Convertible top lifts unevenly... Any suggestions?

[SLOWBRA]

I'm having some problems troubleshooting an uneven lift problem in my car.

Essentially, the drivers side is lifting quicker then the passenger side (or you can think of it as the passenger side isn't lifting at the same rate). Almost as if the passenger side is in a bind. Driver side will go up 6-12 inches before the passenger side. After the first foot of travel the passenger side catches up and lifts properly. I do not have any problems when lowering the top.

All the rear panels and rear seats are out so I can tinker with it.

Things I have found so far:
The bolt that is above the hydraulic links on both sides were loose (these are the large bolts that provides each hydraulic lift something to work against to raise the piston. Once I tightened this, the problem actually got worse as I suspect both bolts being lose only slowed down the drivers side.

When lowering the top the passenger side bottoms out "hits the stop" before the drivers side.

If I am manually picking up the top (as if to put your hand near the front where the "stop" is) the passenger side "feels" tighter then the drivers side. I did this to see if I could find something in a bind and noticed there is a different in the force required to lift passenger side vs. drivers side.

I have not bled the system yet. It's next on the list, but suspect this is not the issue.

Can anyone help me troubleshoot this to understand what could be happening? Hopefully this has happened to someone before and they can point me in the right direction.

The search on here pulled up some old threads from 04, but they didn't help with my situation.

 

[antiv6]

Did you find any leaking fluid from either of the lift cylinders?

 

[Fireguy615]

A friend of mine lost his passenger side lift in his Sonic Blue vert, with the same symptoms you are having. They can and will fail independently of each other, even with a strong motor behind them. They are a PITA to change, mainly due to the bleeding the system. I believe they cost approx $150 from the dealer.

 

[SLOWBRA]

Did you find any leaking fluid from either of the lift cylinders?

I saw very little traces of fluid on the passenger side. I can't say it was completely dry, but there wasn't enough to see without wiping with a paper towel.

A friend of mine lost his passenger side lift in his Sonic Blue vert, with the same symptoms you are having. They can and will fail independently of each other, even with a strong motor behind them. They are a PITA to change, mainly due to the bleeding the system. I believe they cost approx $150 from the dealer.

I thought about swapping the lifts from side to side to see if that changes anything. Unfortunately, the bleeding of the system doesn't sound like fun to want to do it a few times...

The curious thing is that when I manually try to lift that side up it's harder to do. This IMHO wouldn't be related to the lift.

Keep the ideas coming.. Thanks!

 

[TRBO VNM]

get a coupe. oke:












you know I am just messing with you shawn.

 

[Fireguy615]

Doh!:lol:

 

[04SolidSnake]

Mine's always done this.. No leaks, and no binding as its coming up, just seems like the drivers side has more ommph lifting it. If you have no trouble putting the top up and down, I wouldn't worry about it..

 

[Powershift03]

I saw very little traces of fluid on the passenger side. I can't say it was completely dry, but there wasn't enough to see without wiping with a paper towel.

It should be totally dry. I was a Ford tech for many years, and did all our dealerships vert top repairs. The top cylinders do go out.. and get weak.. like what was already been said. Bleeding them is messy.. but needs to be done. Look into replacing both cyls.. and bleed them well.

 

[1hot281]

What would most convertible owners recommend as far as lengthening the life of the top motors? since i park in my garage, and only take the car out for short rides, lately i've been leaving the top down pretty much all the time... should the motors be exercised regularly? or is it better to leave the top down or up as much as possible?

sorry to thread jack

 

[SLOWBRA]

get a coupe. oke:
you know I am just messing with you shawn.

Thanks Jason ...

Mine's always done this.. No leaks, and no binding as its coming up, just seems like the drivers side has more ommph lifting it. If you have no trouble putting the top up and down, I wouldn't worry about it..

I am afraid that I would damage the entire mechanism the way it is now.. That may end up being a lot more expensive. The problem started about 3 weeks ago.

It should be totally dry. I was a Ford tech for many years, and did all our dealerships vert top repairs. The top cylinders do go out.. and get weak.. like what was already been said. Bleeding them is messy.. but needs to be done. Look into replacing both cyls.. and bleed them well.

I appreciate this information. I could not locate where the small leak was coming from. I am considering swapping both from side to side (since they are $150 a piece) and bleeding them to ensure that is my problem.

Is it normal for one side to take more effort to lift up manually then the other? That's the only thing confusing me about this problem. I want to ensure I don't have something in a bind.

Do you mind if I contact you for help since you worked on these before? I want to ensure I know everything I can about the system and pieces.

What would most convertible owners recommend as far as lengthening the life of the top motors? since i park in my garage, and only take the car out for short rides, lately i've been leaving the top down pretty much all the time... should the motors be exercised regularly? or is it better to leave the top down or up as much as possible?
sorry to thread jack

Mine is the same way.. It sits more then it gets driven. It's probably good for it to be cycled as the lifts are retracted when the top is down.

