Does Anyone Know of a Top Being Fixed?

[SonomaJohn]

I have one of those 2011 verts where the 5th bow broke after I owned the car a couple of weeks and subsequent replacements lasted 2 to five days. I have a second dealer making what I consider the last attempt to actually repair the problem. My belief is that there is something physically different about these cars where the normal replacement of the bow will never solve the problem.

Has anyone ever heard of a car like mine where the bow continually bends ever being repaired to the point where the 5th bow never bent again? This information will be helpful to me when the top fails again. Sorry about not being very optimistic.

Thanks,

John

[95birdible]

From what I have seen and heard since I ordered my 12 back in May and have been following this is only 1, that's right 1 car was actually fixed back to new condition. That was after a rep was flown into Becky's dealership and trained the techs how to fix them. I am not giving up hope yet. I will give them one more chance to make it right by getting me out of my Lemon and into a new one. If that one screws up, never again.

[Nutbutt]

Never heard of a 5th bow fix ever working. From what the dealer has been telling me he has repaired at least 5 over the last 3 months. However being in New England the weather has been hovering in the 30's so most of us haven't been lowering the tops. Once spring arrives we'll be able to see.

[Mandog]

My 5th bow was replaced 4 month ago. In the shop for 3 weeks. GM tech came in to remove and returned to replace once they located the bow. Water management bag replaced at the same time, as I was get a gallon of water on the back floor whenever it rained.

I have not had any problems with the repair and have had the top down 60+ times since the repair was done. However I am still waiting for the correct fix for the rub marks before I have the top replaced.

Moral of the story - Insist that a GM tech be present when the repair is made.

[angrykiller1]

my fix worked! ... it worked 4 times... failed 5 times

[vanlieremead]

Mine is still working. Been two weeks. Top up and down every day.

[SonomaJohn]

Thanks for the responses and I am not surprised that a couple of the tops were fixed with the help of a factory tech. This is something I suggested to GM after the first failure and a technique I used when I was a national service manager. I should have my car back early next week and we will see if it will hold together or not.

John

[vanlieremead]

I received a new number 5 bow and a new top. Both are working and the top has been up and down several times (I'm in nice weather.) Regarding the side pinches, the dealer got aggressive and ground down the headliner clips and the screw. Then he wrapped everything in velcro. So far, so good. I cleaned the top today and so far, no pinch marks. It is a wait and see - I'll send you guys some pictures.

[cactuseater]

Originally Posted by vanlieremead

I received a new number 5 bow and a new top. Both are working and the top has been up and down several times (I'm in nice weather.) Regarding the side pinches, the dealer got aggressive and ground down the headliner clips and the screw. Then he wrapped everything in velcro. So far, so good. I cleaned the top today and so far, no pinch marks. It is a wait and see - I'll send you guys some pictures.

SCOTTSDALE !!!!

I was bumming out because I didn't think anyone in AZ knew how to fix these.
Therefore the factory top is still on the vehicle.

PM me please with the dealer info, mine is starting to have the same issues - and already rubbed a hole in the top (outside fabric) at the rub marks.

Thanks!!!!

[vanlieremead]

OK guys, I've uploaded some pictures after the fix. I'll explain what you are looking at. Pictures are (almost) in order. Missed one and added it to the end - IMG_2162.

IMG_2157: Picture taken 10 am Sunday morning, top down. I've been driving around for about two weeks now, top up and down. When I put it down, I don't put the cover on. Interestingly, the new top seems to flop a little less then the original one. Another note, when I bought the car, the original top had not yet shown the left and right indentations and certainly there were no broken bows.

IMG_2158: Top is down (obviously) in the stowed position. Nothing unusual.

IMG_2159. Raising the tip. In the picture you see the prior cause of the holes and what they did. You see two black bars. Look at the one to the left. Towards the top you see velcro wrapped around a, what I call, a clip. You can just see the head of an exposed screw. This 'pointy' clip was ground down by the dealer. I read in another post on this site someone doing the same thing. You see two indentations on your tops, right? One is caused by the pointy clip. The other is caused by the screw that holds the inner liner at this clip. Both are pressing against the backside of the fabric. Both were ground by the dealer.

IMG_2160: Further advance from picture IMG_2159. Just another view.

IMG_2161: Top on its way to closure. Compare to IMG_2157 - just showing no photoshopping, no BS.

IMG_2162: Top now fully closed. You see not a single mark, no indentations, nothing. That's the deal. These holes start out as indentations and in my opinion, work their way through the top during operation when in the down position. The indentations/holes in beige tops like mine are black. Black tops are white/light gray.

IMG_2163: Close up of the suspect area. See anything?

IMG_2164. View of the other side (left). Again, nothing.

IMG_2165: Not related to the hole but showing the left rear quarter. Nice and tight.

IMG_2166: Last picture of the set. View of the right side looking down from front to back. I'm very pleased with how tight the top is installed. Its almost too tight. When fully closed I sometimes have problems doing the final closure with the center handle. I have to pull down a bit. But I think the top will stretch out over time and I want to wait.

So I'll just keep an eye on this to see if something comes back. Also, the velcro fix probably has to be watched for something longer term that stays on. I have to think about that some more. Regarding the #5 bow that was also replaced, I cannot say if there was a permanent design change to it. So maybe it may break again.

The work was done at Van Chevrolet in Scottsdale. I worked with Don Cherry 480-368-3943. These guys get it. The fix took a couple of visits, probably because the top has to be exercised, left in the sun to stretch, and just driven. They helped me, they will help you. Good luck.

[HDRDTD]

Originally Posted by 95birdible

From what I have seen and heard since I ordered my 12 back in May and have been following this is only 1, that's right 1 car was actually fixed back to new condition. That was after a rep was flown into Becky's dealership and trained the techs how to fix them. I am not giving up hope yet. I will give them one more chance to make it right by getting me out of my Lemon and into a new one. If that one screws up, never again.

