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Classification: Reference: Date:

BT03-046a NTB03-116a January 29, 2004

2004 350Z ROADSTER; SOFT TOP ASSEMBLYREMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

This bulletin amends NTB03-116. This version updates the Parts Information. Please discard all paper copies of the earlier version.

APPLIED VEHICLE: 2004 350Z Roadster (Z33)

SERVICE INFORMATIONThe Service Procedure in this bulletin contains step-by-step instructions for removal andinstallation of the 350Z Roadster soft-top assembly.

IMPORTANT: Make sure to order new seat bar finishers (clam shells) when ordering anew soft-top assembly (see Parts Information).

PARTS INFORMATIONWhen replacing the soft-top assembly, the finishers (clam shells) that cover the “seat bars”(guard frames) will need to be removed (see page 4, Figures 6 and 7). They are likely tobreak during removal and will not be reusable. They will need to be replaced. Thepart numbers for these finishers are listed below.

DESCRIPTION PART # QUANTITYFolding Roof-complete (Black) 97003-CE446Folding Roof-complete (Blue) 97003-CE447 1

Seat Bar/Guard Frame Finishers (clam shells)Listed in the parts system as:

Cover-Strut Bar Upper, Center (Black) 93130-CE400Front HalfRight Side Cover-Strut Bar Upper, Center (Gray) 93130-CE401 1

Protector-Guard Frame, LH (Black) 93131-CE400Front HalfLeft Side Protector-Guard Frame, LH (Gray) 93131-CE401 1

Plate-Guard Frame, RH (Black) 93154-CE400Rear HalfRight Side Plate-Guard Frame, RH (Gray) 93154-CE401 1

Plate-Guard Frame, LH (Black) 93155-CE400Rear HalfLeft side Plate-Guard Frame, LH (Gray) 93155-CE401 1

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SERVICE PROCEDURENOTE: The illustrations in this procedure are for the left side (driver’s side). Eachoperation must also be done for the right side (passenger’s side).

Soft Top Assembly Removal

Figure 1

3. Move both seats as far forward as possible.

4. Tilt both seat backs as far forward as possible.

Figure 2

1. Fully open the soft-top using the powerswitch.

2. Leave the storage lid in the “open”position (straight up).

5. Remove the inner rocker panel (inner“kicking” plate).

Inner Kicking Plate

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Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

6. Remove the rubber trim pad from the rearof the door frames.

7. Remove the rear portion of the doorweather strips.

8. Remove the rear side finishers.

Rubber TrimPad

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Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

9. Remove finishers (clam shells) from the“seat bars”.

a. First, pull off the front halves.

NOTE:• When the front half of the finisher is

pulled off, the plastic attaching clipsare likely to break.

• You should order new seat barfinishers before starting this procedure(see Parts Information).

b. Then remove the rear halves.

• The rear halves are held on with sixscrews (three on each side).

10.Remove the back panel finisher.

a. Remove the 6 clips on the top (3 oneach side).

• The 3 left side clip locations areshown with white circles.

• There are three duplicate locationson the right side.

b. After removing the 6 top clips, pull upon the panel to snap loose the 4additional clips along the underside ofthe panel.

Back PanelFinisher

Clam Shells

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Figure 9

Figure 10

11.Remove the Back Panel Finisher SupportBrackets.

12.Close the soft-top to the position shownin Figure 10 using the power switch.

• However, keep the storage lid in theopen position as shown.

SupportBracket

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Figure 11

CAUTION: Do not “disturb” (loosen or remove) the bolts shown above with white circlesaround them.

• These bolts secure the mounting brackets to the vehicle body.

• The mounting brackets are very “precisely” (accurately) adjusted at the factory toensure proper soft-top fit and function.

• Any change to this adjustment may cause poor fit, resulting in possible water leaks andwind noise.

• If loosened or removed, they will require the services of a body shop to accuratelyre-adjust them.

Figure 12

13.Locate the “rear” mounting brackets in thesoft-top storage area.

14.Remove only the nuts (1 on each side)from the “rear” mounting brackets. SeeCAUTION below.

Do not “disturb”(loosen or remove)these bolts.

15.Fully open the soft-top using the powerswitch.

• Leave the storage lid in the openposition as shown.

Removethis nut.

Rear Mounting Bracket

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16.Remove the seat belt guides from the seat belts (see Figure 13).

• The seat belt guides will be reused.

17.Remove bolts (2 on each side) securing the soft-top to the “front” mounting brackets.See CAUTION below.

Figure 13

CAUTION: Do not “disturb” (loosen or remove) the bolts shown above with white circlesaround them.

• These bolts secure the mounting brackets to the vehicle body.

• The mounting brackets are very “precisely” (accurately) adjusted at the factory toensure proper soft-top fit and function.

• Any change to this adjustment may cause poor fit, resulting in possible water leaks andwind noise.

• If loosened or removed, they will require the services of a body shop to accuratelyre-adjust them.

Seat BeltGuide

Remove thesebolts.

Do not “disturb”(loosen or remove)these bolts.

Front MountingBracket

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Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

18.Remove the bolts (both sides) from thesoft-top “mounting plates” as follows:

a. Hold the adjusting shims with onehand so they will not fall out.

b. Loosen both bolts.

c. Remove the adjusting shims (seeFigure 15).

d. Completely remove both bolts.

19.Mark the adjusting shims so you can putthem back in the same place.

