Removal of Top Cover

1. Cycle the convertible top to its fully open position.

2. Place protective covers over the rear quarter panels, rear deck lid, and seats. Apply protective tape to the belt line mouldings. Make sure to cover the inner edges of the mouldings.






3. Remove the eleven (11) screws from the # 1 bow top cover retainer then remove the retainer.

4. Cycle the convertible top until it is fully closed.






5. Remove the six screws securing the headliner and detach the four snaps at the rear of the headliner.






6. For proper alignment when reinstalling the headliner, mark the bows lightly at the end of each retainer.

7. Remove the headliner.

NOTE:
For more information concerning headliner removal and installation, refer to TSB-96-52A-004

8. Disconnect both heated backlight (rear window defogger) electric connectors from the rear window.






9. Detach the top cover material from the # 1 bow by separating the adhesive bond.






10. Remove the side tension cable screws and tension cable from each side of the # 1 bow.

11. Unwrap the top cover anti-lift strip from the # 2 bow. Repeat for the # 3 and # 4 bows. Clean any anti-lift strip adhesive residue from the bows.

NOTE:
The top cover anti-lift strips are pieces of fine mesh fabric webbing attached to the top cover that wrap around the bows to keep the top cover from ballooning up and lifting away from the bows during vehicle operation.

12. Slit the top cover material behind the rear rails for better access to the rear rail weatherstrip retainers. Be careful not to cut the stay pad located behind the top cover.

13. Remove the rear rail weatherstrip from each of the rear rails.

14. Pull the top cover material from one side of the rear rail by separating the adhesive bond. Repeat for the other side.

15. Cycle the convertible top six inches above the windshield header. Place a spacer, such as a wood block, on the windshield header. Manually lower the top onto the spacer to prevent the convertible top from settling to the closed position.

16. Remove the forward trim panel from the trunk.

17. Through the trunk opening, release the drain trough center strap and remove the four rear push pin retainers on both sides of the drain trough.

18. Accessing the drain trough from the rear seat inside the passenger compartment, remove the four (two on each side) drain trough side push pin retainers.

19. Remove the two push pin retainers from the top cover flap and inner structure. These retainers are located under the rear rail.

20. Remove the four screws (two on each side) from the top cover tackstrip and tackstrip extension.

21. Carefully trim the top cover material flush with the bottom edge of the tackstrip. Make sure you do not cut the rubber drain trough.

22. With a grease pencil, match mark the top cover material to the drain trough material in eight to ten places for assembly.

23. Remove the top cover staples, two screws, then the top cover from the vehicle.

24. Clean all old adhesive from the topstack components.