 

[LaFlavor]

Mine's been like this for nearly 3 years now. It's more noticeable when it's going down than up, but it's never been perfectly even.

 

[Fireguy615]

This is my second 03/04 vert and neither one of them has been exactly "perfectly even" on both sides lifting. But if one side is "noticeably" lagging behind the other than you have a cylinder problem.

As far as leaving the top up or down while not driving it, I always leave mine up and latched. I'm always afraid of leaving crease lines in my top from being left in a folded position, especially if there may be some dirt in there. That may be totally un-founded, but I leave it up.

 

[Powershift03]

I appreciate this information. I could not locate where the small leak was coming from. I am considering swapping both from side to side (since they are $150 a piece) and bleeding them to ensure that is my problem.

Is it normal for one side to take more effort to lift up manually then the other? That's the only thing confusing me about this problem. I want to ensure I don't have something in a bind.

Do you mind if I contact you for help since you worked on these before? I want to ensure I know everything I can about the system and pieces.

Keep in mind these cars are just getting older. Plain and simple. The seals in those cylinders will fail due to age.. even if not used often. It will not matter how the top is normally stored (up or down). Your description of the problem sounds pretty typical.. one side is getting notably slower raising than the other side.. you have no signs of a major leak, and the system has never been open (needing to be bled). I suspect the cylinder is starting to fail. I don't know that I would swap them side to side to test them. Might be a wasted effort. You can see what is going on. But, its up to you... it's your $$, not mine. :rolling:

 

[FromGTtoSVT]

As far as leaving the top up or down while not driving it, I always leave mine up and latched. I'm always afraid of leaving crease lines in my top from being left in a folded position, especially if there may be some dirt in there. That may be totally un-founded, but I leave it up.

lol....totally un-founded bro...that's just rediculous. If you regularly clean and maintain the top..... creases won't show no matter how much you raise and lower it

I actually carry a lint roller in the car for this exact reason...every time the top goes back up I roll it really quickly and it's never ever failed me.

OP...a little bit of a lag is normal.......

 

[SLOWBRA]

Mine's been like this for nearly 3 years now. It's more noticeable when it's going down than up, but it's never been perfectly even.

Mine is fine going down, but is significantly off going up for the first 6-12 inches.

This is my second 03/04 vert and neither one of them has been exactly "perfectly even" on both sides lifting. But if one side is "noticeably" lagging behind the other than you have a cylinder problem.

As far as leaving the top up or down while not driving it, I always leave mine up and latched. I'm always afraid of leaving crease lines in my top from being left in a folded position, especially if there may be some dirt in there. That may be totally un-founded, but I leave it up.

Looks like the consensus thus far is the cylinder. I too leave my top up 99.9% of the time.

Keep in mind these cars are just getting older. Plain and simple. The seals in those cylinders will fail due to age.. even if not used often. It will not matter how the top is normally stored (up or down). Your description of the problem sounds pretty typical.. one side is getting notably slower raising than the other side.. you have no signs of a major leak, and the system has never been open (needing to be bled). I suspect the cylinder is starting to fail. I don't know that I would swap them side to side to test them. Might be a wasted effort. You can see what is going on. But, its up to you... it's your $$, not mine. :rolling:

Agreed.. I've had many verts and this was the only one that's had this problem. I like to learn as much as I can so that I can help others in the future. I will definitely document and take pics of this so others can benefit from it.

I am wondering if the cylinder issue is the reason why it's also the first to bottom out (hit the stop) vs. the drivers side too. I've never had a vert make that much noise when it hits the stops.

Since you have worked on these in your former life as a Ford Tech, is it normal for one side to take significantly more effort to pick up manually then the other?

 

[SLOWBRA]

I actually carry a lint roller in the car for this exact reason...every time the top goes back up I roll it really quickly and it's never ever failed me.

OP...a little bit of a lag is normal.......

I love the lint roller... My top is in great shape.

I agree a little lag is normal, but this is significant and just started 3 weeks ago. I'll take pictures to document it.

 

[Powershift03]

Since you have worked on these in your former life as a Ford Tech, is it normal for one side to take significantly more effort to pick up manually then the other?

To be honest... I don't think judging the resistance of trying to manually lift the top up is a good indicator of what is going on inside the top cylinders.

 

[beabout]

If the top up/down actions really concern you, guess they do as you took out the back seat to check it out, take it to a well respected top specialist (not dealership) and have them adjust it.

 

[SLOWBRA]

To be honest... I don't think judging the resistance of trying to manually lift the top up is a good indicator of what is going on inside the top cylinders.

That's what I wanted to hear! Thanks.

If the top up/down actions really concern you, guess they do as you took out the back seat to check it out, take it to a well respected top specialist (not dealership) and have them adjust it.

Good idea.. I'd like to find someone local such as Powershift03 who knows these things in-an-out.

 

[Powershift03]

That's what I wanted to hear! Thanks.



Good idea.. I'd like to find someone local such as Powershift03 who knows these things in-an-out.

Drive on out to Calif... and I'll check it out for ya.:lol1: