Convertible top cover

[johnboi]

I have a 2008 convertible, SE with electric top

I bought a top cover on EBay and I can't seem to figure out how to get the 2 black clips on the front to secure the top. First, I couldn't seem to stretch the cover far enough to get the clips to the slots. So I removed cover to see if clips would actually go into slots and lock, and they do not.

Are there different covers for manual and electric tops, or am I just having a stupid attack?

Thanks!!!

[Duffy]

If I remember correctly, the length of the tongue changed over the years to slightly longer. You may have the short version.

I bought a tan cover to replace the black one that came with my car, don't recall what year it was, but it does connect ok. However, it is a little fussy to get seated as you experience.

[Palafox]

I'm confused myself, the best way to solve this once and for all is pictures This is a 2009 model.

[johnboi]

Palafox, thanks for the great picture. I took the liberty of using it to annotate with measurements from my cover's clip:

[bugsy98nb]

are you sure the cover is all the way on the top? when i had my 04 sometimes I had issues locking the cover down , I found that in the middle under the top the cover wasnt in all the way, so Id push it in and on the corners, then it would snap in. just a thought

[johnboi]

Originally Posted by bugsy98nb

are you sure the cover is all the way on the top? when i had my 04 sometimes I had issues locking the cover down , I found that in the middle under the top the cover wasnt in all the way, so Id push it in and on the corners, then it would snap in. just a thought

That's kind of a second issue. When I did see that it was going to be hard to get the cover on far enough, I took it back off and then 'tested' to see if the clip would go in. It wouldn't so I stopped trying to get the cover on...

[johnboi]

I have found the problem. On top of each slot is a piece of metal (red in my case, as it is a red car). Underneath this there is a black piece with a slot cut in it to receive the locking part of the clip.

If the red piece is not down firmly or the black piece has dropped down some, the locking piece on the clip cannot get in the slot far enough to catch.

I finally got one side locked in place but the other side needs warranty attention, as the red part is up and the slot has dropped down, spreading the gap too far. Even if I press the red piece down, the slot is still too far away.

Not a very good design, as nothing is really held on place by any kind of fastener, and the parts can move around too easily.

Thanks for all the input!!

John

[Duffy]

The latch is just like my two. I have noticed on my car the plastic pieces at the latch area and the top overlapping panel do not overlap/fit properly. This will keep the latch from going all the way down to properly seat. I have to pop it back into place for the latch to seat.

The problem lies (ref you pic) between the downward pointing red arrow and the upper dotted blue line. Check the latch slot for obstruction, like the microswitch.

(This post appeared just as he found the problem, bad timing huh!) Tom

[Palafox]

Sometimes I have a hard time with the passenger side pusher as I don't hear the click sound, after driving, the pusher came back up about 1" but the boot did not come loose. Based on your measurements my top to bottom dimensions also 3.25"

Anyhow I'll see if I have the same slot problem as you, pics would be helpful.

So anyways have we solve the boot fit problem? does one boot work for all years ? are all pushers the same ?

[johnboi]

Wish I could confirm but I can't at this point.

I do recall that every cover I looked at said it would fit 2003-2010.

Lil Red goes in the shop Monday to have some of these nit picking items addressed.

I keep you posted on the fix for the poorly aligned slot problem and what the fix is...