Ok so im not sure if this is a common problem im just going to have to deal with or not but its a new car so i figure ill ask. I have a 1992 lx vert. When i put the top up i sometimes have the absolute worse time getting it to latch. The driverside i can pull down on and pull the top forward via the motor and itll latch pretty easily. Now the passenger side is a whole different world. sometimes i have to back the j hook out so far the top isnt down far enough to seal or even touch the windshield for that matter. the pins never really go down in there little holes either. im not sure if this is uncommon but it seems like its not normal. oh also the driver window now doesnt go all the way to the seal but the top is flush with the windshield. thanks for any suggestions. if anyone needs pics of something just ask i can get them.

 

I just got my first convertible, a 2002 Mustang, about a month ago. My top seems to stop about two inches before the pins reach the holes. Usually I have to shift the top a little to the driver's side, and pull it down the rest of the way. There are plastic enclosed places to grab the top, and if you've got reasonable strength in your hands, you can get the leavers closed. It seems like if you could adjust the top to come all the way down to the windshield, you'd give up the travel at the back of the car, and the top would not go all the way down.

So, anyway, you are not alone. I would have said live with it and develop strong hands. But I'm going to check back here and see what the other comments are. Maybe an adjustment is in order. I'll have to refer to the Operator's Guide as well.

 

The Operator's Guide is a little bit contradictory. It says "continue to use the top motor to raise the top until it has reached the fully closed position flush to the header." "The two pins should seat themselves in the matching holes." "Pulling down on the header at the center grip while closing the latches may assist in fastening the clamps."

So some pulling by hand at the center grip may be necessary.

You say you can usually latch the driver's side pretty easily, but the passenger side gives trouble. I'd say, first make sure that both pins are in their holes. Pull down on the center grip to hold both pins in the holes. Then close the clamps. Do not close the driver's side clamp if the passenger side pin is not in its hole too.

This is a good topic. I look forward to learning more about this matter.

 

well i mean the pins never line up. i could pull and pull but they wont line up. i broke one of my j hooks a while back trying to the hooks to draw it in. i mean im a big guy strength isnt a problem. the problem is its so far out that stuff breaks instead of lining up

 

My top can be a little difficult to close the clamps on, so I read thru the 1st 17 pages of the 32 pages of posts in convertible tech. Read the discussion under the topics "Convertible mis aligned", "Two 2005+convertible questions", and "her top comes down but not up all the way". These topics date from January and April of 2008, and January 20, 2009.

One person recommended that "if you have trouble with one side, close that side first." On 2005 and later converts, the driver's side is to be clamped first. The pins are not identical for those years apparently.

Some people have written about tops shrinking, and the need to remove the staples fastening the top onto its frame and pulling the fabric forward to allow the top to reach the windshield header. Big job.

I'm new to converts, so I can't write with authority. But I'd repeat again, that the first objective is to get those pins in the holes. Both of them. Once that's done, there shouldn't be any great stress when closing the clamps. Easy for me to say. If you can't get the pins in the holes (but you say the driver's side sometimes is easy), then there's no point risking breaking the J- hooks. That will just increase your expense. When you do get the top closed, is it tighter than a drum? The top might be shrunk, and needs replacement?

I assume that the top doesn't even come close enough to the windshield header to reach the pin holes. If it came close enough, but was off to one side or another, if wouldn't take much leverage to shift the top a bit to the side.

Good luck.

 

sometimes the pines dont align left and right but generally it is not far enough forward. Im not gonna unstaple it but i dont think thats the problem anyway i mean even when on occasion i do get it as close as possible to the holes and latched fairly good it isnt real real tight. i dunno i guess i need to just take it to a top place.

 

i would take it to a top place. i don't think it'll be that expensive to fix it. it prob can be adjusted

 

well ok so today i got in it and my top was latched on one side and i hit the top button so it would come up and i could latch the other side and it sounded kinda funny. now when i hit the button it just clicks in either direction.

 

every now and then mine clicks as well. i either manually start to push/pull it while i am pushing the button mutiple times until it catches or i shake the motor while i push the button, i don't have a backseat so i can just reach back there and shake it. this doesn't work all the time though