Ran into a few issues this weekend dropping the top. First, the tonneau release switch only releases the passenger side. I have to reach behind the rear side panel to release the drivers side. Second, the top would not go all the way down. One of the bars was catching on the backs of the side panels. For a temporary solution I was able to loosen the panels to allow the top to go all the way down. Third, there is a loose cable in the trunk compartment and I have no idea what it goes to. Is this possibly the culprit to problem #1? Lastly, everytime I want to lower the top, I have to fold down the back seat and pull a cotter pin off the pin holding the back of the top down? Is this how its supposed to be?

Here is a pic of the loose cable in the trunk:


Any help would be greatly appreciated. I plan on getting her out of storage in 3 weeks, and would like to have the top in proper working order by then. Thanks guys.

 

I can help with the mysterious cable. That is supposed to connect to the hatch release handle which is on the tonneau on the drivers side of the car. You are supposed to pull that handle forward to release the pin which attaches the #5 bow (the bottom base of the rear of the convertible top). That is the spring pin you are currently pulling out. The cable pulls a lever which rotates and releases that pin. That spring pin acts as the return for that lever.

Now back to the problem with the passenger side of the top. I suspect one of two things. There is a roughly 3/16" diameter bent rod (which I call the "Flip Rod) that attaches to the frame and the #2 bow (the bows are numbered #1 through #5 starting with the one at the windshield header as #1). The purpose of that Flip Rod is to raise the #2 bow up as the top is lowered down. Compare the drivers side and passenger side of the convertible top and see if they look the same. I suspect that the Flip Rod is broken or missing on the passengers side. These rods can break if the top is lowered without first lowering the windows. The rear portion of the seal which runs along the top of the window will catch on the trailing edge of the window. Continuing to force the top down will break or bend that Flip Rod like a horseshoe. The symptom of a broken Flip Rod is that the top will fold up short and hit the rear of the passenger seat.

The other possibility is that you've broken the screw that acts as the hinge point for the top on the passenger side. I'v had this happen on mine a few times. It will also cause the top to fold up a bit short of normal, but not as severely as a broken Flip Rod.

The fact that the tonneau won't release on one side is a matter of the tonneau not being aligned properly. The hinges that attach to the tonneau are slotted so the tonneau can be adjusted. Make sure you have the same gap between the tonneau and the fiberglass side caps and the trunk/tonneau gap is consistent. The J-hooks which latch the tonneau can also be adjusted if necessary.

Good luck, Lon

 

On the issue of only one side releasing, it COULD also be that the solenoid on the driver's side is not firing either because the wire from passenger side to drivers side is broken or the connector behind the sail panel is loose OR the solenoid itself is bad....

Hit your tonneau release switch and listen for the solenoid firing on the drivers side. If you hear it, then you probably have an adjustmewnt issue like Lon said.

If it isn't firing, pull your sail panel on the drivers side, pull the connector from the solenoid and put a volt meter on it. Hit the switch and see if you get 12volts or not. If not, then your wire may be broken between the passenger and drivers side. It is a Red wire that runs under the carpet under the back seat. It attaches to a red wire in the top mounting 'pit' behind the passenger sail panel up high

Pull the back seat and check the wire under the carpet for continuity....replace it if necessary.