Topic: Buttress won't close.

[Brazen17]

Tried to put the top up on the wife's redline and the passenger side buttress spike? will not line up with the hole. The spike seems to have shifted about 3/8" forward so the tip comes down right on the forward edge of the hole. Drivers side works just fine. Trunk alignment seems to be ok. The hook engages to the C pillar with no problems. Anyone heard of this before?     I know the top material is not covered under her extended warranty but wonder if the mechanical parts are?

[Go-N Def]

You might try looking at the cables running inside the top.  You may have one out of place.

[Go-N Def]

Also, did you try putting the top back down and raising it again?

[Brazen17]

I tried to recycle it several times and no luck. How easy is it to look at those cables?

[Go-N Def]

Pretty easy, just put the top up but don't latch it. Stick your head inside the vehicle and look up and to the back while moving the top back and forth.

[Brazen17]

Thanks. Will give it a look when the temps come up a bit.

[Go-N Def]

One more thing to check is that the wing is seated properly.  With the top latched down, follow the seal for the door window down to where it meets the car.  The bottom should fit in the little hole there.

[spider]

My guess.


With top part way up from inside

[Treeman]

Mine was like this when I bought it from the dealer. The rod inside the buttress that the prong is attached to was bent. Since they replaced it under warranty I don't know what was involved.

[Brazen17]

I found a small spring had come loose from one end of its attachment points but that did not fix anything (wonder what the little springs purpose in life is?). I can get it to close without using too much excessive force and when in the closed position it looks as if the pin is not perpendicular to the hole. So there might be a bent part like Treemans. Will take a closer look tomorrow and do a comparison to mine and see if anything is different. Thanks for all the help.

[Treeman]

I fought that dang spring last summer. Kept popping off. That helps it pop back up. I think I finally have it on for good.

[Brazen17]

My guess.


With top part way up from inside

Spider, do you know what that cable does?

[spider]

The one with the spring pulls the buttress fabric down behind the rear curve of the window. There is a plastic thing riding in a channel attached to the fabric & cable. I flushed mine with silicone spray to clean out the grit & lubricate without leaving any real residue to attract more grit.    Worked well! With the top on, buttress in place, slide the front corner up to feel for resistance.

[Brazen17]

Thanks. Will try it tomorrow and see what happens.

[spider]

The 2 screws adjust the length of the buttress arm. Maybe they were not fully tightened from the factory. See if you can pull the 2 sections away from each other before loosening & if you loosen the screws mark or measure where you started from incase you find the real cause later. 

[Brazen17]

That would be great if all it needs is an adjustment! When I put the top up for the last time last night it seemed to be in better alignment although still off somewhat.