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gbhrps · 04-04-2017, 09:36 PM

suzook,

I've done a great deal of searching through these convertible top issues, because I know that some day I will be there, and I want to be prepared to fix the issue quickly and inexpensively. And I know it will come when the car is out of warranty.

That said, on page 184 of the convertible top section of the FSM (factory service manual), the RF pdf. file, the very bottom picture shows why your one side of the frame has come undone.

There is a very thin spring steel washer (called a push on nut) that looks like its inside is star-shaped (see the picture on the fsm page 184, or the picture you took of the good frame side).

The frame arm sits on a 3/4 long shaft that has a groove cut around the shaft at its end. A white bushing and similar end washer is installed, and then a push nut is put in place. The push on nut, bushing and end washer are missing in the picture of your bad side picture. If your frame arm hasn't been damaged, meaning the hole in the frame arm is still round and hasn't been made out of round, then the fix is simply to put the frame arm back onto its shaft, slide on a new bushing, end washer and push nut, ensure that its properly seated to not come off, and then check the system out to see if all is fine.

Now, that should be all that's required, if ... while the arm was off its shaft none of the wiring wasn't chaffed/cut and none of the moving parts of the top were bent. It shouldn't take a service tech 30 minutes to fix and check out, again, if nothing else hasn't been damaged.

From your pictures and my research this sure looks like the solution to your problem. I sure hope so! Get back to us and let us know how you make out. Good Luck!

Gene

04-04-2017, 09:36 PM	#12 (permalink)
gbhrps Base Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 213 Drives: 2016 RDSTR TS 6spd Rep Power: 7996	suzook, I've done a great deal of searching through these convertible top issues, because I know that some day I will be there, and I want to be prepared to fix the issue quickly and inexpensively. And I know it will come when the car is out of warranty. That said, on page 184 of the convertible top section of the FSM (factory service manual), the RF pdf. file, the very bottom picture shows why your one side of the frame has come undone. There is a very thin spring steel washer (called a push on nut) that looks like its inside is star-shaped (see the picture on the fsm page 184, or the picture you took of the good frame side). The frame arm sits on a 3/4 long shaft that has a groove cut around the shaft at its end. A white bushing and similar end washer is installed, and then a push nut is put in place. The push on nut, bushing and end washer are missing in the picture of your bad side picture. If your frame arm hasn't been damaged, meaning the hole in the frame arm is still round and hasn't been made out of round, then the fix is simply to put the frame arm back onto its shaft, slide on a new bushing, end washer and push nut, ensure that its properly seated to not come off, and then check the system out to see if all is fine. Now, that should be all that's required, if ... while the arm was off its shaft none of the wiring wasn't chaffed/cut and none of the moving parts of the top were bent. It shouldn't take a service tech 30 minutes to fix and check out, again, if nothing else hasn't been damaged. From your pictures and my research this sure looks like the solution to your problem. I sure hope so! Get back to us and let us know how you make out. Good Luck! Gene Last edited by gbhrps; 04-04-2017 at 09:41 PM.