Replacement top woes

[QuiksilverHg]

Taking my car to the dealer Wednesday and want to make sure I can speak intelligently before I get there, so a few questions.

Can someone explain the water-bag thing to me a little more. My car used to be water tight, but now after the replacement top the floor behind the drivers seat is getting soaked every time it rains. From inside the car I couldn't see where it was coming from so I assume it's a leak from the water bag...does this sound likely?

With the top up there should not be any tensioning wires that you can see from the outside right?

How difficult is it to fix parts where the top isn't stretched tight...there is a small wrinkle over the driver's seat right now.

Thanks for the info

[Tom_T]

QuiksilverHg
Sorry to hear your problems. I had my top replaced on the 8th and 9th of April. I have washed it 3 times and each time I have checked my rear seat floor for wetness. So far it is dry.....................you are right in believing that it is the water management system that is the problem.
As far as tensioning wires being seen from the outside with the top up, I would say absolutely not.
As far as the difficulty in fixing things I am of no help, sorry. I was scheduled to go in this morning for an adjustment to the passenger side but cancelled because of rain. Am going to try later in the week. My top is not coming down evenly when closing, hopefully just an adjustment as everything else is good.

[spikess581]

If you are seeing the wires it means the person replacing it ignored the instructions available from GM and they are routed wrong. Easy fix but you will need new weatherstripping. As for the water bag get in the back seat with the top up and reach behind the headliner down into the well behind the side glass. Reach inside the bag and follow it forward and you will feel the opening to the drain tube. Insert finger and push forward and you should feel it pop back into the hole in the frame work. You can view this tube with the top at about halfway down also.

[Nutbutt]

If you are having water management problem after the top replacement or refit, your best bet is to bring it back to the dealership. Yes you may be able to re hook the drain but it will continue to come apart. There is a new water management bag the are installing now that is a little larger in design to prevent the issue you are having. Been there, Done that !

[cam62]

Originally Posted by Nutbutt

If you are having water management problem after the top replacement or refit, your best bet is to bring it back to the dealership. Yes you may be able to re hook the drain but it will continue to come apart. There is a new water management bag the are installing now that is a little larger in design to prevent the issue you are having. Been there, Done that !

Not only this but you should also get new carpet and probably rear seat cushions also. It's not "just a little bit of water" that has pooled in your floorboard.

I know... been there.

[meSSohappy]

Sorry to ask stupid question but I am new vert owner and new to site and trying to navigate my way around. Are there problems with the top? Was there a recall? I bought my car at a KIA dealer with 6800kms on it. They said there were no recalss or issues and my GM dealer isnt open til tomorrow. I will talk to them about recalls and such then.

Thanks

[95birdible]

Meso, just search the posts here on C5 in the Vert forum and stop by over here.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/226942550693692/

There have been plenty of documented problems with the tops on both years. Some people have been fine, others have had nightmares. I am one that had a nightmare. If you don't know, please ask. We are all in the same boat err vert and love our cars to death. Just not some of the problems we have incurred.

[Fnfalguy]

I currently have a "water tight" convertible top but it is getting replaced at the end of this week because of the rub marks and wrinkles. I'm going to be sure to press the dealership to do an extensive leak test before I get it back. I pray that they don't screw up my car!

[QuiksilverHg]

Fnfal just be aware a 'leak check' at the dealer may not catch it all. My dealer said he did a leak check and it was fine, but the first time it rained the back floor was soaked. I imagine there must need to be a significant volume of rain before the waterbags get full and then leak onto the carpets.

Had to reschedule for Friday due to a Navy thing. Hopefully it gets fixed cause I am going on a big cross country to move to Texas in just over a week.

[meSSohappy]

Talked to my dealer today and found out that there is an existing recall on the 20011 vert for the roof latch. It is going in on Saturday. Anyone aware of this recall and what it is all about.

Does anyone have a pic of a bad roof....one that is getting replaced. Not really sure what a bad and good roof look like. I can see the ribs in mine but no leaks, tears or wires.

[QuiksilverHg]

Ribs are fine, wear marks (looks like 1-3 pressed in circles like the size of a thumbtack) over passenger and/or drivers door are very bad. Wrinkles are bad, it should be stretched tight. Don't know what the deal is with the roof latch, mine is fine other than occasionally being latched and still saying unsecure. Have to cycle it again to fix it.

The worst is when you unlatch it to put it down, realize you didn't have the trunk net pulled out, then it fights you in trying to get it latched again. Won't move up or down, can't open the trunk, have to jiggle the handle and the top til it finally realizes it's latched. Not a huge deal, but usually takes me 3-4 minutes of fiddling with it to get it to realize it's latched to let me go open the trunk and pull the net out.

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Originally Posted by QuiksilverHg

Fnfal just be aware a 'leak check' at the dealer may not catch it all. My dealer said he did a leak check and it was fine, but the first time it rained the back floor was soaked. I imagine there must need to be a significant volume of rain before the waterbags get full and then leak onto the carpets.

Had to reschedule for Friday due to a Navy thing. Hopefully it gets fixed cause I am going on a big cross country to move to Texas in just over a week.

I certainly understand that your car being flooded was an inconvenience. Please let us know if your dealership was able to correct the issue you are experiencing.

All the best,

Brandon
Chevrolet Customer Service

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Originally Posted by mesohappy

Talked to my dealer today and found out that there is an existing recall on the 20011 vert for the roof latch. It is going in on Saturday. Anyone aware of this recall and what it is all about.

