There are two garter-like straps that run the length of the top and are about $75 apiece.

When they loose their elasticity, it screws up the top lowering ballet to the point where the top hits the tonneau and then stops. If you sort of help it along, it works after a fashion.

Replacing the straps is not hard, and it is not expensive to have done, if need be. I had this done on one car, PLUS replacing the side stays (for the headliner) for a total cost of $500, which is cheap when you consider that is about $200 in parts.

Don't fret about being caught in the rain. If the top fails to raise, simply pull the evil red lever under the rear seat. It will release the top motors and you can raise the top manually.

You will need to resynchronize the top and reconnect the motors to use it again. It is not hard to do, and instructions are on the net. I found them on Roadfly. But don't pull the evil red lever unless you are desperate.

Unfortunately, pulling the red lever does NOT convert the top into a fully manual one, as it will not lock the tonneau in the lowered position (meaning it will fly up in the wind). So you can raise the top manually with the red lever, but it won't stay down using that mode.

On the later model cars (fully automatic top) there is a tool in the toolkit (allen wrench) to lock the header in place if the top fails to raise properly.

It's a lot easier just to replace the tensioning straps.

FWIW.

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