about three months ago the convertible top assembly on my 05 V6 "broke". i'm still not sure what happened but believe it was the frame and know that several serious pieces of steel were bent. the dealership hasn't been forthcoming on what went wrong but supposedly there's a tsb out on the problem. the dealership told me they cut ties with the vendor that made the assembly and to date haven't been able to find a replacement top. the last one they found didn't fit. anyone else out there experiencing the same problem? major issue and likely thousands to fix if not covered by warrenty. one garage i took it to said they would basically have to disassemble the car to repair the problem.
Ummm, is this not covered by factory warranty ? Very simple, bring it to a Ford dealer and say "fix it", end of story. They will replace the top at no charge (assuming it's a warranty claim and you didn't stand on it or something), and that's that. I have the same model as you, '05 V6 convert, and I have not had any issues with it. Again, take it to a different dealer and get them to fix it. Sounds like your dealer is full of BS.
you are right that it should be simple since it's covered by the warrenty and you're probably right that my particular dealership is full of bs.
the real issue tho is that three months later my car is still sitting at the dealership because ford can't find a replacement as they no longer have a contract with anyone to make the top. the latest is that they may have located one in phoenix. we'll see but the last one they found didn't fit.
i'd hate to think what would happen if the warrenty had expired and this happened especially given that this is a design problem with a tsb out on it.
I hope you have a loaner. If it's been that long I would be jumping someone about fixing it or getting me a different car. I had my F-150 in the shop a long time ago getting a new rear-end in it. After two days of not having a truck I was in there bitching. I left the lot with a year newer pickup. Which then they had my truck fixed with a new rear-end within three more days. Dealerships, could give a sh!t less about warrenty work. If two guys came in with the same car same problem but one was paying to have his fixed his would get done first. Sorry to rant my cousin works at a dealeship and also I've had work done there and mine was always last getting fixed before paying customers.
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99 GT 35th Limited Edition 75 International Scout II 97 Jeep Wrangler 98 Ford F-150 05 Ford F-250 SD Powerstroke
Same problem here. The dealer said one piece broke which in turn caused others to bend and break. I luckily was able to manually raise the top and get it locked. They said they had seen it happen before on a couple of 2005's and would cover it completely under warranty. That was three days ago, still waiting for a call when the parts come in to fix it. I'll keep you posted.
sorry to hear this happened to you. would appreciate hearing how the search for parts goes for you. after ten weeks i'm still waiting and i'm not that happy about putting the same assembly as the one that broke back in.
Well, the nightmare continues. The dealership claimed two weeks ago to have located two assemblies. Turns out both of them are USED assemblies. So we are back to where we were ten weeks ago. There's now talk from the dealership about a August release date for a back order. First time I have heard that one and heightens the feeling that I've been getting the run around this whole time.
I imagine I have the same problem. I went to go put the top up, and it just went straight up in the air!
Luckily I got it down and locked.
I took it to the Ford dealer (still under warranty) and they told me that it wasn't going to be covered! It was going to cost over $2,000 in parts alone! They said it was because "obviously" it was opened while moving, when 1. That's not the case 2. It's not posible to open it above 3 mph or whatever's in the manual.
Took it to another dealer about an hour away, and it's now covered under the warranty, but we're waiting on the part. I guess it's something with the side-arms (same things, one broke which caused the other to break). And yes, there's a TSB out, and Ford is re-engineering the part, which is why it's on back-order. At least this is what I'm told. So, I'm driving my car around still at least, just waiting for the part Kinda sucks it's summer and I can't have my top down though.
That's exactly what happened to me. It's now been 1 week and I've heard nothing back about the parts from the dealer. They told me a week to 10 days so I'm going to give them until the middle of next week and then begin my assault. If any knows where I can find that TSB on the top please forward the info. Thanks.
I wouldn't wait if I were you. I'd be on them daily. In any case, I'd be interested in any suggestions on how to "assault" the problem. I'm at the point of consulting an attorney and contacting my states attorney general. It's pretty clear that Ford's end game is to stall until they can start making the tops again.
