Soft Top

Soft top

Outer and inner skin





Outer skin
The outer skin is available in four colors, black, beige, blue and red.
The outer skin is fastened at the front edge with 12 screws screwed into the soft top frame front member and one screw on each side for the cable mounting. The cable tensions the soft top outwards to the side members.
The outer skin is fastened at the rear edge with 17 screws which are screwed into the tensioner arch.
The side pieces are fastened to the soft top frame with three rivets per side (these also hold the side window weatherstrips). The skin is secured at the frame hinges with four straps that are screwed into the soft top frame.
The center section of the skin is bonded to the roof arches with double-sided adhesive tape.

Inner skin
The inner skin is only available in black. The rear section of the inner skin is fastened to the tensioner arch with 11 screws (the same screws which hold the outer skin), and one screw per side, beside the tensioner arch. The skin can also be bonded to the tensioner arch. Above the rear windshield there is spring for the inner skin screwed into the soft top frame. The inner skin is bonded around the rear windshield with double-sided adhesive tape and also secured with a zip fastener to the outer skin.
The side pieces are secured with three press studs in the rear section of the side and a velcro strip around the arches near the soft top frame hinges. An elastic band is secured with two screws slightly further forward at the side of the skin.
The mountings in the center of the inner skin is in the skin. These mountings are pressed against the roof arches. In the center a lateral rib holds the inner skin in position.
The inner skin is secured at the front edge against the front cross member with an edge protector and eight screws (same screws which hold the outer skin).

Soft top frame, lock and weather strips





Soft top frame
The soft top frame consists of the following components:
- The soft top frame consists of the following components.
- Four lateral roof arches.
- Rear arch, a tensioner arch which tensions the soft top.
- The cross member and all arches are connected by a position strap on each side. The position straps are textile straps screwed into the arches at exact distance intervals.
- At the sides there are lengthwise side members, which are articulated in the middle. The front frame locking arms are in the front section. The skin is bonded to the front side members and should always be replaced when the skin is removed.
- Soft top unit components that are available as separate replacement parts are the front section of the soft top unit, the tensioner arches and front locking arms.

Front lock mechanism
The front lock mechanisms are controlled by the front motor via two drive cables with spline joints.
The locking arms lock the soft top in lugs on the window frame.
The front lock mechanism micro switch can be adjusted.

Weatherstrips soft top unit
There is a weatherstrip in the windshield frame arch to seal the front edge of the soft top. A weatherstrip is screw mounted in the tensioner arch to seal the rear edge of the soft top.
The side members have three weatherstrips per side. The weatherstrips for the door frames and weatherstrips for the front section of the side windows are mounted with three screws each. These weatherstrips are vertically adjustable using an adjusting shim.
The weatherstrips for the rear section of the side windows are mounted on the side members with three rivets which also hold the outer skin.

Motors, cabling and control units





Motors
Five motors drive the different operations from the soft top unit:
- One motor controls the front lock mechanism
- Two motors control the tensioner arches
- Two more motors control raising and lowering the soft top.

Wiring and fuses
The wiring for the soft top unit and cover are one unit. When removing the soft top unit the complete cable harness is removed as far as the control module.
New fuses for the soft top unit are nos. 37 electrical power window mechanism, and 41 and 42 power soft top. Fuses nos. 41 and 42 (30 A automatic fuses) are located in the passenger compartment on the left side under the dashboard, beside the relay box.

Control modules
The soft top system control module is located in the cargo compartment, inside the right side panel hung in the upper section of the rear fender.
The side window control module is located in the center of the dashboard.

Soft top Cover / Lock mechanism





Soft top cover
The cover is made of plastic. It is made up of two sections, an outer section painted the same color as the car and an inner section covered with vinyl of the same color as the rest of the car interior.
The cover is mounted to the car with two hinges at the rear edge.

Lock mechanism for soft top cover
The cover lock mechanism consists of a number of units.
The main ones are:
- 2 electric motors, including cables
- Rear locking arms, right and left hand side
- Front locking arms, right and left hand side
- Cover locking lugs.
The rear locking arms are mounted in the rear section of the cover. The locking arms have two functions, opening and closing the cover and also locking the soft top frame tensioner arch when the soft top has been tensioned. The locking arms are regulated by an electric motor located in the center of the soft top cavity rear wall. The connection between the motor and locking arm is via two drive cables, which have spline joints.
The lock for the soft top cover is mounted on the front edge of the soft top cavity inner wall. The corresponding section of the cover are the locking lugs which the lock grips to lock the cover. Both left and right locks are regulated by the second of the two electric motors which are located on the panel at the rear of the soft top cavity. The connection here is also with two cables. These two cables are adjustable at the lock.

Micro switch, position sensor and diagnostics CCU





Locations of micro-switches and position sensors
1. Position sensor, rear locking arm
2. Position sensor soft top
3. Micro-switch front lock
4. Micro-switch front locking arm, rear respectively forward position
5. Micro-switch, tensioner arch
6. Micro switch, lock - cover right and left
7. Micro-switch, rear locking arm right and left.

Diagnostics soft top unit
Soft top unit control module connected to data link connector (DLC). A menu for the soft top unit CCU (Convertible top Control Unit) has been introduced under group 8.
The following diagnostic functions are under the soft top CCU menu:
- Diagnostic Test Mode (DTM)
- Monitor test
- Calibrating the soft top unit
- Control module identification.
A total of 35 diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) can be read off.
In the monitor test there are 34 parameters.
There are 13 activating functions when calibrating the soft top unit. When repairing or replacing the components in the soft top unit calibration must be carried out for the respective position sensor. When calibrating it is important that the scheme is followed.

Soft top position when folded down.





Folding it down
When the soft top is being folded down the handbrake should be applied and the trunk lid closed. The soft top is folded down in six stages. When servicing or repairing refer to the different positions.

Figure 1
- The antenna is withdrawn and the trunk lid prevented from opening. Rear windshield demist cannot be activated. Then the rear locking arms disengage from the tensioner arch locking brackets and the side windows are lower a few centimeters. On cars equipped with ECC, the air conditioning (A/C) system goes to manual control.

Figure 2
- The tensioner bat folds up and the cover lock opens.

Figure 3
- The soft top front lock opens at the same time as the cover folds up.

Figure 4
- The soft top folds into the car's soft top cavity.

Figure 5
- The cover folds down.

Figure 6
- The cover lock closes at the same time as the trunk lid can be opened and the side windows are raised.

Soft top position when folding up





Folding it up
Folding the soft top up occurs in six stages.

Figure 1
- The antenna is withdrawn and the trunk lid prevented from opening. If the side windows are in the raised position they are lowered a few centimeters at the same time as the cover lock is opened.

Figure 2
- The cover folds up.

Figure 3
- The soft top folds up.

Figure 4
- The soft top front lock closes at the same time as the cover folds down.

Figure 5
- The lock for the cover closes and the tensioner arch folds down.

Figure 6
- The tensioner arch locks at the same time tensioning the soft top. The trunk lid can be opened once again and the rear windshield demist can be activated. On cars with ECC, the air conditioning (A/C) system functions normally.