My vert has had the rubber on the bottom of the roof brace loose on both sides since new. It is near the point where the rear side window and front side window (above door handle, but on the roof/window brace) meet on both sides of the car. It is as though the rubber on the bottom needs a little contact cement to make it stick to the brace.
Basically it is kind of pinched away from the metal brace. Anybody else see one like this or have a fix, other than going to the dealer?

 

I just noticed the same thing on my 05 Vert last week, I will let the dealer know that I am not happy and that it will be fixed, also have you any problems with the top not coming down evenly, the right side makes contact with the front but I have to pull the left side down with a lot of effort to get the top to lock in place.

 

Norm,
My top comes down evenly. Only got the car in Sept. so maybe this is something I have to look forward to.

 

Mine is an '07 with the same problem, the right makes contact before the left. Also the rubber is loose on the passenger side, I figured I would mention it when I had to take it in for something more major. I don't want to take it in just for that.

 

Oh, I forgot to mention that although my car is an 05, I just bought it Nov 29, brand new (last 05 on the lot, great deal). I read a TSP that mentioned something about the top coming down unevenly so I may have it covered......am making a large list of TSB related problems for the dealer to take care of.

 

WOW Norm ! Its just insane how similar both our cars and our problems are. I too have an 05 legend lime vert that I bought (wait for it....) Nov 29, 2006 brand new. I too had the same problem with the loose moldings and uneven top retraction.

I ended up breaking my top by applying too much pressure after owning the car for 40 days. Luckily for me the sole dealer here in Kuwait didn't even ask questions and ordered me an entirely new top (inside and out) new mechanism, even new exterior molding (the part on the top of the windshield). Had to wait two weeks, but all was replaced incredibly professionally. One interesting thing I discovered is the new material used on the '07 tops. My replacement top was an '07 top, and the vinyl material was about half as thick as the '05 top. It was much easier and faster to open and close. It does wrinkle a bit, however the wrinkles disappear after 15 mins with the top up. I'm so happy I broke my top. I wouldn't advise you to break yours, unless your dealer is as nice as mine.

 

Well I heard from my dealer today...he said ford told them that to replace the weather stripping that had pulled away just cut a piece of stock weather stipping material and replace the bad portion....they did say that his fix looked like crud so they are having an upholsterer come out who specializes in convertible tops...hopefully that should get done today.

 

Okay so I go to the dealer and guess what the weather stripping wasn't done...not started, not today.....but if I left it for one or two more days they might be able to get the guy in to take care of it......oh yeah as I was being shown the problem area of weather stipping I noticed a nice little rip or cut in the edge stiching. The shop manager was pointing out where the strpping was bad and was amazed when I said what happened here and pointed to the rip. Now it isn't big...about 1/4 inch of material missing (looks like someone tried to use a knife to pry up the fabric and just slipped), they say that they will have their "man" look at it and try to fix it.....but if it's noticible at all then they owe me a new top.....what do you think....

 

Demand that they replace it. I doubt they can fix it good enough to withstand sun and heat and remain waterproof. I got mine entirely replaced when all that was wrong was a broken frame. Its just not acceptable. Take it to another dealer if they **** you around too much.

 

There's actually a TSB out for rips and nicks in the convertible tops near the bows...I tried to search for it but didn't find the TSB number but if your top has a rip in it in those places than I think they are supposed to replace the top according to the TSB...

 

Well I stopped at the shop today to ask them about the top and they told me they were going to replace it.....so that part is fixed. I told them that the left side still doesn't close right and that if they are going to replace the fabric they might as well replace the bad rails per the TSB at the same time......now to see if they actually do it.

 

They have to replace the rails unless they are going to try to bend them back in shape. Insist on it.

 

So the Body shop manager called to confirm my appoinment to get the new top put on.....I ask him if he was told about the problem with the uneven closing and he said yes but he needs to take another look at it and see if they can manually adjust (I guess this means torque it until it fits) the top. I informed him that the TSB says the problem is fixable by replacing the side rails and that is what Ford recommends. Well he says that they need to look at it with the fabric off and if they can't twist it into shape they would have to replace it but I would be out of a vehicle for a few days since they would then have to order the parts. Now why in heck wouldn't they just order the parts per the TSB and have them on hand when they replace the fabric...the car isn't going in until next Wednesday so they have plenty of time to get the parts in.

