ta-brian

Today I was driving on the highway and heard a whistling noise from around my driver side window
I rolled the window down to see if something was caught and keeping it open and found nothing
When I closed it, my t top lifted off and smashed into what I can only assume was a million pieces
Has this happened to anyone else? Or could this just be a strange accident. I use them frequently, and had them off yesterday. Is it safe to assume that this won't happen again as long as I latch them properly?
I'm kinda worried about driving it and having the same thing happen again.
Thanks in advance guys

RevGTO

iTrader: (12)

Yep, it happened to me once and to my son's car once also. Mine happened just like yours did. It was securely latched, but when I rolled up the window at freeway speeds, it flew off. That was 9-10 years ago and it hasn't happened since. If I roll my window up at freeway speeds at all, I close the gap and make the seal very slowly and cautiously.

Brutal Boba Fett

Happened to a friend of mine. His was latched but not locked and after driving for a while the latch had vibrated open and his t top went flying without him even touching it.
I always make sure that my T tops are locked.

ta-brian

So now I bought a used one from a junk yard and don't have a key to lock it. However, the handle on this one is very stiff. Should I even bother trying to loosen it up or should I just leave it?
Thanks again guys

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

Do you have the remains of your old t-top? You could swap the lock cylinder. That's what I did.

Every time I put my t-tops on I give them a tug upward after latching to be sure they are actually latched in place.

red04montels

iTrader: (1)

It kind of sounds like he didn't even go back for the t-top, just left it lol

Carguy8888

iTrader: (1)

A good locksmith should be able to make a key for not that much money.Sorry to hear of your unnecessary expense

bleepster

iTrader: (2)

or replace both cylinder locks - sorry this happened. My tops have always fit tight - but always good to dbl check and lock. thats what I will do from now on. sorry for your loss.

M4N14C

iTrader: (3)

I've never had this happen and my T-Tops are off practically every other day. But I still don't understand how this happens, does the T-Top just unhook itself then fly off??

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

Usually happens because it didn't get latched properly.

I should clarify that it didn't happen to me, but my 98 had a replacement ttop that I had the cylinder rekeyed, and my current 99 has a replacement t-top that I swapped the original cylinder into as the previous owner still had it.

OhTwo

iTrader: (13)

From the time it was new mine have been very snug. When it was new I spent the time to lock them every time they were in but as time went on I became lazy and simply latch them in place without locking them. I can't remember the last time they were locked but it's probably been about 8 or 9 years. As someone else mentioned, I always give them a tug just to make sure they're secure when they are latched in place.

ta-brian

For the record, I did go back for the parts, and picked up what I could
I found one part of the lock cylinder, but couldn't find the tumbler and didn't want to spend a whole lot of time walking in the middle of the highway.
Did I mention it was raining? Because that really enhanced the mood
Thanks for your input guys

RevGTO

iTrader: (12)

This is me. The only time I make sure to lock them is at the dragstrip. Wouldn't want one flying off there ...

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

Frankly the lock will not do any more to prevent them from flying off. All the lock does is make it harder to open the handle (I say harder because even when "locked" you can still open them if you pull a bit harder).

What only matters in the end is whether the pins are engaged properly and fully in the sockets.

01WS6/tamu

iTrader: (37)

It happens to every single owner of a Ttop car at some point or another. No shame I've done it lost 3 through the years.

DrEvyl

iTrader: (5)

Well, not really true there... I owned two T-top Trans Ams, total of 6 years between the both of them, and never lost a t-top ever. I religiously kept them locked.

But it does happen to a lot of people.

JDEP162

yeah ive lucked out, had t-tops since 1999, never lost one. but i can attest to always keeping them in the car. even if its a perfect day out. rain comes outta nowhere, and 60mph in rain with no tops sucks, ask me how i know.

lynnea1

This answers a lot of questions for me! I lost one after having them off; I was sure I had latched it, but there it was, flying in the air! I really kicked myself for forgetting to latch it. So now I know I probably did latch it. Ive never locked them; dont have a key for it now, anyway. Ive had the car for 12 years. So Im thinking I need to visit a locksmith....