1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
About ten days ago I bought a 1996 900S Convertible. It's in lovely condition, and I'm pleased with it so far. Unfortunately I've had problems with the soft top.
The garage I bought it from had had the soft top repaired just before selling it to me (1400$ of repairs). On the test drive I lowered the top and it worked fine. But after buying it and getting it home, the first time I came to lower the top, first one of the spring-loaded flaps at either side of the top got trapped in the top material and prevented further motion, and then the tonneau cover snagged against the top, and it wouldn't go down. Worse, after I raised it back, and then tried again to lower it, a strut in the top snapped, and gouged a small hole in the tonneau cover. So I took it back to the garage, and they sent it back to the repair shop. This is a place in Glendale, who are apparently Saab experts.
It stayed there a week, and today I got the car back again. They had had to weld the strut, and had repaired the hole in the tonneau cover, so I was quite optimistic. However, on trying to lower the top, the flap again got caught. But after freeing it, the top went down nicely. When raising the top, the flap again seemed to prevent some movement, but I was able to complete raising the top after freeing the flap slightly.
So now I am very nervous about lowering the top. I guess I need to take it back again to the Saab guys in Glendale, but have a horrible feeling I am going to continue having problems with it, that there is something fundamentally wrong with the top mechanism on my 900.
I've done some reading on this excellent BB and it seems like the soft top mechanism is error prone. If anyone has any advice for me, I'd welcome it.
After all, what's the point in having a convertible if putting the top down is such a risky busines?!
Julian
posted by 131.215.240...
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |