Hood folding

[mjb67]

There is some crazy voodoo to this soft top, I'm sure.

When I got the car, it was missing the two rear catches on the soft top. I've fitted replacement ones. The replacement ones have round fitting holes on the brackets, whereas the old brackets (without catches or springs) which I removed had slotted holes to allow a little up/down adjustment.

I pull the release lever, lock the back of the hood into its catches (the one on the right doesn't lock very well). Raise the tonneau cover. Release the chrome levers on the top of the windscreen, release the velcro along the roof on both sides. Start folding back. Gently guide the plastic window over the seat. Carry on folding. Gradually more and more force is needed to get anywhere. By this time the rear catch on the right has let go, although the left is holding strong.

When it looks like it's just about to fit in (I'd say about 3/4 folded), I can't move it any further. I don't really want to apply too much force when I can't see what's stopping it - looking all the way around nothing springs out to me as under tension, or trapped between the moving parts of the frame.

Are there some common things that could be going wrong at this stage?

[Stagsongas]

Matthew,

I was about to say 'Join the Club', but you have...

I have similar problems and a thread somewhere, As I work my way through the problems I have (yours is familiar) then I'll post what I find.

Regards

Steve

[milothedog]

Just a thought, there should be a long wire spring on each side of the hood that keeps the cover pushed out on each rear corner.One of mine is missing. It's possible if they are not there, when you fold the hood the cover is getting trapped in between the frame mechanism maybe and not allowing to fold flat enough.

Ian.

[mjb67]

Ian, when the hood is erected do those springs look like long straight pieces of wire with one end allowed to slide in some sort of channel? I noticed at least one of those last night.

[andy p]

I had them wires missing on my last roof and it ended up cutting the material as it caught when I shut the roof, as for the catches I had the same problem last week when I fitted mine, I ended up redrilling holes and moving the catches a bit to hold the back locked.

[milothedog]

Ian, when the hood is erected do those springs look like long straight pieces of wire with one end allowed to slide in some sort of channel? I noticed at least one of those last night.

They are on the inside of each rear corner behind the B post and span to parts of the frame on each side, visible from inside the car with the hood up

[stag-phil]

Hi Matthew

It sounds as if the problem is due to the right hand side catch releasing and the resulting separating of the hood is causing it to jam as it is lowered. My guess is the hood frame is bent.

Chris Spain (V Mad) is very helpful.

While you are working out what the problem is I would suggest that you remove the back of the rear seat, if the hood jams in the cubby hole you will have a much better chance of getting it back out.

Best of luck.

Phil

[mjb67]

Thanks Phil, that sounds like a good way forward.

[mjb67]

Got it! The cross bar across the top which was supposed to fold outwards was actually folding slightly inwards, and getting trapped. I'm very happy today after my first top-down commute!