Opening and closing top

[Bill813]

Started putting top down on my new 2013 SS which was built in 1/13. The handle is real hard to turn opening and almost impossible to turn to latch.

Complaining to my service dept who called Chevrolet on this problem Was told to soak it with a hose and let it air dry to stretch it.
I soaked it two days when it was cool and let it air dry each time. I then soaked it two days when it was hot and let it dry. No difference.

Am not having this problem with 2012 SS which was built in 8/11. The top on the 2013 is 5 times as hard to latch as the 2012. I have to push down on the top with my left hand/arm and latch it with my right. The top on the 2013 seems much tighter than the one on the 2012

Anybody else having this problem??

[Michael Rophone]

Originally Posted by Bill813

Started putting top down on my new 2013 SS which was built in 1/13. The handle is real hard to turn opening and almost impossible to turn to latch...

Questions: Comparing the profile of your 2012 top with your 2013 top, are the frame ribs more pronounced on the '13?

Comparing the 5th Bow seal along the trunk lids, are they identical on both the '12 and the '13? Any differences?

While you are struggling with the latch, do you see any momentary message on your DIC? What does it say?

[intensifi]

I've driven 3. All the same. I'm calling B.S. something else is wrong.

[Bill813]

Originally Posted by Michael Rophone

Questions: Comparing the profile of your 2012 top with your 2013 top, are the frame ribs more pronounced on the '13?

Comparing the 5th Bow seal along the trunk lids, are they identical on both the '12 and the '13? Any differences?

While you are struggling with the latch, do you see any momentary message on your DIC? What does it say?

The frame ribs on the 13 are less pronounced than on the 12. Probably because of the top being tighter.

The bow seal along the trunk lids are identical

When closing top DIC reads Top Insecure until it is latched. Then it returns to mileage.

[Baba]

Perhaps a shot in the dark:

With your top down, check the top of the windshield frame. There are two "divets" (for lack of a better term) in which the metal "hooks" of the top latch into. These should have black plastic protectors in them (at least my Camaro does). Check to see if one of the "protectors" isn't misshaped / deformed. If it is, try to get it replaced.

If you haven't done so before, you may want to double-check whether the top is closing completely BEFORE you latch the top. Completely put the top up - don't latch - get out of the car and make sure that both latches are inserted in the windshield frame "divets" (for lack of a better descriptor).

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Originally Posted by Bill813

Started putting top down on my new 2013 SS which was built in 1/13. The handle is real hard to turn opening and almost impossible to turn to latch.

Complaining to my service dept who called Chevrolet on this problem Was told to soak it with a hose and let it air dry to stretch it.
I soaked it two days when it was cool and let it air dry each time. I then soaked it two days when it was hot and let it dry. No difference.

Am not having this problem with 2012 SS which was built in 8/11. The top on the 2013 is 5 times as hard to latch as the 2012. I have to push down on the top with my left hand/arm and latch it with my right. The top on the 2013 seems much tighter than the one on the 2012

Anybody else having this problem??

Oh no!

Sorry to hear about the difficulties with the top Bill813. I know that can be very frustrating for you. I would like to research these matters further so could you send me the VIN so I can thoroughly do so?

Looking forward to your reply,

William R.
Chevrolet Customer Care

[Bill813]

In answer to Baba: I have 2 chrome 'divits' that the top latches in to. Both cars

In answer to William @ Chevrolet: The VIN is 2G1FK3DJXD9189916. You are right is a problem, especially since this is supposed to be my wife's car and the top is too hard for her to put down and impossible for her to put up. The 2012 is much easier, but she cant drive stick. HELP

[Oldag]

Just picked up my new 2013 on Saturday. It is fairly tight, but not as bad as what you describe.

[HDRDTD]

When you go to latch the top once it's up, there may be around 1/2 inch of daylight beween the top od the windshield and the edge of the top.

This alone is nothing to worry about.

