Semi-auto top stuck? Stops when pushing the button? Pulled the red cord and can no longer drive with the top down? Then you need MY low budget solution!!!! A temporary fix (I’ve been using this method for 5 months now, top is secured down and good to go)

I did this method because I accidentally broke one of the tonneau cover’s gas shock while trying to put my top down as it suddenly stopped while pushing the convertible top button. The gas shock is in a hard place to fix myself and I didn’t wanna go to the stealership and order the part, get it installed and have the top reset ($700-$1,200 plus 2-3 days waiting period)

First buy these three rings from Home Depot, Wal-Mart or any other hardware related store. I don’t know the exact name of these so you’ll have to use my pictures. Then pull the emergency red cord and manually put the top down, open your trunk (you might have to push down on the passenger’s side of the tonneau cover and hold it to open the trunk, or you can simply pull out fuse #7 (fuse that controls the car locks)
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k5/DomoKun619/KeyRings.jpg


Next you will have to remove the left rear light cover and undo the carpeting. Get a flat head screwdriver and disconnect the retainer clip holding the two metal ropes (which holds the tonneau cover. See pics)

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k5/DomoKun619/Unconnected.jpg


Now loop through with key ring # 3 (follow the crow’s foot as pictured)
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k5/DomoKun619/RingHookedup.jpg


Connect ring # 2 to the open holes from your rear brake light housing - *warning* I had to bend the metal just a bit so ring # 2 could fit through, might be a good idea to remove the whole left rear light first ( I didn’t)
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k5/DomoKun619/Both.jpg


Now you should be getting the idea now, basically you’re locking the two metal wires in place so the tonneau cover doesn’t pop up (mine popped up while driving on the freeway, it popped up at 50+ MPH, lock your top so you don’t look stupid!) connect rings #2 and #3 with the double keyring #1, heres the tricky part listen closely…
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k5/DomoKun619/HardPart.jpg




With ring # 1 and #3 connected to each other hold onto #1 and pull the two wires, if you pull hard enough you will hear a locking sound, you don’t have to hear this sound ever time you lock your top down with my method. So pull on this and place it into ring #2 and use the turning guide (note I added a circle keyring to make the turning easier) to secure ring #1 in place. I didn’t push down the little button so the hook opens on ring #1 just pull it into ring #2 (see picture) this is because the wires aren’t long enough and it needs to be a tight secure fit so the tonneau cover isn’t loose.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k5/DomoKun619/Secured.jpg



Make sure you have a bobbling crow’s head and you can now drive with the top down securely.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k5/DomoKun619/BobbleCrow.jpg


You’re done!

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k5/DomoKun619/Topless.jpg



value

Great work,

Pictures are great

Thanks, hope this trick can help others out there

I will try this out today as the weather is very nice,

Thanks Mr creep

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k5/DomoKun619/BobbleCrow.jpg



hahahahahah.

classic.

I plan on making a switch to have the crow squirt water at my passengers

LOL......... whats the part number for the 'bobbing crow's head'?

I had a problem with my soft top getting stuck and decided to convert my semi-auto top to manual. The trick is to engage the cover motor but leave the soft top motor disengaged. This way you can use the existing switch to raise the cover, then you get out of the car and manually lower the soft top and then get back in the car and use the switch to close the cover. However, raising it is slightly more complicated, use the switch to raise cover, then you need to hold soft top up while lowering the cover, you can use an assistant or attach a rope or something to the soft top so that you can hold it up while you get back in and use the switch to lower the cover and then put the top up. Dada

did any damage happen when your cover flew up?

yes, a long dent on the top of my trunk about a foot long. there was enough air pressure to ruin one of my gas struts too! air is gone from one pilar

Where did you get the wood grain trim? It really looks nice. :-)