ScottRNelson

I bought my 2005 Mustant convertible in late June and have probably put the top up three times since then. Mostly when I first got it plus once to wash it. The car lives in a garage plus it never rains around here this time of year, so there is no need to put the top up.

Since the top seems to be a bit hard to latch when it hasn't been up for a while, I decided to put it up this morning because I'll need it up later today. With just the help of the motor that moves the top, the front only gets within about three inches of the top of the windshield. By pulling on the handle in the middle with one hand and yanking down on the latch on the right side I was able to get the right side latched without too much of a struggle. I had to reach outside on the left side and pull down to even get the latch close. With a bit more work I finally got the latch into place and was able to latch it closed.

Have any of the rest of you noticed similar behavior with the convertible top?

Will it get better if I leave the car out in the sun with the top up?

Any other hints or suggestions?

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Red 2005 Mustang Convertible, and a 95 too - Pleasanton, CA

huffhuff

wouldn't hurt to lube all the pivot points along the frame. also hold the switch down when pulling the top the rest of the way down if you are not already.

dRiBz

i want a convert :/

RetiredGeneral

Leaving a new top down for extened periods of time might be bad. I've been told that a new top has a tendency to shrink. So if you leave it down you may not get it back up, or it might rip. I'd leave it up and in the sun for a couple days to be sure. That way it has the chance to stretch into place...

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Rick

2005 Mustang GT, Manual Trans, White/Dark Charcoal
1998 Harley Softail Custom
1963 Lincoln Continental Convertible

MyFirstPony

I left my top down for about 5 days straight and noticed that it was quite a bit harder to close. Since then, I try to close it at least every day except weekends. If I close it fairly often it is much easier to close.

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05 Premium Performance White V6 Vert.
Exterior Sport Appearance Pkg,
Interior Upgrade Pkg,
Interior Sport Appearance Pkg,
GT Takeoff Rockers,
BRS Swept Wing Spinner

MikeHawke

that's pretty normal for a vert. Yours is really new too so it will be tighter than an older one.

that's a good thing LOL. when the car is a few years old, i can guarantee that it won't be nearly as tight.

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mustangs are neat.

vicmeldrew

dot know why it makes a difference but the instructions say to latch the left side first; i keep mine down most of the time and have to exert a little force from the center but manage ok; bottom line it is not simple to do but after awhile you will find an easy way that works for you;

[IMG]local://upfiles/16309/8507470A0B54400DBE688EDD22C2DFA9.jpg[/IMG]

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legend lime premium GT convert; iup; manual; charcoal interior; wheel locking kit; boot cover; 17 inch aluminum wheels; active anti theft; FRPP axel back exhausts; plenum cover; shorty antenna; steeda high flow CAI; Brenspeed 91 octane performance tune.

tboucher

It's down a lot, and left down, but it rains in NC this time of year so I've had to put it up, or it's just to hot / bright for me to ride with it down there for a week or so (I have two colors, very white and dark red yet I love convertibles, go figure)

Right now if I remember right it's down and in the garage. Haven't seen it since Sunday though, it's at home, I'm in San Fran.

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2005 V6 Legend Lime Green Convertible

greatgro

It has nothing to do with leaving the top down for an extended period. ALL the Mustang convertibles are hard to close the first few times. Each time you close it, it gets easier. So it's not the fact that you kept it open too long but you just haven't closed it the prerequisite number of times to loosen it up.

blueangelfightr

I usually keep my top up. Esp. when I'm looking to race, or drive fast.

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From viper forums