Thayt's me, but I never had a problem with the 5th bow, just the rub marks.

the problems I've heard with the 5th bow seem to be from people that have had thier tops replaced. AFTER the top was replaced, they started having problems with the 5th bow.

My top was replaced correctly, so I never had an issue with the 5th bow.

OBTW, I live in a Detroit suburb, so the rep just drove down after work.

[Shooting Star]

will these tops ever be right?would have 2012 vert 2 ss in garage by now. will wait for top fix & nav. radio in 2013.or is it worth it at all ? shooting star

[Bonanza7]

I think The General is waiting, hoping that the Mayan 2012 calendar issue will solve their problems. No more world, no more problems.

[spikess581]

HDRTDT-I believe replacing the 5th bow is what causes the tops to be damaged by untrained installers. That is what happened to me ,bow bent on original top, down hill from there

[W9DR]

On my 2012 2SS Vert, the unknown installer was GM! I ordered the 2SS 45th Ann Vert shipped to a dealer in GA. When I went to pick it up, the dealer said the top had a problem! I am waiting for a real GM engineered fix before get #5 bent Bow/Top replaced.

[2001ragtop]

Is the fifth bow, a bow that is located at the very edge of the convertible basically just ahead of the trunk lid? and the top of the bow is pointing towards the direction of the rear tail-lights?

If so, I have never heard of a BOW being located back there.

When I think of the Bows I think of the bows along the top of the frame holding the top up, like the frame of a pop tent.

so is BOW number 5 at the back?

I think I heard people saying something like when the top is lowered, that this "BOW" somehow MOVES DOWN or something to allow the top material to collapse in back, and to help the glass window fit into the top well.

Anyway if anyone can EXPLAIN where this bow is, I would like to hear this.

I would like to know why the bow keeps failing and if its possible, perhaps someone can propose a better solution that could REPLACE this part.

Thanks.

[spikess581]

I'm here hoping to be that success story your looking for. Should know in a couple of days.

[Shooting Star]

had online chat with GM rep today concerning the convertible top fix- said it was first they heard of it! I might add these people you think are GM employees-they are not, work for a marketing sub contractor in Texas. How can they ever fix it when they don't admit it is broke?! Unbelievable!

[Nutbutt]

First line GM reps are just there to answer the phone and document your issues. They do not know about up coming fixes. I have been talking to 2nd and third level reps who are involved with the vert issues. Even they will not specifically acknowledge our problem as wide spread issue. Your chat rep again is just a 1st level rep, don't waste your time trying to get them to admit any issues.
Mine is in today for the new water management fix. The top rub fix is still pending verification and parts documentation. Again the reps won't say when it will be done or what it consists of. So far I see progress, I wish it were faster but fast fixes resulted in bandaid fixes that caused other problems.

[SSAINT]

Originally Posted by 2001ragtop

Is the fifth bow, a bow that is located at the very edge of the convertible basically just ahead of the trunk lid? and the top of the bow is pointing towards the direction of the rear tail-lights?

If so, I have never heard of a BOW being located back there.

When I think of the Bows I think of the bows along the top of the frame holding the top up, like the frame of a pop tent.

so is BOW number 5 at the back?

I think I heard people saying something like when the top is lowered, that this "BOW" somehow MOVES DOWN or something to allow the top material to collapse in back, and to help the glass window fit into the top well.

Anyway if anyone can EXPLAIN where this bow is, I would like to hear this.

I would like to know why the bow keeps failing and if its possible, perhaps someone can propose a better solution that could REPLACE this part.

Thanks.

I always assumed that it was the fifth bow counting back from the front of the car, but when my car was in last week, the tech said it was actually where you described it, all the way towards the rear of the roof near the trunk. I don't give it much creedence but...he said the problem with the bow is that the water management bag is too large and that somehow is causing the bow to break.

[classicrockr]

Got my car back last Week after having the top replaced. 2 days of rain, no water on the floor. About 1 hour with the top down yesterday & no rub marks that I can see.

Only time will truly tell, but I'm glad that the water management system was not damaged in the replacement process...

[Indiana Rocket]

I'm working with GM customer service and my dealer. They are currently telling me they will not replace my top (that has the holes) because they know it will break again. They are checking to see when the "fix" should be out. I am surprised they seem to be fixing other peoples tops but they won't fix mine. I haven't had it replaced yet. At least they did recognize it was their problem. Does anyone have any advice for what to do now? I don't really feel like waiting months or years for them to get around to fixing the real issue.

[v8]

In all honesty its probably best to wait, just make sure you get something done in the final year of warrantly, whatever that may be........

[95birdible]

Wait, have it noted, take pictures, email said pictures to dealer, have everything documented in case you have to go the Lemon Law route. Ask for and extended warranty on the top from GM. I have seen and been offered 10 years on mine. Ask for it. If they refuse, tell them you are going to go the other route. The ball is in our court. They don't want buy backs and Lemons sitting on the lots.

[Shooting Star]

if it wasn't for Birdible's broken vert I would have one in my garage #3-as a business owner that sells product with mutiple warranties inclusive within it, I strongly recommend you ask for Fort Knox and settle for something reasonable. They will extend the warranty on a defective product usually double that of the standard warranty. The Magneson, Morrison warranty act provides a warranty be given to a product of $15 or more for at least a year. If the car is 6 months old or so, before warranty claim is satisfied, then when everything else has expired the component that has been replaced would have the additional 6 months.I will tell you that is a fact, but for damm sure ask for more and you will receive. Just can't stand the fact they won't take responsibility. Typical GM. Old culture, new culture. Nothing has changed.