VERY IMPORTANT:• All shims that are removed MUST

be put back (reinstalled) on the sameside they were removed from.

• These adjusting shims match thevehicle and not the soft-top.

20.Disconnect the soft-top electricalconnectors.

• There are 3 connectors on thedriver’s side as shown.

• There are only 2 connectors on thepassenger’s side (not shown).

AdjustingShims

AdjustingShims

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NOTES:• At this point you are ready to remove the soft-top from the vehicle.

• Make sure both seats are moved as far forward as possible and the seat backs aretilted as far forward as possible.

• To remove the soft-top, you will be “walking through” the vehicle. Be careful not to getthe carpet dirty.

• The soft-top is very heavy and will require 2 people to remove it from the vehicle.

• While removing the soft-top, be very careful. The edges of the soft-top assembly caneasily scratch the paint.

21.Remove the soft-top assembly from the vehicle.

• Lift it out of the storage area by first raising the rear of the top and then pullingupward.

• Then, walk though the vehicle with one side as shown in Figure 17.

Figure 17

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Install the Soft-Top into the Vehicle

Figure 18

4. Loosely install the bolts on the “front” mounting brackets (see Figure 19).

5. Make sure the soft-top mounting bracket is flush against the aligning pegs(see Figure 19).

Figure 19

1. Make sure the electrical connectors(both sides) are secured in place asshown so they will not get caughtunder the assembly.

2. Put the soft-top in the vehicle inreverse of step 21 on page 9.

3. Connect the soft-top electricalconnectors.

Do not “disturb”(loosen or remove)these bolts.

Loosely installthese bolts.

Aligning Peg.

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Figure 20

Figure 21

Figure 22

7. Move the soft-top to the position shownin Figure 22 using the power switch.

• The soft-top should be straight up(90°).

NOTE: If the top is too far back, it willslowly move toward the storage area byits own weight.

6. Loosely install the “mounting plate” bolts.

8. Make sure the soft-top bracket iscompletely seated on the “rear” mountingbracket stud.

9. Install and tighten the nuts on the rearmounting brackets.

Do not “disturb”(loosen or remove)these bolts.

Install andtighten thisnut.

Rear Mounting Bracket

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10.Tighten the soft-top to front mounting bracket bolts (see Figure 23).

• Make sure front brackets are flush against the aligning pegs.

Figure 23

Figure 24

11.Install the “mounting plate” shims.

• It may be necessary to push (shift) thesoft-top from side-to-side to make roomfor the shims.

• Make sure the shims do not fall outduring installation, hold them in placeuntil the bolts are tightened.

VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure youinstall all shims in the same side they wereremoved from.

Do not “disturb”(loosen or remove)these bolts.

Tighten thesebolts.

Front MountingBracket

Aligning Peg

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Figure 25

NOTE: It’s important that all soft-top mounting bolts are tightened in the order given insteps 7 – 12.

13.Reinstall all remaining parts in reverse order.

NOTE: Make sure to use new seat bar finishers—clam shells (see Parts Information).

Check Soft-Top Forward Movement

Figure 26

1. Apply masking tape to the soft-top LatchSockets.

• Apply tape to the left and right sidesockets.

• Tape is not needed on the centerLatch Socket.

• The masking tape will help youdetermine if the soft-top ForwardAdjustment is correct.

Latch Socket

Tape Applied

12.Tighten the “mounting plate” bolts.

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Figure 27

4. Open the soft-top and check the tape on the Latch Sockets, left and right side(see Figure 28).

• There should be 2.5 mm between the color mark and the front of the latch socket.

• If color transferred to the tape within the 2.5-mm area, the soft-top is moving too farforward and will need to be adjusted. See “Adjust soft-top forward movement” on thenext page.

Figure 28

NOTE: Do Not adjust the Latch Sockets.

• The soft-top Latch/Locating Sockets are very “precisely” (accurately) adjusted at thefactory to ensure proper soft-top fit and function.

• Any change to this adjustment may cause poor fit, resulting in possible water leaksand wind noise.

• If loosened or removed, they will require the services of a body shop toaccurately re-adjust them.

2. Use a colored marker to color (“paint”) theleft and right Latch Hooks.

3. Close the soft-top but do not latch it.

Latch Hook

ColoredMarker

Front of Vehicle2.5 mm area

(no color should be in this area)

OK for color totransfer to this area.

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Adjust Soft-Top Forward Movement

Figure 29

Figure 30

1. Open the soft-top to about ½ open.

• Top should be straight up (90°) asshown in Figure 29.

2. Locate the adjustment point as shown inFigures 30 and 31.

NOTE:

• There is an adjustment point below thisone that looks similar.

• Make sure you only adjust the upperone (shown in Figure 30).

AdjustmentPoint

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Figure 31

Allen

Figure 32

• Perform this adjustment for the left and right side as needed.

3. Loosen the adjustment lock nut.

• Reach in from the soft-top storagearea.

• Use a 12-mm open-end wrench toloosen the adjustment lock nut.

12-mmWrench

4. Use a 5-mm Allen wrench to adjust.

• Turning the adjustment screw left(counterclockwise) will move thesoft-top (Latch Hook) backward,towards the rear of the vehicle.

• Adjust ½ turn at a time.

• Tighten the lock nut and recheckbetween each adjustment as persteps 3 – 4 on page 14.

5-mm AllenWrench