power convertible top question
 

Hi... I've had my 2012 Corvette GS convertible for about five months now... These days, when I put up (close) the power top, I think (guessing a bit here) that I might be hearing a new noise that I want to ask anyone who might also have a power top about...

When you close the top, first the lid to the convertible top well opens. The convertible top then comes out and opens to a point. The back of the convertible top lifts up to provide room for the lid to close... The lid then closes. As the lid closes and just at the point where it is passing very close to the back of the convertible top (that again is raised up almost vertically for the moment) I hear sort of a "pop" that I'm not sure was always there before... It might be a new noise. I just can't say for sure... But for the first time, now that I'm curious, I've watched carefully as this lid closes and that it comes remarkably close to the partially raised top. Then the lid closes the rest of the way without issue and then the back of the top lowers onto the deck of the car while the front of the top comes down until it hits the top of the windshield sill.

Again, I'm not sure there's an issue but I just wanted to hear what, if anything, other convertible owners have experienced... Has anyone had problems with the deck lid passing by the partially raised top??? Have any folks had to take the cars to a dealer to have adjustments done to the top and the way it closes??? Can anyone else confirm that the deck lid passes very, very close to the partially raised top (back of the top) as the deck lid closes???

Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.... thanks... bob..

Not normal. Yes the top and toneau come very close during operation but should not make contact. No idea what the noise you're hearing might be but it isn't right.

There are 5 micro switches that control the mechanisms during operation. It's likely one isn't adjusted correctly or maybe there's a more serious problem but IMO it's time to go to the dealer for diagnosis. :)

Check the clearance between the tonneau cover and the rear window in your top as the cover is closing. If the tonneau is striking the rear window, there are some elastic straps inside the top that the dealer needs to adjust. The elastic straps pull the window forward and out of the way when the top is opening and closing. I went through a very similar experience about 2 years ago.

Thanks.. Yep, you nailed it... Since I did my post just a bit ago, I had my wife go out and operate the top switch while I stood and watched... Just as you suggested, the tonneau cover is hitting the bottom edge of what would actually be the top of the window (as the window is more or less upside down at that point in the closing process... I had my wife stop closing it once right near that key point and I was able to see that the window can be pushed further out of the way and whatever holds it back (I would assume this is the elastic straps you're talking about) has loosened such that the window is now hanging in the way of the tonneau cover as it closes...

You say the dealer needs to make this adjustment. Does that imply they have to tear into something??? If so, what would that something be or how major might this adjustment be?? Is this something I could do?? Where would one see these elastic straps????

But clearly you are right on the mark for the trouble that I am having... Now I know the noise I'm hearing is new and is a problem...

Thanks a lot for the help...

bob...

I'm having the same problem with my 2011 vert and took it to the dealer. Dealer gave me a line of bull s#%t that all of them do and I had a small argument with the service advisor that his tech didn't know what he was talking about. The tech said the only thing he could do was try to adjust the tonneau cover back closer to the deck lid and I told him that wasn't going to happen. Every since when I'm putting the top up or down I just reach back and pull the rear window about a half inch toward the passenger compartment and all works well.

Where are these elastic straps that Illinois2008vert is talking about? The dealer never said a word about those.

I just went out and tried to see what it would mean to reach back and pull the window forward a little bit... I certainly could do so but admittedly might need to gather a little courage to make sure I don't get my fingers caught in a place I might regret... But that's what certainly needs to happen... I now know that the noise is the edge of the tonneau cover slapping the slightly elevated edge of the frame that goes around the rear window. Clearly when the car was brand new something was tighter and held the window out of the way better... And now that the top has quite a few cycles on it (I likely cycle it about once per day and I've had it 5 months now (150 cycles), something is allowing the rear window to dangle a bit further back than it was before...

I too went out again and am looking for any elastic straps and so far I don't know what or where those might be... Hopefully someone will let us know... I will also contact the chevy dealer I take my corvette to for service and ask if they are familiar with how to fix such a problem...

thanks... bob...

