www.chirpthird.com: Sticking Convertible Top (up only)--need help.

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Posted by MarkC (Member # 1951) on 27 June, 2003 12:35 PM:

Hi,

I posted this on camaroz28.com, and they pointed me here. Here's my problem...

My convertible top has been sticking when I try to put it up--it goes down fine. I noticed that there a couple TSBs on this issue. Can somebody give me more info on these TSBs, or have any idea how to fix this problem? I know very little about convertible tops.

I have a 1997 Z--Here are the TSBs I found...

TSB 83-15-12 JUL 98 Convertible Top - Binds or Stops Halfway Open/Closed

TSB 638136 NOV 96 Convertible Top - Revised Inoperative Diagnostic Chart

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks,

Mark

Posted by XBCHBUM (Member # 734) on 28 June, 2003 06:17 AM:

Welcome Mark! [Big Grin]

Yes this is a great forum for us vert owners. There's another one at ls1.com

Anyway, here's the first TSB. Didn't see the second one. Sometimes this site works and other times it doesn't http://web.archive.org/web/20011218182358/http://www.geocities.com/crackeregg/gmsi.html

Good luck! [Smile]

CONVERTIBLE TOP MECHANISM BINDS OR STOPS WHEN HALFWAY #83-15-12
SUBJECT: CONVERTIBLE TOP MECHANISM BINDS OR STOPS WHEN HALFWAY OPEN OR CLOSED (REPLACE SHOULDER BOLTS, WASHERS AND BRASS BUSHINGS)

MODELS: 1995-98 CHEVROLET CAMARO CONVERTIBLE 1995-98 PONTIAC FIREBIRD CONVERTIBLE

BUILT PRIOR TO VIN BREAKPOINTS:

MODEL COLOR OF TOP VIN BREAKPOINT =========== ================================ ==============

CAMARO BLACK W2140053 CAMARO MED. DK NEUTRAL W2140099 CAMARO WHITE W2140354

FIREBIRD BLACK W2223854 FIREBIRD MED. DK NEUTRAL W2223925 FIREBIRD WHITE W2224005

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP BINDS OR GETS STUCK WHEN APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY OPEN OR HALFWAY CLOSED.

CAUSE:

THE WASHERS USED ON THE LINKAGE TO FRAMEWORK SHOULDER BOLTS MAY BE TOO THICK AND CAUSE THE BOLTS TO LOOSEN OR BACK OUT AFTER NUMEROUS OPENING AND CLOSINGS OF THE FOLDING TOP. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE SHOULDER BOLTS MAY INTERFERE OR RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP MECHANISM.

CORRECTION:

REPLACE ALL EIGHT (8) SHOULDER BOLTS, WASHERS AND BRASS BUSHINGS (FOUR ON EACH SIDE) AT THE LOCATIONS SHOWN IN FIGURE 1, USING THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

IMPORTANT:

TO MAKE INSTALLATION EASIER, ONLY REMOVE AND REPLACE ONE SHOULDER BOLT, WASHER AND BRASS BUSHING AT A TIME.

1. OPEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP TO THE HALFWAY OPEN OR HALFWAY CLOSED POSITION.

FOLDING TOP SIDE RAIL (TWO SHOULDER BOLTS PER SIDE) - SEE FIGURE 1

IMPORTANT:

WHEN REMOVING THE WEATHERSTRIP AND WEATHERSTRIP RETAINER IN THE NEXT STEPS, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO USE AN ADHESIVE REMOVER SUCH AS 3M(R) GENERAL PURPOSE ADHESIVE CLEANER #08984, OR EQUIVALENT. FOR ADDITIONAL REMOVAL AND REINSTALLATION INFORMATION ON FOLDING TOP ROOF SIDE RAIL WEATHERSTRIP, RETAINER AND GARNISH MOLDING, SEE SECTION 10-9 OF THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE MANUAL.

2. CAREFULLY REMOVE THE FOLDING TOP ROOF SIDE RAIL WEATHERSTRIP.

3. REMOVE SCREWS AND CAREFULLY REMOVE THE FOLDING TOP SIDE RAIL WEATHERSTRIP RETAINER.

4. REMOVE SCREWS AND REMOVE THE FOLDING TOP SIDE RAIL GARNISH MOLDING.

IMPORTANT:

WHEN REMOVING THE SHOULDER BOLTS IN THE NEXT STEP, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE ALIGNMENT OF THE LINKAGE BE MAINTAINED.

5. REMOVE ONE SHOULDER BOLT AND WASHER AT A TIME AND DISCARD.

6. USING A SMALL FLAT-BLADED SCREWDRIVER, CAREFULLY REMOVE THE BRASS BUSHING FROM THE LINKAGE AND DISCARD.

7. CAREFULLY INSTALL AND HOLD NEW BRASS BUSHING IN PLACE.

IMPORTANT:

THE NEW SHOULDER BOLT TO BE INSTALLED IN THE NEXT STEP IS A TRI-LOBULAR DESIGN AND DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY THREAD-LOCKER MATERIAL OR COMPOUND.

