Headliner Tensioning System, Removing and Installing
Headliner Tensioning System, Removing And Installing (Vehicles From 12.03 >)
NOTE:
- To ease removing or repairing headliner tensioning system and to reach all needed pieces open/close convertible top as needed (use a more or less half open position).
- Before opening or closing convertible top, make sure that there is enough space above convertible top to operate it.
- Each side of vehicle has a headliner tensioning system consisting of one guide, one weaving guide, one retaining plate with cables (with cable eyelets and deflectors) and one retaining plate (with attached strap and strap eyelet - inside headlining -).
- Following description is referred to right side of convertible top.
Removing
- Remove rear side panel trim.
- Remove two rivets - 1 - and release guide - 2 - from frame - 3 - and from weaving guide - 4 -.
NOTE:
- If guide is scratched, damaged or shows plastic shavings replace it.
- Observe mounting position of cable eyelets - 5 - and take care not to damage them while removing rivet.
- Remove three rivets - 1 - from frame and release cable eyelets and weavings - 2 -.
NOTE:
- Observe cables mounting position.
- Observe weaving - 2 - mounting position on lower cable end.
- If necessary use a punch to extract rivets.
- To remove retaining plate with cables - 1 - from retaining plate - 2 - inside headlining, unclip with a screwdriver retaining clips - 3 - from retaining plate beginning from lower part - arrow -.
- Release weaving guide - 4 - from retaining plate - 2 - inside headlining.
- Untie both cables - 1 - from retaining plate with cables and extract them from lower, middle and upper deflectors and from headlining weaving handholds - arrows - (upper deflector and upper headlining weaving handhold are not shown in this illustration).
NOTE:
- When using a new retaining plate with cables assembly cut cables to ease procedure.
- Observe cables mounting position in retaining plate with cables, deflectors and headlining weaving handholds.
- Push retaining clips - 1 - inward to headlining.
- Remove roof leading edge trim.
- Unscrew retaining screw and remove strap with retaining plate in - direction of arrow -.
Installing
- Tie a 3 feet long string to strap eyelet.
- Insert retaining plate with strap inside headlining - arrow -.
NOTE:
- To help introducing retaining plate in headlining use a strong flexible wire (long enough to introduce it in headlining) with a "Y" form at end of wire.
- Observe original mounting position of retaining plate.
- Push retaining clips - 1 - of retaining plate outward from headlining.
NOTE: When using a new retaining plate with cables assembly remove new deflectors from cables. Use new deflectors only when already installed deflectors are damaged.
- Pass lower cable - 1 - through middle deflector - 2 - and then through lower deflector - 3 -.
- Introduce upper cable - 1 - through upper deflector - 2 - and then through headlining weaving handholds - 3 - in - direction of arrows -.
- Introduce both cables in retaining plate with cables and tie knots - 1 - into original position.
NOTE:
- Knots must be tied facing back side of retaining plate with cables.
- Tie knots as close to cable end as possible.
- Attach weaving guide - 1 - to retaining plate - 2 - using central clips - 3 - from retaining plate.
- Attach retaining plate with cables - 1 - to retaining plate - 2 - (inside headlining) pressing retaining clips - 3 - carefully with pliers. Make sure that retaining clips seat correctly with holes of retaining plate with cables.
NOTE: Make sure that cables are not pressed between retaining plate with cables and retaining plate.
- Slide guide - 1 - into weaving guide - 2 - and attach lower point of guide - 1 - to frame - 4 - with one rivet - arrow -.
NOTE: Make sure to pass lower cable - 3 - in front of frame - 4 -.
- Attach upper point of guide - 1 - and cable eyelets - 2 - to frame - 3 - with one rivet - arrow -.
NOTE:
- Observe that guide - 1 - is mounted in upper and lower points, on inner side of frame - 3 - and that cable eyelets - 2 - are mounted on outer side of frame.
- Observe cable eyelets original position.
- Pass upper cable - 2 - behind cross rail - 1 - and over extended element - 3 -.
NOTE: Make sure to pass cable through highest and rearmost vertex.
- Pass upper cable - 1 - with sliding cable eyelet - 2 - to inclined frame - 3 -.
- Rivet sliding cable eyelet - 2 - (with eyelet flat side on frame) to vertical frame - 4 - in an angle of approx. 45 degree with horizontal line.
- Rivet upper cable eyelet - 1 - (with eyelet flat side on frame) to inclined frame - 3 - in upper bore in an angle of approx. 45 degree with horizontal line.
CAUTION:
- Cable may be damaged if riveted in lower bore.
- Place both cable eyelet flat sides on frame correctly, otherwise there is risk of malfunction
- Rivet lower cable eyelet - 1 - and weavings - 2 - to frame - 3 -.
NOTE: Observe that weavings are mounted between frame - 3 - and cable eyelet - 1 -.
- Pull string tied to strap eyelet until eyelet is reached - arrow -.
- Screw strap eyelet.
- Untie string from strap eyelet.
- Open/close convertible top to verify correct operation.
- Install roof leading edge when finishing operations in headliner tensioning system.
- Install rear side panel trim.