Do it Yourself: Mazda MX5 Soft or Hard Top Latch Fix

Here's a simple way to fix your miata's failing roof latches.
Be it a soft or hard top it's going to happen sooner or later!
All you need is a couple of screwdrivers, a drill and some screws! It truly is an easy DIY.
Prevent your soft top's latches from opening unexpectedly while hitting pot holes!
Miata hood latches

[@TheGlamourNazi]

You deserve a medal. The "Best cheap solution to a problem that almost caused me to buy a hardtop" medal. This was an ingenious solution and you're the best ever.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

TheGlamourNazi Thanks buddy, we are glad we could help! The idea came from one of our local club members and we decided to make the vid. He's the one who deserves the credits ;)

[@balykinler]

Spent just thirty minutes today following this great vid. Roof now tight and secure. Nice one, you guys!

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

We're glad you found this video useful Barry! 'Till next time!

[@AndrewLeet92]

You, sir, just saved me alot of money. Pretty much all 4 latches were shot when I bought a used hardtop.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

+André Baumgartner I'm happy this video helped you save some money! Now throw the hardtop away and enjoy the roads top down :p

[@ianes456]

I did this today and it really does do the job and is an easy DIY. New ones are nearly £100. Thanks guys.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

Ian Stuart Thank you for watching it! Please forgive the late reply but we were busy lapping Brno and the Hungaroring in a 100% stock miata... vids coming soon!

[@jameswells9677]

You had me in the first half, great video shame I just don’t have a drill like that

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

@Matt Manatrey : we used a 3mm drill bit and a screw with a head thick enough to lock the mechanism. I'm sorry that we couldn't reply directly to your comment, apparently the new comment system doesn't allow replies to linked comments.

[@peterrogers5975]

A really useful fix thanks. I used your technique to repair both latches on my lady's soft top and one on her hard top. Won me loads of plaudits :)

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

Thanks Peter! It's a very quick fix that lets us spend more money on gas and tyres instead of expensive hood latches :)

[@gimmefuel7268]

Thank you so much for posting this. I fixed the latch on my wife’s Miata yesterday using your video. The HARDEST part by far was getting the little spring back where it’s supposed to go!!

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

We're glad we could help! Springs are extremely annoying. Their tendency to aim for the eyes is... amusing!

[@dinocat7490]

First assemble the cap along with spring. Insert the pin through the hole entrance. Line up the assembled cap (with spring already assembled inside) and once it is lined up, push the pin through. The spring should automatically land in place. Shouldn’t take more that 45 seconds.

[@lobuzz311]

Worked perfectly... 50 cents worth of stainless screws from Ace vs 100 bucks for new latches. Bargain of the year right there.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

We're glad we could help!

[@donovanshea3308]

100? I could find a full set for under 350!

[@lobuzz311]

@@donovanshea3308 WTF? 350?!? I made this comment 2 years ago, so prices have changed, I guess.

[@LotusJones]

Great idea. FWIW, Flyin' Miata sells a billet aluminum replacement latch with built-in set screw. Accomplishes the exact same thing for $65.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

FM has all kinds of nice products but you can't beat being this cheap!

[@sylvan47070]

good stuff. didn't have exactly the right screw but it worked anyway. ghetto fabulous for the win. the spring was the biggest PITA.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

+sylvan47070 Springs must be hellspawn. They like to jump straight into your eyes and then fall to the ground. Hiding. Hellspawn.

[@geraldlavery3962]

Great idea thankyou! I couldn’t see what was worn on mine and swapped the locking button with known good ones on the side latches but it still wouldn’t lock so I did your mod and I’m all chuffed. No more holding one latch on the motorway waiting for the hardtop blowing off!

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

I'm glad I could help!

[@AniviaS]

I just put a small drop of jb weld on mine but your solution is also pretty smart

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

Epoxy is another way to skin the same cat, however it's hard to apply on this kind of surface and a newbie could screw up :)

[@rooster4450able]

I used jb weld and it worked really good until, I clipped it to hard and the weld popped off

[@gallantxxx]

hi after watching your video, i fixed both latches, thank you so much for posting your video, Saved me a ton of money, Latches brand new cost £100 each

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

We're glad we could help!

[@bibana06]

Thank you so much. I'v got the exact same problem on my MR2's hard top (the latch won't lock, which cause them to open at high speed). I'm gonna give this a try.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

Let us know if it works!

[@300zxdriver]

My Miata does the same thing at high speed. High speed and Miata in the same sentence.lol

[@lorenzo87c]

You deserve a medal. Right

[@hugoschmidt4209]

Holy crap! It actually worked. Thanks!

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

You're welcome dude!

