[tangbang]

Had no problems till today. First time since last summer that I had the top down. (Bought a great set of leather seats to replace the cloth stock ones and it was easier to take the seats out.) Anyway, when I put the top back up it came all the way down but fell about and inch short from the hook grabbing the latch to close. It's now sitting in my driveway unable to close. I tried to open and reclose but that didnt work. I did notice, since I took my rear seat out that the convert motor is easily accessable. On it it says that you can refill it with dextron fluid. Do I need to do this as it is making a funny noise I never heard?? Could this be the problem?? I tried to pull down and forward on the top and it still falls an inch too short to close.

Never will buy a used car again!!!!!

With all the work done to it I could have a 2007 instead of a 2000. That's life I guess. Please help.

Thanks
Tangbang

[Smoothgrandmama]

Are your pins lining up and going in? mind would unscrew themselves so id have to screw them back in to close it right

[JASonic]

I had that too smooth. The "hook"screws would turn on their own over time. What the OP is describing sounds like mechanical problem in the motor...especially if he is hearing a "new" sound.

Does the material look right? Does it look stretched or loose? Check the pins across the top of the top right above the rear window. Just make sure they are all pushed in all the way.

I wish I could tell you more about the motor though. Let us know if you find anything out.

[tangbang]

Thanks. Everything is tight and lined up properly. I think it's the motor.
How do I fill it up and how do i know when it's full or if it needs any oil to begin with?

Thanks

[ReverendDexter]

My old 'vert had a leaky motor, and filling it up always helped.

Sometimes I still just had to reach up and pull the top down to the point where the hook would grab the frame, though.

[PacificMustang01]

So, did you ever get things worked out? I've had two verts in my life (mustang & lebaron) and the top on both always stop ~1/2" or so from the top of the windshield. I've never had problem just pulling down a little on the handel for the pins to go in and shut the latches. I always thought this was normal operation in verts.

However, I got both cars used, and not sure if on new verts the top snugs up tight with the motor alone. And the other day my top also started making a little different noise when going up/down. Still works fine but I think it may be nesicary to check my fluid also. Let me know how it goes for you so I can know what to expect.

It sucks that they don't have any information on the top/motor/pistons/etc in the Chilton shop manual.