I had a 2011 @SS/RS Vert and now I have a 2013 ZL1 Vert.
Yes the 2013 requires a bit more of a tug on the handle to pull the top down into position on the windshield to turn the handle and latch it.

The tension on the top seems to be a fine balancing act. The earlier cars had trouble with the fabric rubbing in various spots, etc.

Over the last year's , many changes were made in the top it try to address all the concerns.

In the end, it appears that too slack of the tension in the top may cause rub spots or possibly not sealing around the windows enough causing a bit of road noise to enter the cabin.

Increasing the tension seems to help it eliminate the rub marks (along with other changes that were made in the mechanism) but makes it a bit harder to close/latch the top.

If the tension is too high, you run the risk of the top being so taut that it puts too much pressure on the 5th cross rib just ahead of the rear window, causing the 5th bow to collapse or break causing large wrinkles at the raer sides of the top and a large gap between the rear edge of the top and the trunk opening.

It sounds as though perhaps your top is adjusted a bit on the tight side. Now having said that, a new top will indeed stretch just a bit with time and warm temps.

At the very least, I would take it to the dealer to show them just how tight the top appears to be. They may just decide it's normal, but at least you will have it documented at the dealer in the event that the top doesn't loosen over time and it ends up collapsing the 5th bow after all.

the top on my 2011 was replaced early on, and the dealer called in an expert from GM to show them how to repair a top and they installed/adjusted it perfectly. When I traded the car in for the ZL1, it had over 20,000 miles and the top was still great.

The 2013 ZL1 Vert now has 5,500 miles and it's top is still perfect although like you, it takes a bit of a tug to latch the top.

[OrangeVert]

2011 SS/RS top has never has been hard to close. Sounds like something may be wrong with yours - you're right, it should not be hard to close.

[bwk1971]

Mine is very difficult to close as well. I almost have to do a one-handed chin-up on the latch to pull it down. I'm have said from day one that I thought it was too tight. The dealer says it's fine. Last month, my top made a loud popping noise when going down and then wouldn't go up. It came up half way and was deformed. I had to manually pull it the rest of the way to get it latched. Worst part is it happened at a party while I was "showing off" my new car. Then it wouldn't go down again. I took it to the dealer and they found that the "driver's side strut had come disconnected" resulting in the driver's side cylinder becoming detached. They said it was a clip that was installed backwards at the factory, but I have always thought it had something to do with how tight the top is.

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Originally Posted by bwk1971

Mine is very difficult to close as well. I almost have to do a one-handed chin-up on the latch to pull it down. I'm have said from day one that I thought it was too tight. The dealer says it's fine. Last month, my top made a loud popping noise when going down and then wouldn't go up. It came up half way and was deformed. I had to manually pull it the rest of the way to get it latched. Worst part is it happened at a party while I was "showing off" my new car. Then it wouldn't go down again. I took it to the dealer and they found that the "driver's side strut had come disconnected" resulting in the driver's side cylinder becoming detached. They said it was a clip that was installed backwards at the factory, but I have always thought it had something to do with how tight the top is. Attachment 507169

Hello bwk1971,

There is never a good time to have car issues, but especially not so when showcasing your vehicle. We apologize for this issue. Were you able to get this issue corrected at the dealership on your visit?

Reggie B.
Chevrolet Customer Care

[bwk1971]

Originally Posted by Chevrolet Customer Svc

Hello bwk1971,

There is never a good time to have car issues, but especially not so when showcasing your vehicle. We apologize for this issue. Were you able to get this issue corrected at the dealership on your visit?

Reggie B.
Chevrolet Customer Care

Broken top was fixed, but not the tightness. But to be fair, I only raised the tightness issue with the sales manager, not with the service manager. Sorry for jacking. Didn't sound right, thread jacking that is.

[H0peful1]

Originally Posted by Bill813

Anybody else having this problem??

Thin, not particularly strong, woman here: able to latch my 2013 top just fine.