Problem with convertible top.

ANSWER : Hello. Most of the time this is caused by the lift motor failing. The motor will lose its ability to lift the top, which will cause all of these symptoms. It can also be an electrical issue, but this is not as common. For a problem with the convertible top, your best bet may be to bring the car into the dealer to see if they can pinpoint and repair the problem.

ANSWER : You will need to have the local mechanic like one from YourMechanic inspect the vehicle top to see if they can get the vehicle back together. I would recommend checking into another auto upholstery shop to see if there is a reason nothing fits back on and if they can repair it for you.

ANSWER : Hi there – I would look for a trusted 2nd opinion. Having multiple failures of the same type is both expensive, and an indication that the real source problem is not being discovered. Get the problem codes that are setting the Check Engine light. An auto parts store will do this for you for free on a "time-available" basis. A lean fuel mixture condition shouldn’t be "killing" catalytic converters at the rate you describe (but too rich will). A lean condition could be caused by an air leak in the intake, or malfunctioning oxygen sensors (pre-catalytic converter). I recommend a loss of power inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, and give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

ANSWER : Hello there. When checking the fluid, the top must be in the service position for an accurate reading. This should show the fluid level at the proper level once the top is in the service position.

The bolt and washer are removed carefully and the Mercedes special tool is used to add or remove fluid. The only approved convertible top fluid is the fluid supplied by Mercedes under their own brand.

WD40 is not a lubricate that is used to remove water and rust, but it is not sufficient for lubrication purposes long term. If the top is continuing to not work, then there is likely another fault other than the fluid level. The most common would be one of the top motors being faulty, a bad top position sensor, or a broken top switch. If you need help having these checked, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose and repair your convertible top.

ANSWER : As vehicles age, it is not uncommon to have convertible top issues. Convertible tops rely on many sensors and motors to work properly. When one or more of these items start to have issues, it can be difficult to detect which is the cause. The most common causes are one of the top motors, or a latch assembly. A qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, will be able to diagnose any problems with the convertible top and perform any repairs required.

ANSWER : Hello there, many common faults will cause your 2006 Volkswagen Beetle convertible top to not function. It is great that you have performed the reset procedure already as that is typically the first step in diagnosis. In most cases when the electrical noise is heard and the convertible top motor is heard trying to work this indicates that the top is receiving power. Common faults that will cause your top to not work are the convertible top motor, top switch, position sensor, or a wiring harness fault. A qualified Technician such as one from YourMechanic will be able to diagnose your convertibles electronic issue and make any repairs required.

ANSWER : If you have not done a job like this before you might want to consider watching a professional from YourMechanic do it for you, especially as the labor time is less than 1.5 hours so it’s pretty economical. The first order of business, of course, is to make sure that the upper hose is actually leaking and you don’t have a different issue such as a crack is the radiator itself where the hose attaches. Also, if that hose is leaking due to a break in aged rubber, the other "old" hoses should be inspected as well. A radiator hose replacement entails removing any plastic shields that prevent access to the hose(s). Then, you have to drain the coolant to a level below the lowest point that you will be working at. The hose clamps are removed and then you have to carefully "debond" the hose from the point it is attached to the tank. Over time, the rubber will bond really tightly to the radiator and you have to break the seal with damaging or severely scratching the radiator "nipple" (the part the hose slides over). Then you slip the new hose on (with clamps already loosely applied), apply the clamps and you are ready to refill. When refilling, you have to open the cooling system bleeder screws (if equipped) to ensure that air does not get trapped. Trapped air could cause the car to overheat as trapped air can block coolant flow.

ANSWER : Hello Hannah. Sometimes on a soft top Jeep (specifically Wranglers), the excessive noise is caused by a weather strip on the outside of the doors that has worn out. It’s also possible that the interior ’weather strip’ on the top is the root issue. Before you spend the money to replace the roof, you might want to have one of our mobile mechanics come to your location and complete a car is making a noise inspection. This will allow them to pinpoint the precise source of the road noise issue; so the right repairs can be completed.