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My top works fine but I have the sensor in the trunk pushed down with a zip tie because something has to be missing. Nothing seems to be broken off the cargo cover. I'm attaching a picture of the sensor in the back.
I believe the gas struts on the trunk partition have failed. Over time, they get weak and won;t hold the partition closed tightly enough to trip this switch. Replace those struts and you'll be back in business. With new struts, they will be very strong and it will take a good bit of pressure to operate the partition. I bought mine from RMeuropean.com - $21 each.
I changed the struts. I bought the car like this. There's too big of a gap from the cargo cover and the switch. There might be a piece missing or something is broken can someone take a picture of theirs so I can compare
Here's a pic of mine, but as you can see it won't do you any good because it looks exactly the same as yours. Maybe your new gas struts are bad, or the partition has some issue. Is your partition off to one side? They can get bumped and be off center. Maybe yours is just not contacting the switch right? The switch should give an audible click when you press it in just a little.
Here is a picture of mine closed you can see how off it is. Maybe I'm missing a piece I'm not sure. If you can send me a picture of yours closed just so I can see.
I'll post up a pic. Your pic is not the best quality, but I don't think you are missing anything. That little post on the partition is supposed to press the switch. But yours looks like it's about an inch too far right. So one of two things is true - your partition is too far right or the switch got pushed left. I tend to think your switch got pushed left for two reasons. One, it has scrapes on it like it's been hit. Two, I don't think the design allows the partition to be that far right. Dead center in your partition above where the handhold is there is a plastic centering arm. It goes into a hole when the partition is lowered. If your partition is off center even a little bit that arm will rub. I had to re-center mine like 1/8". I don't think the partition could be off as far as yours is. But it may also not be possible for the switch to get pushed that far left. So you are going to have to investigate the cause, but physical alignment of the two parts appears to be your problem. Neither should be a hard fix.
Here are some photos of mine. The key thing is that despite the closer gap, notice how the switch on mine is perfectly parallel to the edge of the partition. Yours appears to me much farther away at the bottom - in other words, bent. Upon closer inspection, the switch is mounted on a metal strap covered in plastic (see other two pics). It could easily be bent in. If it it were me, I'd remove it and remove the plastic to straighten the strap, but you might just be able to grab it and slowly bend it back. But open your back panel to see it better from above and see exactly why it's crooked.
Just bought this 2009 gal yesterday knowing there was an issue with the trunk partition cover. It was missing the gas springs and has a "fix" on the top switch. When I looked further after reading this blog, I noticed the right side bracket appears to be severely bent. See photo. Can I bend this back and should the socket ball be in a horizontal position? I can't accurately compare to left side as that may be bent also.
Last edited by Jackharja; 12-12-2015 at 10:59 AM.
Reason: intended picture did not attach.
Just bought this 2009 gal yesterday knowing there was an issue with the trunk partition cover. It was missing the gas springs and has a "fix" on the top switch. When I looked further after reading this blog, I noticed the right side bracket appears to be severely bent. See photo. Can I bend this back and should the socket ball be in a horizontal position? I can't accurately compare to left side as that may be bent also.
The things people do to their cars - how does that even get bent like that? But yeah, it's just sheet metal - you can massage it back into shape. Yes, the ball ought to be horizontal. Despite how badly it is bent, you can pretty much see how it should be.
Thanks for the advice. I was really stumped as to the positioning of this strut post. The gentleman I bought the car from is 88 years old and could not recall how this happened. Go figure!
Here are some photos of mine. The key thing is that despite the closer gap, notice how the switch on mine is perfectly parallel to the edge of the partition. Yours appears to me much farther away at the bottom - in other words, bent. Upon closer inspection, the switch is mounted on a metal strap covered in plastic (see other two pics). It could easily be bent in. If it it were me, I'd remove it and remove the plastic to straighten the strap, but you might just be able to grab it and slowly bend it back. But open your back panel to see it better from above and see exactly why it's crooked.
You were right it was bent. I just grabbed it and bent it back into place and now everything is working fine. THANKS AGAIN!
Hi guys, sorry to resurrect the thread. I have a similar problem. The convertible soft top works fine but I have to depress the sensor manually as the cover doesn't lock itself in place.
I read this thread and not sure what you guys meant by bending the metal? Am I missing a piece to lock in the cover? It seems like no matterm how hard I tried to pull it down... the sensor still jump back out.
view from the bottom The part that sticks out is quite narrow and cant really hold it with the sensor part that seems larger fitting
I changed the struts. I bought the car like this. There's too big of a gap from the cargo cover and the switch. There might be a piece missing or something is broken can someone take a picture of theirs so I can compare
yes the gap is too big... is exactly my problem as well
Your pictures are not really clear enough. You might just have bad gas struts. If you can pull the partition down manually and the little plastic post presses the switch, then you need new struts.
Your pictures are not really clear enough. You might just have bad gas struts. If you can pull the partition down manually and the little plastic post presses the switch, then you need new struts.
thanks, I think replacement of the new struts is what the other thread is talking about? Do you know what is the approx cost to order for the dealer and is it easy to install?
thanks, I think replacement of the new struts is what the other thread is talking about? Do you know what is the approx cost to order for the dealer and is it easy to install?
Don't order from a dealer. Buy them online from a place like Pelican Parts. Buy Stabilus brand, not the ones with MB on them because Stabilus makes them anyway. They are less than $20 each. Very easy to install if you have any skill at all.
Don't order from a dealer. Buy them online from a place like Pelican Parts. Buy Stabilus brand, not the ones with MB on them because Stabilus makes them anyway. They are less than $20 each. Very easy to install if you have any skill at all.
Thanks! I think you guys offer shipping in USA only. I'm in Canada so what is the standard shipping charge and when will I get the items?
Once you add the item to your cart and put in your shipping address it will calculate shipping to your location. We ship worldwide, but are currently looking and working hard to improve our shipping costs to our Canadian customers.
12-09-2015, 09:44 PM
next stop - sheet metal bending
