Time for another update. First and foremost, I finally remembered to take a proof pic!
With that out of the way, I could start on proper projects yesterday. I wanted to get some shit done while I was off work for Christmas, however what I wanted to do and in what order wasn't planned as usual. Here's a kind of mixed up list of projects
Project the First - SmartTOP Module
I got online on the 27th and ordered a SmartTOP to allow the roof to be raised or lowered with a single button press and while moving at low speeds. To install this you need to get to a panel behind the passenger seat and fiddle around in there, so I took the seat out.
There is another reason for this, which I'll come to. With the seat removed I could easily pop the panel open, ready to plug the module in.
The module arrived today and it came with a free advent calendar. They must've had some left over and it expires in January, as you can see I've changed a few of the doors to a relevant date. I only ate three immediately.
Anyway, the module comes with a little extension cable that also splits off the cables required by the module and this requires removing a plug from the ECU behind the passenger seat. I was really glad I had removed the seat as it was a complete pain to get to the plug. After many attempts to unplug it with sore fingers I found that the tip of a chunky key is best for depressing the little tab while pulling the plug out. There isn't much slack on the wires so it's quite hard to remove.
Plugging in the module was easy, it comes with some double-sided sticky Velcro (the actual branded stuff) to mount it and I had already programmed it and checked for new firmware on my PC, so the thing just worked right away. I have it set to one-touch open and close at the maximum allowed speed (60 km/h). I doubt I'll be getting close to that but I'd rather it be my choice.
Here's it all installed...
...and with the rubber flap back in place.
There's a video at the end but I'm making you wait as it's a spoiler of what's coming in the subsequent chapters.
Project the Second - Seat covers.
With the passenger seat out yesterday, I could fit one of the black cloth covers I had. Fighting to get the plastic trim panel off the side of the seat was fun but I did it and the straps are all looped around the springs beneath the seat. It looks a bit rough when you get close but it's fine, it'll protect the leather along with not being hot or cold. The cloth is also much grippier too so I don't slide around in the seat.
After I fitted the SmartTOP module today I vacuumed out all of the accumulated crap that was in the passenger footwell and reinstalled the seat. Then removed it and reinstalled it again once I'd plugged in the electrical connector I had forgotten the first time.
The weather seemed to be holding so I went ahead and removed the drivers seat next, knowing that this would be more difficult due to the additional height adjustment this seat has. Apparently I had no idea, not only does it have that but it doesn't have accessible springs beneath the seat cushion to hook the cover straps to. Removing the height adjustment handle was very frustrating as there's a tiny circlip (that didn't ping off and take out my eye, fortunately) and then the spring has to be moved with a screwdriver to allow the entire handle to come off. Then the side trim can be removed.
With lots of swearing and gnashing of teeth I finally got it strapped up with cable ties as good as I could. The covers did come with some metal clips, I don't know where they are now or if they would have actually be any use. Don't look too closely. None of the straps interfere with the cables or the seat mechanisms.
Then that seat was installed. They look fine to me and will at least protect the leather. There's also a minor spoiler in this picture.
Project the Third - GoPro Mount
I've been wondering where to put a GoPro in the car,
this chap (who also has a Kuro) mounted his on the wind deflector, but I'd quite like one of
these clear deflectors and that wouldn't look good with a camera stuck on it. Also it'll be wobbly and get lots of wind noise. I realised that the blanking plate my car has instead of the roof release latch (for closing the roof) would be perfect, the curve of this part even matched up perfectly with a GoPro mount I had.
VHB is wonderful stuff but I'm under no illusions that it would stick to the grained plastic, so I drilled some small holes and have screwed it on. I've noted down the part number so I can look out for a replacement part to keep when I sell the car or just don't want the mount on show. I think it came out very neatly, I even lined up the screw heads.
Here it is in the car, bonus points if you spotted it in the picture above with the seat covers.
I don't know when I'll next take it out to get some footage but I'll post it here when I do.
There's actually a fourth project on the go but the part that should've turned up today... didn't. So I'll give that project a post of its own. I also have two different snow foam products on their way, one a pre-wash and one a post-wash. I'll go into more detail about those next week as I intend to give the Miata a good wash. It's pretty dirty.
Finally, here's the video of the roof in action: