99 Mustang Convertible top problem

[DonTom]

1999 Mustang Convertible, 3.8L.

The convertible top has been down for almost a year. It used to work fine back then. Now, when I try to put it up, both pins in front of the cover miss each hole in the windshield, short by about 0.25" (6.35 cm). That might as well be a foot because it cannot be forced in either way.

I wonder if the weather had something to do with this change. Perhaps it shrunk a bit?

I cannot force it in or anything. What could be the problem?

I did add some Dextron 3 to the hydraulic motor, but it made no difference. I don't know what else to try. Any ideas?

-Don- Reno, NV

[Ken]

The only info I can find suggests getting the top as warm as possible,
at least four hours in hot sun recommended, then keep trying to
stretch it shut. Hair dryer recommended but not a heat gun for
good reason obviously. Once/if you manage to get it latched
leave it in the sun for as long as possible. Repeat several times.

Several reports on the 'net but with varying degrees of success.

Ken.

[DonTom]

The only info I can find suggests getting the top as warm as possible,
at least four hours in hot sun recommended, then keep trying to
stretch it shut. Hair dryer recommended but not a heat gun for
good reason obviously. Once/if you manage to get it latched
leave it in the sun for as long as possible. Repeat several times.

Several reports on the 'net but with varying degrees of success.

Ken.

Yeah, I too was thinking it must be weather related. It's still cool here, so perhaps it will fit in a few weeks after it warms up a bit. And it was probably very hot the last time it was used, as that would have been late spring or early summer.

I might just try a small portable heater or something like that, to warm it up later, after I replace that fuel filter in my 2002 Mustang hardtop.

-Don- Reno, NV

[grouch]

Yeah, I too was thinking it must be weather related. It's still cool here, so perhaps it will fit in a few weeks after it warms up a bit. And it was probably very hot the last time it was used, as that would have been late spring or early summer.

I might just try a small portable heater or something like that, to warm it up later, after I replace that fuel filter in my 2002 Mustang hardtop.

-Don- Reno, NV

I learned the hard way with my 380SL to always store a soft top car with the top in the up and closed position. The fabric likes to shrink. Once you get it up and latched, leave it in the sun for as long as possible.

[DonTom]

I learned the hard way with my 380SL to always store a soft top car with the top in the up and closed position. The fabric likes to shrink. Once you get it up and latched, leave it in the sun for as long as possible.

That's what I am now doing.

One of my cycle buddies came by and we figured as a two man job, we could get the top up and we did.

The way we did it was for one of us to push down on the front cross bar (to flatten out some of the angle) of the top as the other pushes it down to seat in. It worked, so all is now fine and I probably won't lower it again until mid summer and from now on, I know to keep it up when vehicle is not being used for a while. However, I expect, from now on, to be using all my vehicles as I will drive another one every few days, just as I do with my six motorcycles.

-Don- Cold Springs Valley, NV