A quote from Al. O

['11 cyber grey vert]

Spike
any idea why some 5th bows are blowing out and others are intact?
Metal fatigue? Rivet failure?

[spikess581]

I think maybe a misalignment happened during construction of the vehicle. Also no 2 vehicles are exactly the same that is why there are ''parameters''. The load placed on this part maybe to much for the parameters to compensate for.

[evlar]

spikes, that's the most thorough hypothesis i've read yet on the 5th bow. what i wonder is if all of us are destined to have a failed 5th bow depending on how often we cycle our tops and what climate we live in. certainly this would be an issue GM would have to address...

i will try to remain hopefully optimistic that the bow issues are limited... but i k now that does no good for those dealing with a bent bow. sorry you guys i feel for ya

['11 cyber grey vert]

Originally Posted by spikess581

I think maybe a misalignment happened during construction of the vehicle. Also no 2 vehicles are exactly the same that is why there are ''parameters''. The load placed on this part maybe to much for the parameters to compensate for.

Thanks Spike
That is why I think the rub marks are going to be be an easier fix with a redesign/trimming of brackets and adding spacers where necessary.

The 5th bow more of an issue IMO, if no 2 vehicles are identical tough one to resolve.
but I will remain optimistic that GM will come across with permanent fixes for the various issues.

[spikess581]

It could be most will not I think it is much less common than the rub mark problem. Could be a random thing on the assembly line. A computer glitch maybe.

[Blitz]

Originally Posted by 95birdible

Hop over to the thread again and see Scott's response to my question. My suspicions are becoming reality. They cycled the tops in the cold. He never said they drove them. Hence that is where the problem lies IMO. I posted a question back to him if they were driven in the cold weather also. We shall see his response.

I am proud of the man for stepping up and answering our cries. May not be what we are looking for, but he is answering. He has yet to lie to this community so I have to trust him that they are aware and working on it. Yes it was in the ZL1 section and there could be other motives, but again, I have to trust him based on his record.

Originally Posted by Lee123

I bet a lot of people would like to see those statistics, not just the number of top replacements but also the number of people that have had broken bows and other top repairs. I'm trying to guess how likely it is for mine to break and all I've been able to find so far are some pretty depressing survey results.

I personally think the numbers would show that percentage wise, a small number of verts have had tops replaced. The real question is, how many are there out there like me who have the problem, reported it to the dealer (or even those who did not) but are waiting for a quality fix? I doubt my case and those like mine are "on record", only the actual replacements.

I would also venture to say there are countless tops out there that the owners are blissfully unaware and will only react when a hole or leak occurs outright.

[95birdible]

I should have been more concise in my post. Driving them with the top down in the winter for testing. Instead of just putting the top up and down.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by 95birdible

I should have been more concise in my post. Driving them with the top down in the winter for testing. Instead of just putting the top up and down.

I do recall a couple of stories from Scott while he drove the convertible during the winter. He'd have to say more - because I wasn't there, obviously...but in the back of my head I want to say I read that he did drive around with the top down for a while.

fwiw...

[SUX2BU]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

I do recall a couple of stories from Scott while he drove the convertible during the winter. He'd have to say more - because I wasn't there, obviously...but in the back of my head I want to say I read that he did drive around with the top down for a while.

fwiw...

This was already discussed in the vert section. Testers were in Michigan during winter. They were only instructed to cycle the tops numerous times a day. There was no mention of anyone actually driving with the top down.

[95birdible]

That is correct Sux. No mention in any article nor pictures of it driving top down in the winter. I did see some with the top down but no snow on the ground.

[SUX2BU]

Originally Posted by 95birdible

That is correct Sux. No mention in any article nor pictures of it driving top down in the winter. I did see some with the top down but no snow on the ground.

The only pre-prodction vert I saw driving with the top down in the snow was a red one that someone was showing off with 4 people in the car. But that was right before they hit the showrooms and I doubt they drove around like that for more than a couple minutes. I'm thinking mid to late January 2011.

I'll try to find the link.

[SUX2BU]

[95birdible]

Cool, never saw that video before.

[Drago77]

There was a pic of a black vert driving topless, with all windows up... don't remember what stage of the process it was in, but I do remember that