Hi guys. I hope everyone has had a nice weekend. I'm hoping to get some help from my topless brothers.

Well, today was in the 80s, so I go for a little drive with the top down, stop by a store to get some soft mits to wash the car, come home, put up the top and crunch...a black plastic piece that seems to be the outer shell of the roof latch cracks off. Then the latch keeps trying over and over again to engage to shut the top tightly. I am thinking that the plastic piece offered enough additional girth to reach and press the sensor in the "female" part of this process (you know, the hole where the latch enters) so that the car realizes the top is closed properly. I couldn't get the car to understand the top was up unless I pushed the latch upwards somewhat hard. Only then was I able to put up the rear windows and the top seemed to be sealed shut.

Has anyone else had this happen and is the fix a DIY or should I have the stealership deal with it? My car is CPO, but because it was a plastic piece that broke, I can already see them telling me it is "normal wear and tear" and telling me to pay something like $300 for them to install a 29 cent piece.

Thanks if you can help.

 

If its not covered under the CPO warranty you can replace it youself very easily. The latching hook cover part is available seperately and all you need to install it is a bit of superglue.

 

As PTEC noted, you can easily replace the platic latch cover. In the meantime, you can tape a small piece of foam in the recepticle to compensate for the missing plastic (to get the sensor to work).

 

should be covered, if it wasnt the part is about 14 $

 

Thanks guys, as always...

 

that's why ppl telling me don't go to LALA LAND. 'cause weather is too good!

good luck on that small plastic part

 

Had the same problem... The top would not come close enough to the windshield and the plastic peices kept breaking. They replaced the whole latching unit with a different model that has a longer latch and no plastic piece. they even gave me an additional booklet for the manual corresponding to that new part. Obviously they redesigned this part because they had a flaw. Don't know how widespread the problem is, but don't want to guess how much this would be without a warranty (03 cab)...

 

Well, I bought the plastic piece today from the stealership - $28.00 before tax for a small, flimsy piece of plastic - amazing!!! We're headed out of town for the week, so I'll have to figure out how to put this thing on upon my return. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

 

If you can't figure out how to install it, do what McGiver does... use a half a roll of duct tape to secure it. Happy Thanksgiving!

 

use a pair of side cutters to cut out a 1/8 inch slot in the loops, apply a small amout of super glue and push it on, be sure to have a rag ready to catch any oozeing glue becasue you probaly will put to much on and you dont want it on the interior, let it dry fro an hour then close the top

 

mine did this same thing today. does anyone have the part number so I can get it ordered. I don't have a local dealership. Thanks