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Convertible top not folding properly

31K views 10 replies 11 participants last post by  mustangjhb 
#1 ·
Hello,

I'm brand new to this site, but I was hoping I could get some help.

Vehicle: 2006 Mustang Convertible V6

Issue: When dropping my convertible top, the top doesn't seem to be going all the way down. It appears to not be folding correctly when it gets down. This results in a little bit of a "poof" from the back. With a little bit of manual folding and pushing the top in, it seems to go down for the most part.

Questions: What is the most likely reason for this happening? Can it be fixed? If so, how much can I expect to pay? Are there any long term issues to not correcting this issue?

Thanks in advance for all the help!
 
#2 ·
Sounds like You've got the same issue that I've been living with for ~ 3yrs. You probably have a bent support in your frame. I think there are three supports that go across the body of the car. You will see this protrusions when the tops is up. I'm willing to bet its the middle support that's bent. That where mine is.
Its a sad story really. I encounterd this issue at about 35k miles. I took it into the dealership who then took it to a specialist. Long story short, (in 2008) it priced out at about $3,500 to repair. The dealership refused to pay. Said that "I must have tried to open the top while moving at speed". Which is impossible because you cannot operate the top while moving above 3mph. I fought for 2 months. Eventually my 36k warranty was up, and I got tired of arguing. Foolishly I let it go.
Word of advice, if you got a warraty, fight to get it fixed. Because of this incident, I have sworn off verts forever.
 
#3 · (Edited)
MY experience

I am not sure if I have the bent frame issue or not, but my top will do the same as yours (like it isn't retracting fully). I have noticed when the top is folding, the material will catch on the plastic rounded corners just behind the rear seat. I usually pause and push the material back so that it is not catching on it and the top will go all the way into the retracted position without problems. It may be a PITA, but I do it so the material is not torn or damaged. (I will try to take a pic to show what I am refering to, sometimes I don't explain things well)

How can I check the frame to see if it is bent?
 
#4 ·
Exact Same Prob, 2007

It looks like there should be more tension in the tensioner straps (stretchy straps about 1" wide), and without this tension the top doesn't compress / fold correctly. I had to help fold the vinyl top in so that it would sit correctly when lowered.

Anybody yet find out what the exact prob really is?
 
#5 ·
I know this thread is very old, but I just fixed this problem today. I just got the Mustang Convertible (2007) like 3 weeks ago and noticed the convertible top not folding immediately. Today I reached my hand between the vinyl and interior cloth and felt around, as I assumed there must be some sort of supports up there or something, and I was correct. There are stretchy supports that go across the length of the top and have a housing they go into that's attached to the top vinyl. Mine was not attached to anything at all, on either end. So I took out the old needle and thread and sewed both ends of the support to the metal that's right above the windows and bam, no more problem. It folds as it should now :)
 
#8 ·
Could be the cold weather after all!

Just traded my 2005 V6 5-speed Convertible in for a 2007 GT 5-Speed Convertible (Both Black but oh my what a difference!)

Anyway, the new one had the same problem everyone described (the top didn't go all the way down) The problem was that the top didn't fold neatly but "bunched up" over the plastic molding behind where the top was supposed to go. I noticed that in the beginning of the process, the glass window didn't seem to lie flat.

Since my dealer (Crowley Ford in Plainville, CT) warranty was only 60 days (btw, this beauty only has 15,000 miles) I wanted to get this fixed right away. They were very friendly and helpful and contacted their "hot line" whatever that is and were told it is often a cold weather problem. I was skeptical and the happily put it in the warm service area for an hour and let it warm up while I had breakfast. When I came back it worked like a charm. They told me that now that the problem has been documented they will honor the warranty if it doesn't work when the summer comes but I think the problem was solved.

Tom
 
#9 · (Edited)
Fix Pics

So I had the same problem on my 2005 ... the top bunched out when folded down. Turns out that some stretch straps had lost much of their stretch. So I "took 'em in" a bit as you can see in the pics. For the strap that goes clear across the top I used zip ties to take up slack on both ends of the strap. For the shorter straps, I cut off the excess slack, removed the attachment bolt, and then reattached the now shorter strap, which gave it back some tension.

In the first pic below, the top arrow shows one end of the strap that goes across the top and the zip tie I used to take up the slack. I did this on both sides.

The bottom arrow shows the shorter strap which I cut and reattached using the existing plastic washer and screw (on both sides of the top).

The second pic shows a close-up of the strap that goes from one side to another.

The third pic shows the shorter strap and washer/screw.

The fourth pic shows the top down with no "bunch."
 

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#10 ·
Mustang

Nice to join you all on this site and to review and make comments on this important issue about the frame work of the convertible tops.

I have a 2004 convertible Mustang that had issues with the up and down operation of the convertible top. I learned that the cylinder that distribute the oil Hydraulic drys out this prevents the up and down function. The way to correct that is to inject it with transmission fluid. ( you can you tube it to see how it's done )
Prior from doing that, I had pulled on the front part of the frame work to help bring it up and some how the metal frame bent out of the correct alignment. Now the windows don't set right and the convertible top does not reach to lock it in place without me having to pull with all my might to then get it there to then lock it. Now, it's my nightmare but I believe that I will find the solution

Hope some info here has been helpful
 
#11 ·
I know this is a very old thread. I had the same issues with my top not stowing neatly. It was bunched up against the trunk lid fairing when fully down. I found post #9 by RDavisABC very useful. I did not need to address the longer straps, just the two shorter ones. Davis indicated he cut them shorter. Those straps have a little gromet in the ends that the screw goes through. Instead of cutting them, I just doubled the gromet back up on the strap about an inch and a half and reinserted the screw through the gromet and strap. Works perfect! Probably not the best permanent fix but it'll do until it's time for a new top. Thought this was worthwhile sharing..... Jim
 
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