Rattling convertible top fix?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 4
From: Memphis, TN
Rattling convertible top fix? Hello! My convertible top has a particular rattle right by my head when I'm sitting in the captain's chair, and I have found a temporary fix, but I don't know if it's a good thing to do or not.
I've found that if I (with the top up and latched in, of course), press the button to let the top down for a split second to put some tension on the top, all rattles magically disappear. My question is this: Is this bad for the hydraulic motor or anything else, to have tension on it for long periods of time? I learned this trick, but I don't do it because I'm not sure what kind of negative effects it could have. Any gurus out there that know the answer? Thanks in advance!
I've found that if I (with the top up and latched in, of course), press the button to let the top down for a split second to put some tension on the top, all rattles magically disappear. My question is this: Is this bad for the hydraulic motor or anything else, to have tension on it for long periods of time? I learned this trick, but I don't do it because I'm not sure what kind of negative effects it could have. Any gurus out there that know the answer? Thanks in advance!
TECH Junkie
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,919
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From: Western North Carolina
It's definitely going to put a strain on the motor and everything else in time. Since you have located the annoying rattle area there must be a way of pinpointing it down further to eliminate it. Even if you have to lay out a little $$ now, it will be better than bigger $$ later when things start to fail. It will be inevitable.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 4
From: Memphis, TN
Yeah I figured it was bad for it, so I never do it. I have found the part that's rattling, however. The bad news is I don't see any way to keep it from rattling. I'll post a pic of the piece in question at some point.
If I'm reading right it sounds as if your top has stretched over time and therefore does not provide enough tension when latched (and possibly bubble tops at highway speeds?).
If so, there is a write up somewhere that shows how to tighten your top from the front, by basically dissasembling/ungluing the top from the front bracket and pulling it tighter by a little bit (like 1/2 inch or so) and re-attaching. This will keep your top tight and likely put the tension back on the latch when the top is up without relying on your top motor to do it.
I did this about 5 years ago on my car and it worked great, I did it to get rid of the bubble top at highway speeds, but seems like it would help your problem too.
If so, there is a write up somewhere that shows how to tighten your top from the front, by basically dissasembling/ungluing the top from the front bracket and pulling it tighter by a little bit (like 1/2 inch or so) and re-attaching. This will keep your top tight and likely put the tension back on the latch when the top is up without relying on your top motor to do it.
I did this about 5 years ago on my car and it worked great, I did it to get rid of the bubble top at highway speeds, but seems like it would help your problem too.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 4
From: Memphis, TN
ya know...I don't know if it bubble tops or not. I've tried to feel up there when cruising down the highway with my hand (I'm quite tall, so I've got fairly long arms), but I'm not positive if it's bubbling or not.
I'll poke my cell phone up there and record a bit next time I get on the highway (wish me luck! lol)
I'll poke my cell phone up there and record a bit next time I get on the highway (wish me luck! lol)
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There are some hinge-points that are just special
threaded bolts basically, which can back out and
let little copper washers get lost while the top
comes apart. You ought to check those before you
get stuck somewhere with the top inoperable.
threaded bolts basically, which can back out and
let little copper washers get lost while the top
comes apart. You ought to check those before you
get stuck somewhere with the top inoperable.
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