Does anyone have a pic of a bad roof....one that is getting replaced. Not really sure what a bad and good roof look like. I can see the ribs in mine but no leaks, tears or wires.

Hello there! It isn't exactly a recall. What it is, is a customer satisfaction program. Certain 2011-2012 model year Chevrolet Camaro vehicles, equipped with a convertible top, may have a condition in which the headliner corner support bracket may contact or tear the convertible top when the top is in down position, and may have wind noise at the front and/orrear quarter glass.

This doesn't apply to all vehicles. Every recall, customer satisfaction program, warranty, etc. are VIN specific and require dealership verification. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me via PM.

Brandon
Chevrolet Customer Service

[rudygotopless]

If anyone in Central Florida is having trouble with their top (ie leaking, wearing, spots, etc.) take it to the dealer I bought mine from: Gordon Chevrolet in Tampa. I have had no problems and they seem to know what do do when I did my recall.

[cam62]

Wow.. Gordon Chevrolet is the dealer that COMPLETELY screwed mine up and accused me of burning it with a cigarette.. and they are a large part of why GM bought my first one back.

different experiences for different folks I guess.

[Xorak]

Originally Posted by cam62

Wow.. Gordon Chevrolet is the dealer that COMPLETELY screwed mine up and accused me of burning it with a cigarette.. and they are a large part of why GM bought my first one back.

different experiences for different folks I guess.

maybe that's why his experience was good... lol

[Fnfalguy]

I was supposed have gotten my convertible roof replaced tomorrow. However, the dealership called me today and said that there were no spare convertible roofs available in the area for my car so I am "on the list" for replacement once a roof becomes available!

:(

[triplethreat]

Originally Posted by Chevrolet Customer Svc

Hello there! It isn't exactly a recall. What it is, is a customer satisfaction program. Certain 2011-2012 model year Chevrolet Camaro vehicles, equipped with a convertible top, may have a condition in which the headliner corner support bracket may contact or tear the convertible top when the top is in down position, and may have wind noise at the front and/orrear quarter glass.

This doesn't apply to all vehicles. Every recall, customer satisfaction program, warranty, etc. are VIN specific and require dealership verification. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me via PM.

Brandon
Chevrolet Customer Service

Brandon,
I think mesohappy was talking about the latch and not the top on the recall part.

[meSSohappy]

Originally Posted by triplethreat

Brandon,
I think mesohappy was talking about the latch and not the top on the recall part.

Yes. Apparently there is a problem with the latch mechanism that can causes a tear in the roof when it is folded up.

[meSSohappy]

Well I looked at my top tonite and there are 2-3 small button size indentations above both doors, in the same place. If I run my fingers over them, my little finger sits in them nicely !! I think there is a lot of rub marks above the ribs as well...idk....might be normal. Will try to get a pic posted.

[meSSohappy]

Here are some pics of all the little things I can find....seems to be a lot of white marks and wrinkles. Whatya think?

[Fnfalguy]

Originally Posted by mesohappy

Here are some pics of all the little things I can find....seems to be a lot of white marks and wrinkles. Whatya think?

Your roof looks like mind and now GM is trying to locate a new convertible top to put on my car.

[meSSohappy]

Well my experience at the dealer this am was less than favorable. I booked the car in last week for the latch recall and they didnt have the parts to fix it today. So I asked them about the roof and the first question out of their mouths was "where did you buy the car?" Oh boy,here we go !
I bought the car used, at a non GM dealer, with 6600 kms on it. They rolled their eyes and started whispering to each other....how rude!!
So the guy that deals with the problem isnt in today, had to rebook for next Saturday as I work out of town during the week. We have only sold 2 of these cars and no issues...ok whatever....now you have one. I told them about my research and how well documented this problem is and as soon as they found out my research came off of a forum...well you guessed it...."those forums are all full of unreliable info". Oh, and apparently the GM buy back doesnt apply because I bought it from a non GM dealer used....whatever....I dont care about that as I bought the car as a vert not a roof up driver. He then started to tell me about a goofy thing, then hesitated and said "Its better if you wait till next weekend when you bring it back in and the manager will fill you about the goofy thing"....way to keep a guy hanging !!! So, it seems to me that I am being set up for a dissapointing meeting next weekend. The kicker is that I went to this dealer a year ago and asked them to find me this exact car it was too rare and not likely to be around. I found it, asked them to get it for me,they said it would cost me an extra $3000.00 for them to get it and sell it to me (it was 800km away in the same province), obviously I said no and picked it up myself. So its not like I didnt give them a chance to sell me a car, and a new one ordered was 6-8 wk delivery and xtra 10-15 G's.

I guess I will have to wait til next weekend to find out. Please comment on anything I have posted.

[crd2daniel]

Here's my fix, I don't want a top replacement so I'm gonna try to make mine last as long as possible. I started to get some holes from the inside, so that they don't wear all the way through I decided to put small velcro pieces where the holes are starting to form. The first two pics are on the passenger side, the next two are on the drivers side, the last two are of the small spot over the passenger door, whenever I lower my top I put a piece of velcro on that spot, when I raise the top I just take it off and save it for the next time. So far so good.

[cam62]

Good idea, but no, I am not going to go out of my way to do this. It's BS that we should even have to think about it.