That sucks. I think Ford is going to start having more problems like that. My wife's 06 Escape has a sunroof. It's been replaced twice now for a broken pivot assembly and of course the sunroof is available as a complete assembly only like your convertible top, no individual parts. First in 9/06 and then again just this week. Both times the dealer had a problem locating the part.
I'm seriously considering another 'brand' for my next new car. It's one thing for long term reliability to be an issue it's another if there aren't parts to fix it when its broke.
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ORIGINAL: P Zero
He could strap a rocket to his ass and beat em on foot too. -P.
the real issue tho is that three months later my car is still sitting at the dealership because ford can't find a replacement as they no longer have a contract with anyone to make the top.
I did some research (myself owning an 05 vert), and indeed, there is a TSB on the top and it's possible defective mechanism That said, knock on wood, I have yet to have a problem with mine, and it only gets used half the year anyways, and I'm always slow and careful with the top, so hopefully I don't have any issues, athough I do have a good dealership.
That said, I think they're full of s*** that they no longer have a contract with a manufacturer for the top. I highly doubt that, and suggest that you try another dealership.
I've done some more research on this convertible TSB, and it's actually not as common as I originally thought (and feared). However, anything I've seen on it, shows it as being a warranty repair.
thanks to everyone for the replies, it's helpful. if you have time, what exactly is the problem if you've been able to find out from the tsb? the latest is that ford is now manufacturing the part again and the dealership may have one this week. will believe it when I see it.
Hey guys, just wanted to give an update on the top. The part's in, and I droped it off today at an Auto Trim place in down. It turns out that the fabric top needs to be peeled back, and I guess only Auto Trim type places have the tools to stretch the fabric back over the frame. Anyway, so far so good - I should get it back tomorrow afternoon, or Monday WCS. I'll update after that with any more info I have - once I have the paperwork I'll prolly post it so anyone else can use it to get your problem fixed under warranty.
YES! I got the car back at lunch! I dropped it off yesterday, and this morning I get a call from the guys at the Auto Trim place - it was done!
Anyway, It works now. It maybe doesn't seat back down on its own perfectly when putting the top back up - I have to pull slightly on the center grab handle to get it to sit tightly before latching - but I've heard others say this.
I am getting the paperwork faxed to me from the Ford dealership since I picked the car directly from the Trim place...So I'll have those this afternoon to address any questions anyone may have about the procedure.
Long story short - the parts are being shipped now to let everyone know.
Does anyone have any close up pics of their top when it's lowered? Mine's flush heightwise with the back lip, and the top of the rear headrests...it's been so long since it's worked I can't remember what's normal...
Here's my pathetic update. It's been almost a month since I first took my '05 Vert to the dealer. After repeated hounding, yesterday I finally got some sort of an answer. I've been told over and over that my parts were on back order. I wanted a more concrete answer as to when I could expect them. The manager told me that there are 3 other Verts at my dealership waiting for parts and over 130 Nationwide. WOW! He thinks that Ford is waiting for a new manufacturer to come up with the parts since Ford has had so many problems with the tops. He is supposedly calling the "new manufacturer" today to get me a rough idea on delivery. I'm not too upset at the moment as it is 95 degrees and 98% humidity here in Northern Virginia. It just the fact that it is taking so long. I'll keep you updated.
Amazingly enough, your dealer is right. There is a national rolling backorder. These parts are being made by the new manuf, and are being dropped shipped as they're made. From what I heard, there's more like 400 orders for it, rather than 150. IDK, but there were a few at my dealership too. I got mine though, so they are in fact shipping the new parts.
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convertible owners beware - 
RE: convertible owners beware - 
Kinda sucks it's summer and I can't have my top down though. 
That said, knock on wood, I have yet to have a problem with mine, and it only gets used half the year anyways, and I'm always slow and careful with the top, so hopefully I don't have any issues, athough I do have a good dealership. 