MANUALLY Taking Top Up & Down?

HillcrestTop · 11-22-2019, 06:06 PM

A while back I ran into a young gentlemen with the same convertible and asked him if he had problems with the top not working. He said yes, and that he knew a way to "manually" be able to take the top down and put it back up.

He gave me a quick explanation of how to do it but of course I was in a hurry and didn't write down the instructions.

Has ANYONE heard of this? Is it truly possible?! My top has not been working for almost 2 years and recently unsuccessfully was able to get Nissan to pay for the $4,400 repair it would take to fix it. I opened a case # and because my car is used and had been salvaged at one point, they could not approve the fix.

Robert
Topless in San Diego

gbhrps · 11-22-2019, 07:35 PM

HillcrestTop,

This link is a YouTube video by Top Hydraulics, an Oregon company that fixes convertible roof mechanisms on all makes of cars and shows how to open the top manually:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTLYv3kJNIk

This company has more videos on how to repair the most common issues with the 370z mechanism, all on YouTube. You should watch them all, as they may be enough for you to try fixing your top yourself, or .. getting a convertible top shop in Ca to use them and get your car back as it should be.

If you go to Top Hydraulics.com online, you'll see that they can totally rebuild the rams, hoses and hydraulic motor better than new.

Their site and their YouTube videos are a great resource. Good Luck!

Gene

HillcrestTop · 12-04-2019, 11:54 AM

Awesome - thank you so much for this!

LennyK · 02-15-2020, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HillcrestTop

A while back I ran into a young gentlemen with the same convertible and asked him if he had problems with the top not working. He said yes, and that he knew a way to "manually" be able to take the top down and put it back up.

He gave me a quick explanation of how to do it but of course I was in a hurry and didn't write down the instructions.

So Can It Be Done?? - - Please Update

gbhrps · 02-16-2020, 02:48 PM

LennyK,

Absolutely! Read my post above, and then go to the YouTube video I listed in my post to see how its done.

Or ... open your roadsters Owner's Manual and find the procedure with step by step diagrams.

Note that in the video, the spokesman says to not push down on the storage compartment after stowing the top, so that it doesn't lock up on you. Maybe removing the latch assembly from the storage compartment lid would prevent that, if you found it necessary. A couple of bolts and the lock loop is removed.

HillcrestTop · 02-21-2020, 10:55 AM

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread and trying to help with getting my top fixed. After being unsuccessful, have decided to sell my baby.

Hasta La Vista Baby

11-22-2019, 06:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
HillcrestTop Base Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: San Diego Posts: 17 Drives: Nissan 370Z Touring Rep Power: 7	MANUALLY Taking Top Up & Down? A while back I ran into a young gentlemen with the same convertible and asked him if he had problems with the top not working. He said yes, and that he knew a way to "manually" be able to take the top down and put it back up. He gave me a quick explanation of how to do it but of course I was in a hurry and didn't write down the instructions. Has ANYONE heard of this? Is it truly possible?! My top has not been working for almost 2 years and recently unsuccessfully was able to get Nissan to pay for the $4,400 repair it would take to fix it. I opened a case # and because my car is used and had been salvaged at one point, they could not approve the fix. Robert Topless in San Diego

11-22-2019, 07:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
gbhrps Base Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 213 Drives: 2016 RDSTR TS 6spd Rep Power: 7995	HillcrestTop, This link is a YouTube video by Top Hydraulics, an Oregon company that fixes convertible roof mechanisms on all makes of cars and shows how to open the top manually: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTLYv3kJNIk This company has more videos on how to repair the most common issues with the 370z mechanism, all on YouTube. You should watch them all, as they may be enough for you to try fixing your top yourself, or .. getting a convertible top shop in Ca to use them and get your car back as it should be. If you go to Top Hydraulics.com online, you'll see that they can totally rebuild the rams, hoses and hydraulic motor better than new. Their site and their YouTube videos are a great resource. Good Luck! Gene SouthArk370Z, JARblue, gr8-wrx and 2 others like this.

02-16-2020, 02:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
gbhrps Base Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 213 Drives: 2016 RDSTR TS 6spd Rep Power: 7995	LennyK, Absolutely! Read my post above, and then go to the YouTube video I listed in my post to see how its done. Or ... open your roadsters Owner's Manual and find the procedure with step by step diagrams. Note that in the video, the spokesman says to not push down on the storage compartment after stowing the top, so that it doesn't lock up on you. Maybe removing the latch assembly from the storage compartment lid would prevent that, if you found it necessary. A couple of bolts and the lock loop is removed. LennyK and bunk like this.

02-21-2020, 10:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
HillcrestTop Base Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: San Diego Posts: 17 Drives: Nissan 370Z Touring Rep Power: 7	Convertible Top No More Thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread and trying to help with getting my top fixed. After being unsuccessful, have decided to sell my baby. Hasta La Vista Baby

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12-04-2019, 11:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
HillcrestTop Base Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: San Diego Posts: 17 Drives: Nissan 370Z Touring Rep Power: 7	Awesome - thank you so much for this!