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1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
On the right hand side of the trunk you need to remove the molded covering. It is held in place by plastic bolts. I am going from memory from almost 2 years ago but I believe I had to remove some or all of the plastic push retainers of the plastic convertible boot as well.
Once you expose the mechanism you will see an assembly where the motor and gear are held together by a set of steel plates latched by a metal clip. This clip is the emergency release mechanism. A platic shrouded steel cable (much like a bicycle brake cable) is connected to this steel clip so that if the power top mechanism fails, a lever behind the rear fold down seat allows you to detach the two halves and manually return the top to it's upright position without the gears in the way. This is the weak point in the mechanism. The hinged metal plates joined by this single metal clip can weaken and when the plate flexes the metal motor gear and top gear stop messing correctly, they grind.
To fix you use a large hose clamp to secure the two halves together. Only tighten as much as is required to get the gears to mesh properly. If you overtighten you will probably strip the clamp and it will fail early in life. Either way you may have to adjust it in 6-12 months depending on use.
From my experience the top is more sensitive to grinding the gears while retracting so check your work against this motion, not when it is going back up. It is also important (even if obvious) to remember that once this fix is complete the emergency lever is useless. If the top fails and it starts raining, better be prepared for some quick surgery in the trunk. You've been warned!
It's an easy and cheap fix. I adjusted mine last year and need to adjust it again. I may even slurge (another 63 cents Canadian) and put in a new one.
Good luck.
Michael B.
posted by 129.37.153...
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