I finally wound up marking both sides of the zipper to give myself a benchmark, and would start the zipper a few teeth to the left or right of the mark until I got it right. It was a PITA.

You might also try taping the window in place while you zip it so the zipper doesn't unzip from the window folding over.

OR, you could just have a bum window. It really is a pretty nice window once it's in. This is how mine finally turned out:

The gap forms before the corner, but it sounds like the same problem you had... the zipper trim on the window starts to bunch or roll right before the gap. I guess some "micro" adjustments in the starting position are in order.

Thanks for the response. From your description, this sounds like operator error as opposed to a defective window. Yours looks great, by the way. Any tricks you want to share for gluing down the trim when you're done?

Sure. First, mask your top outside the area that the trim covers to keep from getting glue on your top. The glue is just regular contact cement (which you can buy at Home Depot if you run short, which I did), but it's imposible to get out of the fabric if you get it on there. Mask your window too. Even if you're careful, there's always a little "string" of glue that pulls from the tip of the bottle, and if the wind catches it, can blow across the window (which obviously happened to me!). If you get glue on the window, don't try to wipe it off right away. Wait until it gets to a rubbery consistency and then roll it off. Don't let it harden though.

Apply the glue to both the top fabric and the flap and let the glue dry to a tacky consistency and then press them together. The fabric will absorb a little of the glue, so make sure you have enough glue applied to cover the surface evenly. The two sides should adhere immediately and shouldn't separate. I did a small section at a time (about 12" of trim length). I don't know if that's really important, but I figured it's easier to fix 12" if I screwed up rather than to fix the whole thing. The part of the trim where its stitched together is a little stiff and wants to pop up, so try a little extra glue and some pressure to get it to stick. Good luck. Post a pic when you're done.

Thanks for the info... I worked on it again last night, but still had the same probem. Finally examined the teeth on the window zipper in minute detail and found two teeth that were split (for lack of a better description) and causing the separation. I have an email into Pete at eMiata now to resolve it. Lucky for me, he is located less than 1 1/2 hours away, so I'm hoping to get a replacement quickly.

Will update with pics when done.

Glad you were able to find the defect. I hope Pete's a stand up guy and will replace it for you.

I had similar issues with my window when i first tried installing it. tried two days in a row and still always seemed to seperate it. Out of fluke me and a friend got a girlfriend to give it a shot while we held it in place from both sides and it went in with ease on the first try! After the initial frustration and shock blew over of how she zipped it in so easily we stitched the beginning part of the zipper and then called it a nite.

IMPORTANT: If you are off by 1 ****ing tooth the whole thing will not go in flush and will have wrinkles! if u see wrinkles starting to develop stop, re-align, and then start over!!!!

Although the window is in and looks perfect i have noticed that there is water that drips in from the inside corners of the window and condensation seems to build up in the inside during warm days.

I have not glued down the canvas trim yet and wondered if anyone knows if this will make a difference????

Good luck with your install

It'll probably leak through the zipper if you don't glue the flaps down. At the very least, glue the top and part of the sides flaps so water runs around the window.

Glad you were able to find the defect. I hope Pete's a stand up guy and will replace it for you.

Pete (eMiata) and I emailed back and forth a few times trying to fix the window I have. In the end, I still had a gap about 6-7 inches long, no matter what I did, and Pete has a new window on the way to me.

For all you convertible guys, I have to say that Pete and eMiata have been excellent to deal with. :thumbup: I'll update when the new-new one is installed.

Pete (eMiata) and I emailed back and forth a few times trying to fix the window I have. In the end, I still had a gap about 6-7 inches long, no matter what I did, and Pete has a new window on the way to me.

For all you convertible guys, I have to say that Pete and eMiata have been excellent to deal with. :thumbup: I'll update when the new-new one is installed.

So, how'd it go with the window? You have pictures of it yet?

Sorry... forgot to update, so thanks for the reminder.

Got the second window, and had it zipped in perfectly in about 20 minutes. Obviously was a problem with the zipper on the first one.

Kudos again to Pete at eMiata. He never hesitated to send a replacement, and didn't even ask that I send the original back.

I'll try to grab some pics soon... have the hardtop on now.

I have my new window in the box, hope to install it this weekend.

I'm having problems getting the window in w/o the waves....

I started with a mark on the top and the the window for a baseline measurement, and first installation had pretty bad waves.
Moved the window over about 1/4 inch and reinstalled and waves were much better.
Tried reinstalling the third (really 3, 4, 5, and 6) time after moving over another 1/4 inch or so and the upper left hand corner (if looking at the car from the rear) kept on pulling away. After trying that a few times we guessed that it was too much a shift and to tight for it to say together. Then went back to the markings for the first install, which would make this now install #7, and we did get the whole window together w/o the corner pulling apart (so we think it was too taunt in tries 3-6).
For install #8 we shifted it the opposite way from install #2 to see how it would compare and the waves still seem to be in the same direction.

Well, by this time my fingers were pretty raw from trying to thread the zipper over and over, it was night and threatening to rain, and I was to meet my parents and wife for dinner, so I plan to attack it again some other time.

I think one problem is that despite marking the top zipper and window zipper, I'm having problems getting the zipper to catch at the spot I want. Is there a way to stiffen the beginning of the teeth so the zipper will catch?

I'm having problems getting the window in w/o the waves....

I started with a mark on the top and the the window for a baseline measurement, and first installation had pretty bad waves.
Moved the window over about 1/4 inch and reinstalled and waves were much better.
Tried reinstalling the third (really 3, 4, 5, and 6) time after moving over another 1/4 inch or so and the upper left hand corner (if looking at the car from the rear) kept on pulling away. After trying that a few times we guessed that it was too much a shift and to tight for it to say together. Then went back to the markings for the first install, which would make this now install #7, and we did get the whole window together w/o the corner pulling apart (so we think it was too taunt in tries 3-6).
For install #8 we shifted it the opposite way from install #2 to see how it would compare and the waves still seem to be in the same direction.

Well, by this time my fingers were pretty raw from trying to thread the zipper over and over, it was night and threatening to rain, and I was to meet my parents and wife for dinner, so I plan to attack it again some other time.

I think one problem is that despite marking the top zipper and window zipper, I'm having problems getting the zipper to catch at the spot I want. Is there a way to stiffen the beginning of the teeth so the zipper will catch?

That's the tough part. Mine had a little extra fabric ahead of the first teeth, so I could fish that throught the fly. Sometimes the teeth would flop over and not catch, though. I feel your pain. I don't know that there's an easy fix. You could possibly cut the first few teeth off with a wire cutter if those teeth are limp and try to start with teeth that are standing upright a little more. Just a suggestion.

I had the same problem. I ended up returning the eMiata and buying a BMW one instead, sure it cost a bit more but was much easier to install.

I ended up applying some superglue on the end to stiffen it up, and it worked pretty well. Fortunately I had a friend patient enough to help me out for another afternoon and an additional 8 tries. It finally came out pretty nice, but it was more luck than skill.