 

Twist it into shape ?!?!?!? This is not acceptable. Its doesn't even matter that there is a TSB out there about this. It should be replaced if its under warranty. End of story, no negotiations!!! THIS IS Mine was sealed shut for two weeks while they ordered the parts. When the parts arrived I took my car in and the next morning I had an entirely new top on her. Be more assertive with them . Good luck

 

So today I dropped my car off with the intent of getting my new top put on. I asked what they planned on doing about the side rail TSB and they said that once they get the cover off they would operate the top and see how it closed. Then they would decide if they need to replace the whole mechanism or not. I asked why they are going to do that and not just replace the side rals like the TSB calls for. Now I wouldn't mind a completely new top but I don't want to sait weeks while they order the parts in. Well anyway the body shop manager said that you cannot replace individual parts of the top mechanism and when repairs are needed you must replace everything......I then whip out my copy of the TSB and read him the part about replaceing the side rails only....I think I made him mad...lol. Anyway I told him that I wanted them to check it out and replace if it needed new rails he should order them, no twisting no manipulating the top into closing right....either do it like the TSB says or don't do it at all. Either way I wanted them to replace the top today and then I would bring it back when the rails get in. He then fed me the line about how Ford won't authorize two seperate jobs for this repair and they had to keep my car and do it all at once.....how keeping my car for a week is any different then having me bring it in for 2 one day jobs is beyond me. Anyway the saga continues.

 

Well today I was supposed to get my car back after getting my new cover.....the shop manager said that he tested the top last night and it closed perfectly. Well I got to the dealer and the Shop boss met me outside and said I wasn't going to be happy. He decided to test the top one more time before I got in and guess what it was working worse than when I brought it in the first time. He opened the top and we had to actually push the top back in the well to get it to sit evenly. Not only that but I noticed that they had evidently set the top frame on the cement floor and scratched the paint off of the metal. Upon further inspection I noticed that the installer didn't attach the center part of the headliner to the frame so I could put my hand inside the top where it should have been sealed. I drove the car home after telling them I would bring it back on monday so they could fix the remaining problems (still no new side rails, I don't think they believe the TSB). When I got home I did a thorough inspection and found that the weather stripping was so bad I could put my finger into the car from where the drivers side window glass met the left qaurter window, also the seal at the top was uneven.......I decided enough was enough and drove it back to the shop today and told them to get it fixed right. Oh and they also cut or broke my antenna wire for my Sirius unit....great right. Well I checked the lemon laws and they are allowed 4 tries or 30 days out of service before it kicks in.....so far this is attempt number 3 and 19 days and counting. Life would have been great if they had just did what the TSB said they were supposed to do

 

Okay I was told by the shop that my car should be ready today, this morning to be exact. So last night I called to make sure everything was going to be ready. The shop boss told me that he was still concerned with the top working unevenly so he had the mechanics run something called a pinpoint test....which involved a computer. The car should be ready first thing Thursday morning I was told. Today I called to arrainge a pickup time and the body shop boss tells me that there was a problem and he was going to look like a real idiot. He tells me that the test the mechanics run indicated that he had to replace both side rails (this is what I told him the first time I brought the car in and he didn't believe me) But the kicker is that he now has to remove the top again and wait for the parts to come in so I will be without my car another week.

 

I would make sure AFTER you get the car back in satisfactory condition that you rub it in his face real good that this is exactly what you told him to do in the first place.

 

The car has been returned to me...with the new top and side rails....they had it for over 30 days!!!! The first thing I noticed was that the interior was all scratched up where the installer put his dirty shoes and tools and from where he lifted removed interior body panels. then I saw how dirty the shop left everything and headed for the car wash and vacuum so I could clean up all the dirt and crud left behind. Later I noticed that the passenger side edge above the window looked a little odd....upon close inspection I see the installer didn't properly install the cross bar into the side rail and the top is now curled up in that spot...so now it's back to the shop once again. What happened to customer service and pride in workmanship....