8. ASSEMBLE ONE NEW WASHER AND SHOULDER BOLT AND REINSTALL. TIGHTEN TO 16-19 N.M (142-168 LB IN).

9. REINSTALL FOLDING TOP SIDE RAIL GARNISH MOLDING AND TIGHTEN SCREWS TO 5 N.M (44 LB IN).

10. REINSTALL FOLDING TOP SIDE RAIL WEATHERSTRIP RETAINER AND TIGHTEN SCREWS TO 1.3 N.M (12 LB IN).

11. INSPECT AND REMOVE ANY OLD WEATHERSTRIP ADHESIVE FROM THE FOLDING TOP SIDE RAIL WEATHERSTRIP.

12. APPLY NEW WEATHERSTRIP ADHESIVE SUCH AS 3M(R) #08011, OR EQUIVALENT, TO THE WEATHERSTRIP AS NECESSARY AND REINSTALL IN FOLDING TOP SIDE RAIL WEATHERSTRIP RETAINER.

13. REPEAT PROCEDURE ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF VEHICLE.

FOLDING TOP SIDE RAIL LINK AND FRONT SIDE RAIL LINK (TWO SHOULDER BOLTS PER SIDE) - SEE FIGURE 1

IMPORTANT:

WHEN REMOVING THE SHOULDER BOLTS IN THE NEXT STEP, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE ALIGNMENT OF THE LINKAGE BE MAINTAINED.

1. UNSNAP THE ELASTIC STRAP THAT SECURES THE HEADLINER MATERIAL TO THE FOLDING TOP NUMBER THREE BOW.

2. REMOVE ONE SHOULDER BOLT AND WASHER AT A TIME AND DISCARD.

3. USING A SMALL FLAT-BLADED SCREWDRIVER, CAREFULLY REMOVE THE BRASS BUSHING FROM THE LINKAGE AND DISCARD.

4. CAREFULLY INSTALL AND HOLD NEW BRASS BUSHING IN PLACE.

IMPORTANT:

THE NEW SHOULDER BOLT TO BE INSTALLED IN THE NEXT STEP IS A TRI-LOBULAR DESIGN AND DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY THREAD-LOCKER MATERIAL OR COMPOUND.

5. ASSEMBLE ONE NEW WASHER AND SHOULDER BOLT AND REINSTALL. TIGHTEN TO 16-19 N.M (142-168 LB IN).

6. RE-SNAP THE ELASTIC STRAP TO THE FOLDING TOP NUMBER THREE BOW.

7. REPEAT PROCEDURE ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF VEHICLE.

PARTS INFORMATION:

PKG. QTY. REQUIRED P/N DESCRIPTION QTY. PER VEHICLE ========= ==================== ===== =============

12456253 SHOULDER BOLT 1 8

10224655 WASHER 5 8

10048833 BUSHING 1 8

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OPERATION LABOR OPERATION NUMBER DESCRIPTION TIME =============== ============================== =================

B3379 BOLTS/WASHERS/BUSHINGS, FOLDING 0.8 HR TOP SIDE RAIL LINKS - REPLACE ALL EIGHT

THIS LABOR OPERATION IS FOR REPLACING ALL EIGHT (4 PER SIDE) BOLTS, WASHERS AND BUSHINGS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT FOLDING TOP SIDE RAIL LINKS AND FRONT SIDE RAIL LINKS.

FIGURES: 01 ATTACHMENTS: 00

FIGURE 1 - LEFT SIDE SHOWN FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE (RIGHT SIDE OPPOSITE) 1. LOCATION OF SHOULDER BOLTS TO BE REPLACED 2. SHOULDER BOLT, WASHER AND BUSHING 3. FOLDING TOP SIDE RAIL (SHOWN WITH GARNISH MOLDING REMOVED) 4. FOLDING TOP SIDE RAIL LINK 5. FRONT SIDE RAIL LINK

Figure 1

[ 28. June 2003, 06:23 AM: Message edited by: XBCHBUM ]

Posted by BadRag (Member # 1566) on 28 June, 2003 08:41 PM:

Great info !!
Mine works fine, but you never know....

BadRag

Posted by MarkC (Member # 1951) on 29 June, 2003 02:45 AM:

Wow!--Thanks for the help. Now I have somewhere to start.

Mark

Posted by 35thSS (Member # 1345) on 05 July, 2003 07:57 PM:

I have an '02 vert and they just had to replace the pump on the drivers side.
After they did this my top does bind and even comes top stop while traveling up but not down. They bled the system again and it was better but it still appears to bind.
They told me to keep an eye on it even after I told them it didnt do this before I brought it in, even with the pump leaking.
Is there a TSB fo ran '02?

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