Help! Soft Top Emergency!

[pianomankd]

you can also check to make sure no "material" is getting cought between teh side rods/sliders etc. sometimes it does and prevents the rods/sliders etc to go completely flat like they're suppused to, doesn't take much.

so frustrating, I’m sure it’s something stupid like that too. I’ll keep looking!

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[Karnak]

so frustrating, I’m sure it’s something stupid like that too. I’ll keep looking!

Could be leafs or a tiny branch cought in there also, I've seen that. your top looks straight though so makes me beleive is the same on both side which in turn is because something is not pushed properly etc in the arms or rods and its causing both side to equaly not be correct, cause you look VERY straight in the front like normal you're just missing a few inches.

 

[RichD]

When you find a solution (you will!) let us fellow soft top users know. I know I'm likely to bind the thing up at some point....

 

[Swagger]

Could the wheels that run in the rails be outside the rails? It is possible to pop them out to allow the soft top to sit more flat. If you forget to pop them back in when raising the top, could this happen?

 

[GtX]

Also, it just started to rain.

Good thing it's in the garage!

 

[Steevr]

Any update? Would just like to know in case it happens to any of us. Thanks.

 

[Pig-Pen]

believe it or not this just happened to me! and its supposed to rain tonight.

i took my old top off. had it off for about a week or so. since its going to rain, i was just attempting to install my new premium top i bought off someone (brand new, never used). i got the wheels in the tracks, installed the 2 bolts on each side near the locks. i go to close the top and its about 3-4" from closing. the top back will not go up all the way (ie flat). ill see if i can snap some video of whats happening.

its pretty straight forward removal and reinstall so i dont know what im doing wrong. and everything is brand new, no branches or anything to be stuck.

i noticed the back portion would not go all the way up and lock into place like it normally does.

 

[Pig-Pen]

i put the top back down, disconnected the side arms from the track and played with it some, up and down, while also pulling the rear lever release handle. i have been able to almost completely close it but the hooks are about 1" from catching and locking in place.

update: i just pulled down hard on the front handles and was able to latch the roof closed. i think the final part on this second issue was just the roof having never been installed before. i noticed on this new premium top there is foam padding on the bottom front. i dont believe my standard top had that. if it did, it was nice and flattened already. and the foam doesnt appear to be removable, like its just their for transport.

 

[Pig-Pen]

so for OP, i got mine to work by dropping it back down, removing the top part from the tracks, and putting them back on and just kind of playing with it. it finally went all the way forward after i did this. i didnt see an obvious reason as to what was preventing it from doing so before.

i think, maybe, the release handle on the back, was not fully releasing/engaging. it has a cable that runs through the top, like a bicycle brake cable. when you pull that handle, it release the cable and allows the top to drop down for fully open position. normally, when you put the top up, that locks into place. it wasnt locking for me which wasnt allowing the top to go all the way forward. (like yours). mine also looked limp in the rear section, instead of nice and flat like its supposed to.

after playing with it as i described above, it then locked into place and the top moved all the way forward.

hth.

 

[pianomankd]

So long story longer now...

I took her in to the dealer to have it looked at. They tried taking it down and putting it up about 40 times in front of me (everything I tried at home) and then out of nowhere the guy goes "So you obviously must have done something catastrophic to it." to which I replied "it worked fine this morning, it all of the sudden didn't close."

He didn't believe me obviously because they know everything about what we all do in our personal lives....

Anyway, one of the arms in the back are slightly bent, which has thrown the whole piston system off. They have to order four different parts now and reinstall that whole section.

$1500......

I'm currently riding around in a bright red (ugh) Cherokee. Luckily they gave it to me as a loaner and I don't have to pay for renting it. They said they are going to have the car for about 7-8 days.

 

[Hayseed_JLUR]

For $1500 just by a new used one of the internet for $1200-1800. You will then have a few extra parts for you break something again. Also you will not be without your vehicle for 7-8 days.

 

[thecritter]

Just curious if you put your back window in is the plastic tight like normal or loose

 

[pianomankd]

Just curious if you put your back window in is the plastic tight like normal or loose

Yes. Tight like normal.

 

[four low]

This is Warranty, correct ??

 

[jamief]

is it a new top? I had that problem when it was new.. you need to force it closed. then leave in the sun for a couple days

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