RT/10 soft-top recall?

[viperct2001]

uhhhh, anyone?

boy, usually the VCA members are quick to respond. It's been 6 hours already and no response. I can't take it any longer, dam- it! LOL!

 

[Hot Rod]

Hey Norwalk - I'm just up the road from you in Southbury.

I've never experienced the problem you describe and have had the top on and off many times. Although, it's been on too often lately with the lousy weather we've had.

I just pop the two clips open and they stay put till I lift the top free. I imagine they are spring-loaded and can wear over time. That may be the source of your problem. A good Viper Tech should be able to fix it or, worst case, order you a new clip.

Good luck.

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

I believe your clips are working the way they're supposed to. They are spring loaded----closed. You have to lift the latch/top above the bar it attaches around--especially if you're doing it alone. I just lubed my up this spring to insure they do just that.

Steve

 

[viperct2001]

I'm having trouble with my soft-top. One of the two spring-loaded prongs on the back off the roof don't stay in the "unlocked" position when I try and take the top off.

It's very annoying. I have to remember to be on the side with the prong that doesn't stay in the unlocked position and manually hold it with my finger in the unlocked position. Then I have to raise the top about 6 inches - just enough so that both prongs come out of their slots. Then I can remove it with both hands.

Ok, fellow RT/10 owners - have any of you encountered this, or am I the only one?

Is there something I can do to fix this myself, or do I need to take it to a viper tech?

Where's Chuck Tator when you need em?

 

[Viper Wizard]

Have no fear, the Wizard is here!

Tom when you get a chance, give me a call.
Maybe I can pull something out of my sleeve?

 

[Andrew2KRT10]

I found that I have to manually close them just to be sure that they are all the way closed only because the springs are not the strongest springs around. But once closed, they never came open on me.
When I remove the top alone, I keep a cloth with me. I lift one side and stick a wash-cloth-size cloth under the top just to hold it up enough not to let it do down and clip on by itself. Of course the fronts are unlatched. Then I go around to the other side, unhook, lift and lift the whole thing up. ........Cake.

The hardtop is a whole other story. I had to adjust the heights of the clips to be sure the top was down snug and minimized any play.

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

The springs are a little weak, but if you spray them up with lubricant, they work as intended. If they weren't meant to spring close, there would be no purpose for a spring at all. I think the spring should have been stronger as I'm sure it was designed as a safety factor.

Steve

 

[viperct2001]

>> found that I have to manually close them just to be sure that they are all the way closed only because the springs are not the strongest springs around. But once closed, they never came open on me.

My problem isn't keeping the springs locked/closed. When locked, it stays locked My problem is keeping them in the open/unlocked position so I can remove the top.

As RT/10 owners know, you use your finger to slide the prong into the unlocked position and it should stay there. Unfortunately, one of the prongs keeps moving back into the locked position. So if I try and lift the top it doesn't lift, since the prong went back into the locked position.

Chuck - Calling you shortly...

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
As RT/10 owners know, you use your finger to slide the prong into the unlocked position and it should stay there. Unfortunately, one of the prongs keeps moving back into the locked position. So if I try and lift the top it doesn't lift, since the prong went back into the locked position.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The prong is designed to move back. That's why there's a spring at all. That is the correct operation of the latch. If you want to defeat it, you could either stretch or remove the spring. Not sure why you would do that? The spring should have been made stronger from the outset. It is definitely safety related to hold tension in the locked position.

Steve

 

[viperct2001]

&gt;&gt;The prong is designed to move back. That's why there's a spring at all. That is the correct operation of the latch.

Then, why does the driver side prong/latch "stay" in the unlocked position after I move it? (which is the way I like it) Are you telling me that what this is a malfunction?

if what you suggest is true, then it is impossible to remove the top without 2 people.

If both my prongs automatically went back into the locked position, there's no way I could unlock one latch, walk around to the other side of the car and then unlock the other latch. By the time I got to the other side, the first latch would have already locked itself again!

so how do you remove your top while standing next to your car?

The only way I see to remove the roof if BOTH prongs have to be simulatenously held in the unlocked position is to sit on your knees in the driver side seat facing the rear of the car.

Then using your left index finger, move the prong on the left, using your right index finger, move the prong on the right. then use your head or shoulders to lift the top. (ala the way Atlas lifts the world globe).

That's not the way I rememeber the dealer showing me how to remove the top. I remember him saying that once you move the latch to the unlocked position, it will stay there until you gently push down on the top of the roof until you hear a click.

You're supposed to be able to remove the top from outside the car. If so, then the spring-loaded mechanism should stay in the unlocked position when you move it there.

Fortunately, one of my two prongs does just that. It stays in the unlocked position when I move it. Then I can walk around to other side and manually hold the broken prong/latch in the unlocked position and lift it.

Am I missing something here?

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

ViperCt2001,

Yes, you can adjust the latches however you want, but I believe they were designed with some safety in mind--spring loaded--closed. There would be absolutely no reason for a spring at all if the purpose was only to be open or closed. I also just took my top off with no problem by lifting the latch over the bar(it rests there--make sure the front latch is open)and going to the other side and releasing it in a similar fashion. I then lifted the top off with no problem.

You do want to adjust your latches so it takes a little pressure on the top to release the prong. If it is adjusted fairly tight, you won't have the problem of it slipping back over the bar. You will also be more water tight with less squeaking.

Steve

 

[viperct2001]

Just talk to the Wizard (Chuck Tator) and he explained the problem.

Apparently, I have one prong too tight (the one that stays in the unlocked position) and the other is too loose (the one that keeps re-locking on me).

The prong that was loose would annoy the heck out of me by re-locking in place even if I lifted the top a few inches and then gently lowered it (so I could release the other prong on the other side).

Chuck says I can tinker with it to adjust it.