I did just find this post,

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...n-closing.html

where rgauchey says,

"There are elastic straps that pull the glass out of the way. They are stitched to the inner cloth panel. They may stretch out if your top is up all the time. Pull them a little tighter and put another stitch in them."

For what it's worth... bob...

Yeah, afraid I can't help direct you on where the straps are. It was quite an ordeal getting my dealer to fix the problem when I had it. I took the car in, they sent it out to a convertible top specialist who sent it back saying he wouldn't touch it for fear of making it worse. I finally contacted the Chevrolet rep that used to be on the forum and he helped me get in touch with a regional guy for Chevrolet that got it solved. They actually had some engineer for corporate Chevrolet involved at one point. The solution is to tighten the elastic straps, but if you are under warranty, I would make them handle it.

Move your passenger seat forward? The seat back is too far back and is pushing against the back glass? It fixed mine. Worth a try.

find a dealer that either knows what to do (and is willing to do it) or knows of a competent top shop that won't shy away from the issue. and if need be involve GM customer service. since not every dealer works on convertible tops, this could be a long process as outlined by one poster above. don't be surprised, but persevere before you go out of 3/36 warranty.

I am assuming both posters above know that they should be both manually raising and assisting the top down so it doesn't clank onto the top of the windshield header bar.

No, I cannot say that I know about assisting the top so it doesn't clank on the top of the windshield header bar when putting the top up... I just went back and read the manual again and it says nothing about catching the top before it hits the top rail. Granted, it has always seemed harsh that it hits the rail as it does but I figured that's how GM intended it or I would have expected some instructions that told me to catch it... It's the first convertible I've had in my life so I'm still learning...

I trust you're saying one should catch it and not let it hit the top of the windshield header bar... I will certainly start doing that...

thanks... bob...

diitto,

I think AORoads is just saying to do that until you get it fixed. I found my self reaching back and hooking my finger underneath the glass and pulling it forward as the cover raised and lowered to prevent it from hitting. Mine was hitting on the black seal around the rear window so I was more worried about damage to the paint on the cover than anything.

If your dealer gives you any issues, pm me and I'll dig around to see who it was that I talked to at GM.

It's definitely not the passenger seat hitting the glass. I can move the passenger seat all the way up and the cover still hits the glass going up or down. After my first attempt with the dealer, I don't know if I trust them trying to adjust some elastic straps that they don't even know are there. Guess I'll give them another shot

My 06 has done this for as long as I can remember. I've been doing like Monterey and just pulling the top out of the way to keep it from hitting.

Hi ,

I had same issue with my 2012. My issues was that after the passenger seat was adjusted by my wife i got a binding popping noise.
I re adjusted the seat and noise is gone. The problem was top of seat touching the top as its coming down.

Monterey Ace,

Please keep me informed on what you hear from your dealer?

Evan, Chevrolet Customer Service

I've talked with the service dept manager at the Chevrolet dealer where I take my corvette... He says he's certainly aware of the issue but hasn't seen it yet on anything newer than a 2011 corvette... Mine is a 2012... He contends replacing a couple of limiting straps fixes 80% of the tops with this issue... And he says it fixes some of them permanently and some of them for several months... Hmmm... That doesn't sound very reassuring... But what the heck... He's going to order them in for me and then I will take it in on some day convenient for me... Until then, I have learned how to do the "window grab" such that just at the moment the tonneau cover is passing by on either the up or down cycle, I grab the bottom of the window (which is actually the top of the window because it's upside down at that moment) and pull it forward... That works but it would sure be nice if it would work as designed... This is a problem that has certainly been around for a few years as one of the earlier posters has an 06... I guess I'm surprised it has never been solved... I will let you all know how it goes... thanks... bob...

Mine has always done this, thought it was normal ... now I must fix it and fix it fast. I'll report back on the process ...

My 08 does it as well. I just bought the car, and would love to have it fixed, but I would guess a dealer would charge a ton of money to fix it out of warranty. I guess I will just continue to grab it myself...

It will probably be a week or so before I can get back in but I honestly don't expect a lot after the answers I got from the first try. I will keep you informed.