How do you Drop the Top on these cars

ASC007 · Post by **ASC007** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 7:33 am

I use to have a 91 Allante and a 90 Reatta convertible..
and Im thinking the tops on my 86 convet should drop about the
same way.
Which is the proper way or order to lower these tops ?
I found the rocker switch behind the driver seat on the
LR inside panel. Put I cant figure out how to get the rear portion
of the top to release from the flip up hardtop.
Any help would be appreciated.
thanks

birdiestobehad · Post by **birdiestobehad** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 12:02 pm

Rather than a long reply, go to this site:

http://www.ascmclaren.com/

scroll down and click on Service Manual

click on Convertible Diagrams and pages 1 and 2 will walk you through the process.

Good luck!

There are many good subjects and invaluable information in Service Manual section. I've used it to replace by emergency trunk release cable and several other items. You can also find all sorts of other info, replacement parts, etc.

tfs2121 · Post by **tfs2121** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:24 pm

http://www.ascmclaren.org/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3170

By Sandy Block

1. Turn down Sun Visors.

2. Carefully and slowly rotate towards the rear view mirror, each of
the POT METAL (they snap off easily) the levers under the sun visors.

3. Once rotated - using open palms, gently place palms against long
horizontial black plastic finishing moulding (that the black handles
fit into, and push upward to very slightly push the pins attached to
the roof that fit into the little holes atop the windshield moulding.

4. Now with motor running, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE pulled up (ON)
push the black button behind driver seat on driver side rear
quarter panel. I think you push the top part of that button . That
will send the big aluminum screw UP and outta its hole, centered
atop the FIBERGLAS tonneau cover. I made it in Caps so you do
not allow people to sit on it -- yes it will CRACK.

5. CAR MUST BE ON LEVEL SURFACE, or with the front of car higher than
the back, otherwise Tonneau CAN flip/fold the front edge downward
and the metal guides can puncture the small plastic Roof windows.
With Tonneau fully opened, you grasp the roof about where driver's
head weould be if he was in the car, and pull up and rearward at
the same time.

6. STOP when the front of the roof is pointing at the sky!
(Mid-Way) ~ Some cars do this by themselves, (my blue one) BUT
other so not do it, (MY silver one) and YOU must do it !!! With roof mid-way, look
inside and you will see the metal bar that when the top is up.... it
right over your head. That bar PIVOTS. You must reach inside and
slightly pivot that bar, (like the bottom of the letter "U".
Otherwise the stacked roof will NOT fit into the cavity under the
Tonneau.

7. Once pivoted GENTLY pull the roof material out from the metal bars
that look like a vertical "Z" on either side (where the "C" pillar
would be on a coupe. I think it's called a scissors bar...

8. With bar pivoted, and roof padding & outter material pulled for roof
frame, you are ready to complete lowering roof into cavity.

9. There will be two small pieces of material poking up from the cavity.
Just gently tuck them in and then lower the front of the Tonneau
Cover so that it's in this direction / and side it forward so the Silver metal frontal "forks" glide into the two upside down
metal "U"s and then push down on the Tonneau to lock closed.

On 1989s & 1990s and a few 1988s, there is a button that you cannot see, on the back end of the emergency brake, when the brake is pulled up to engage, as the front of the brake handle is lifted, a button on the back end HIts a metal plate that pushes that button in. Unless the brake is engaged, the tonneau will not pop open. Safety measure.

svo413 · Post by **svo413** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:33 pm

I usually rotate the front lock handles to the locked position before storing the top.

My pull down motor doesn't work so I just release the tonneau covet and pick it up with my finger tips. This allows the top to disengage.

birdiestobehad · Post by **birdiestobehad** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:07 pm

I'm not sure if the Mustangs are the same as the Capris, but at least on my '86 and my brothers '86, the ignition key must be turned to the accessory position or the button release will not work. In Sandy's instructions above, he indicates the motor needs to be running. I have tried to "pop the top" (accidentaly) with my motor running and it will not release.

Just my observation from our two cars that have been in the family since 1986.

CocoLoco · Post by **CocoLoco** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:59 pm

I think the newer Mustang instructions are different than for the Capris. I too have to have my key in the acc position. I have had continuing issues with the pulldown motor as well. It does not always run. Same thing - have to use finger tips to lift up the cover. First thing I would do is check the ground wire on the pulldown motor. Seems to be a trouble spot. And then sometimes the motor just cycles up and down. This seems to be a height adjustment issue with the limit switches on the pulldown motor.

And I never could get the "down" position of the rocker switch to do anything. Maybe I have bigger issues. Someday when I get a summer when it doesn't rain every day I'll work on it. This year has been a washout!!!