[@yellowshuttle]

Worked great ... thanks for the video.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

You're welcome! I'm glad we could save you some money :)

[@sawik7749]

Man you are genius!!!

[@minicooperlover22]

What size screw do you use and where do you drill the hole?

[@bccochrane1]

Just fixed the top to latches. Thanks for the video 👍🏻

[@bccochrane1]

#two

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

Thank you! Since the video was helpful could you please consider subscribing? We're a few subscribers short of keeping our yt partners status and we are considering stopping our uploads should we not reach that goal.

[@bccochrane1]

Done :)

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

My man!

[@TylorSwain12]

i drilled into the other side where the screw head pushes against so it locks into it properly. works great. other than that great fix :)

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

+Tylor Swain Thank you! Any link to some pictures of your fix? Some people might find them useful!

[@rugaferenc]

It's worked! Thanks! :)

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

You're welcome!

[@darrylandjackielyons4377]

Not necessary to remove the spring-loaded release. Open it up and drill and insert the screw.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

Thanks!

[@BathrobesamuraiB]

EXCELLANT VIDEO ON THIS REPAIR. THANK YOU.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

Brian Rhodes Thank YOU for your time! :) We're glad we could help!

[@PazLeBon]

mine dont fit tight.. but im not sure this is the actual issue, the roof is pretty new but they dont lock tight at all. I keep it in with cocktail sticks and hoping that physics means the roof gets pressed down when im driving lol I wish youd shown the 'before' bit

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

There's a hex nut that can be used to tighten them a bit. This solution only works on worn latches. Try adjusting yours before attempting this diy!

[@Nosloveingneko]

Just got a hardtop and one of the latches doesn't lock. ziptied it shut for now but the guy said to do the "Screw mod" I guess this is what he meant!

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

Please keep us posted! :)

[@rotemza3467]

Hey guys I want to buy myself a new roof latches and I don’t know where to get them So if anyone got any idea or a website to order them it will be good thank you guys !!

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

Google is your friend! If you're in the US try mazmart or good win racing, in europe buy from whatever website pops out :)

[@OvaltineClassique]

Having a hard time with this on the passenger side. For whatever reason, it actuates perfectly when not installed, but when trying to actually lock the soft top in place, the thing never seems to latch. Soft top adjustment has been done and it's not overly tight/loose, the button doesn't come all the way up and the latch doesn't click in when it's in, but works fine when just fiddling with it out of the car. Wondering if anyone can chime in on what might be happening

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

please film it and send it to our email address. We'll try to see what's going on!

[@savagegloryphotography4654]

Which Miata does this work on? I have the NB.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

It works on any NA\NB miata :)

[@patw9175]

Unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to buy just one screw because the local hardware store is closed today and I think i'll have to buy a whole box from home depot, so I'm gonna try it with a regular machine screw and a nut to hold it in. I'll update how it goes. edit: check the reply

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

Keep us posted!

[@patw9175]

So I drilled a hole with a regular hand drill and just screwed in a regular machine screw I picked out of one of those assortment boxes you can get from harbor freight. The head (turns out to be 11/32" hex head) is a little big so now it's a bit tight when opening up (pressing the button) and closing the latch to secure the top up. I ended up having to cut more than a few mm off the screw because it was too long and was hitting the spring and not letting me get the pin through for reassembly. The rotary tool (dremel) I bought at hf is the best tool I've ever bought, I used it every day this weekend on both my car and my motorcycle. Top holds up fine now. I thought I would need a nut to hole the bolt on but it wouldn't fit if I tried and the bolt is tight enough anyway.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

neat! since you have a small rotary tool you might consider grinding part of the screw head so to reduce the amount of friction it does on the latch. You might score and damage it over time :)

[@ervin7178]

Went to do this, turns out was already drilled with a screw in it. Put longer screw in.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

that's the spirit!

[@jochem1986]

I don't understand how no one in the comments mentions the nightmarish removal of the latch bolts. They are secured with red loctite on mine and I cannot remove them even after drilling them out.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

I didn't have a problem to be honest. Maybe that's because I had been single for so long at the time I shot that video that there was no bolt strong enough to survive my hand! :)

[@jochem1986]

@@TheDementedMonkeys Touché! I'm gonna go for the most appealing solution: getting a powerful soldering iron to heat that bolt so the red loctite breaks down.

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

@@jochem1986 Better touché than touched by the likes of me ;) The soldering iron trick is a nice one, so is an impact screwdriver! I love mine.

[@softdorothy]

"Self tapping screw", LOL.

[@Vicious713]

These are roof latches

[@TheDementedMonkeys]

Hood latches in the Uk. That's how they call the soft top!