The center latch for my convertible top seems to be hesitating a little before it locks in when I close the top. The fluid level in the pump is within the normal range, and I installed a current reducer several years ago. The hydraulic line was spliced a few years ago. Any ideas? I guess there could be a small leak that would reduce pressure and be in an area that is not visible.

 

The latch gets a little stiff over time and the hydraulic pressure may be taking a moment to overcome that. A little spray lubricant will usually free it up.

 

what is "A LITTLE TIME"? My 03 it seemed to wait a second or so before it latched her down. I would thing it could very for many of us based on age, this that and the other.

 

I lubricated the latch after I lowered the top and we will see what happens when I raise it again. I did find out one new quirk. The top will not lower with the trunk open. I hit the button and the quarter windows went down, but nothing else happened.

 

Thats not normal, my 03 will go either way without issues with the trunk open.

 

So will mine, an 01.

 

It's probably not an open trunk issue. It was reacting very slow to the button (not reacting at all), and I have had two line failures, so I am hesitant to keep pushing the button with no latch response. Owning one of these keeps you on edge waiting for the next issue to pop up.

 

I have tried to tweak the hydraulic system on my car so as to produce a pressure pulse just barely adequate to close the latch. Any more than that makes life harder on the hoses. But cutting things close like this, every now and then the top needs a little help ... i.e. manually pulling down on the top as the latch is trying to close.


Pulling down the top like this may be worth a try in your case. Even if you would not want to operate the top this way long term, it would be an informative test.