Hardtop - Performance Characteristics
NO.: TSB-95-42A-002Date: May, 1995
MODEL: 1995-96 Spyder
PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS
PURPOSE
The Spyder is the first passenger vehicle in over 30 years with a retractable hardtop. Since most customers have not had experience with convertibles or retractable hardtops, this Technical Service Bulletin describes some of the convertible hardtop's characteristics (normal conditions) that are different than non-convertible vehicles.
If there are customer concerns about the operation of the hardtop which are not covered in this bulletin, contact your District Service Manager or the National Customer Relations Department.
VEHICLES AFFECTED
1995-96 Spyder
RETRACTABLE HARDTOP CHARACTERISTICS
1. Hardtop and Hard Tonneau Cycle
Normal cycling time for the hardtop and hard tonneau is 30 seconds (total time to put the top up or to put it down). The engine must be running when the hardtop and hard tonneau are cycled. This necessitates the operation be done in a well ventilated area.
a) If the engine is not running during the cycle, the following problems can occur:
^ Under most conditions, the battery will supply enough power to operate the hardtop several times. However, the battery can be drained due to the high amount of current that is consumed during the cycle. It is best to have the engine running when operating the hardtop.
^ Due to the low voltage available to the hardtop motor during operation, the hardtop may not always fully latch at the header. When the hardtop isn't fully latched, the quarter windows will not operate.
b) If the hardtop does not fully latch with the engine running, perform the following:
^ Verify that the battery is fully charged.
^ Verify that the charging system is operating normally.
^ With the engine running, open the hardtop completely, then try to close it again. If the latching problem is not corrected, hardtop servicing is required.
2. Turbulence at the Quarter Glass
It is normal to hear some turbulence noise from the quarter window area when driving at speeds greater than 40 MPH. Turbulence noise is not the same as wind leak, which makes a high frequency whistle. Turbulence is a lower pitched noise than a wind leak. Use normal diagnostic procedures to confirm whether a noise is a wind leak or turbulence noise.
^ The quarter glass weatherstrip is designed with a 3 mm gap between the glass seal and the upper edge of the glass. This gap is normal and should not cause wind leak or turbulence noise, If the gap is more than 3 mm, quarter window servicing is required.
3. Seat Belt Vibration
When driving with the hardtop down, some seat belt vibration against the driver's or passenger's shoulder is normal. This condition is dependent upon the person's physical size and shape. Seat belt vibration is partly due to seat belt positioning and the vehicle's aerodynamics.
4. Water Leakage/Seepage
Leakage is defined as water that spills over weather-stripping and causes the interior to become wet in a short time. Seepage is defined as water that builds at the weatherstrip and eventually flows down the glass and into the interior.
By nature of their design, convertible tops normally display some water leakage/seepage under certain ambient conditions. Water leakage/seepage characteristics for the Spyder are:
^ Normal- Signs of seepage at any or all of the compound roof joints are normal. As with any convertible top, it is normal for some leakage to occur when flooding the seal joints with large amounts of water, such as in an automatic car wash or when spraying at a seal joint with a garden hose.
^ Service Required - Under normal conditions, the vehicle should not experience any water leakage. Vehicle servicing is required if water leakage occurs under normal conditions.
5. Object-in-Trunk Sensor
A sensor underneath the trunk carpet is designed to notify the hardtop ECU whenever there is an object in the trunk that weighs over seven ounces. The ECU will then prevent the hardtop from cycling at about the halfway point in the cycle. If the hardtop stops at the halfway point and does not continue to close, check for:
^ Objects in the trunk
^ A disconnected connector at the object-in-trunk sensor