Question #1.... Whenever I put top up, it goes about half way up, kind of hesitates, then I hear a SNAP, and top comes the rest of the way down. Kind of like something is catching, then finally gives way, I think maybe the cable is getting hung up for a moment, then frees up after a second. What could be happening here / how do I fix? Question #2.... On the rear side section above rear side window glass, where the top is prone to pinch, I always would put my top 3/4 way down, then get out and make sure the pads between bow hinge and top material were in place, but it finally ripped a 2" tear in my top What can I use to repair, and why do you think this happened / how do I prevent from happening again? Thanx guys!
First I would wd-40 the acuating pistons and ALL top scissor joints front to back. Next I would check the oil level in your top motor reservoir.
I've not had to deal with the binding yet, but have had rips. They seem almost unavoidable as the top ages, but you can try to slow it down. Folding the pads back helps, but sometimes there is a loose staple or other edge getting in the way. Once I had a shop replace my top, and in a couple weeks I saw some dimpling where the old top had a small tear. I reached under and found a staple half-way out. Old staple. I just pulled it, and the area smoothed out. Eventually it began to wear at that spot, but I'm sure protruding edges would have broken through in a year.
If you replace the top, and get one from year one, they are real nice, and come in 2 peices. One for the rear window, and another peice that is the rest of the top. Mine is somewhere between 12 and 15 years old now, and shows no signs of ripping. As for the popping noise, it could be a cable, but could also just be somehting out of line, and might need a little adjustment/ lubing? Also you might want to check the fluid in the lines, it might just be low.
As for the binding, is it binding on the way down also or just on the way up? I had a simlar problem on my LeSabre that turned out to be the actuator bolt at the top that connects it to the top frame, it was too loose and came part way out hitting the body and binding. -Cort
It binds going both up, and down. It seems to be coming from near the front, between the header bow and the next bow back.
All this has been done. I am wondering how the cable works, perhaps it is supposed to slide thru a channel, and is binding? I can't see much of it when I lower the top halfway for inspection, not sure if it could be the problem. Also, I see a spring attached to the cable, I think this could be binding, like maybe it stretches to a point, then gives way. That is how this thing is acting, top opens halfway, something seems to be stretching or binding until it finally snaps and gives way, then the top functions fine the rest of the way up, or down.
Try to isolate the LOCATION of the noise and that might lead you to the source. You'll have to make a couple "sacrificial" and painful runs at it as you may need to have someone raise/lower it while you walk around and listen for its source. The springs are up by the two latches..they hook through the frame up in that area. I mean the cable springs (each latch also has a small spring). They rest just inside the top frame metal in that area and the top frame metal is formed in sort of a "V" (running front to back) with the springs laying inside the V I think.
