Roof dents

[lextoy]

when mine wasnt latched into the trunk properly, i cycled it a few times... with engine running so it doesnt discharge the battery.
each time i had a friend push the top down as it was stowing.
to "exercise" the full range of the mechanism. after the first cycle it was already latching on its own.
we just continued to give it a little extra pressure as it was stowing, so the hooks would latch.

my guess is that there is a spring, or hydraulic piston, or gas piston, that isnt getting full range of motion very often,
so it gets tight. manually pushing it to full extension or retraction, helps loosen it up.
i never made any adjustments to the mechanisms at all.

but since i found my top loose in the trunk the first time, and made a few cycles with "exercise"
it has never failed to latch since.

all my arts and crafts modifications with dremel and felt pads may never actually get tested

 

[hmarksanford]

when mine wasnt latched into the trunk properly, i cycled it a few times... with engine running so it doesnt discharge the battery.
each time i had a friend push the top down as it was stowing.
to "exercise" the full range of the mechanism. after the first cycle it was already latching on its own.
we just continued to give it a little extra pressure as it was stowing, so the hooks would latch.

my guess is that there is a spring, or hydraulic piston, or gas piston, that isnt getting full range of motion very often,
so it gets tight. manually pushing it to full extension or retraction, helps loosen it up.
i never made any adjustments to the mechanisms at all.

but since i found my top loose in the trunk the first time, and made a few cycles with "exercise"
it has never failed to latch since.

all my arts and crafts modifications with dremel and felt pads may never actually get tested

I’ve got the same problem with my top. I cut the screws off to prevent further damage but that is just a band aid, not really solving the root problem. I hooked my techII but it didn’t show any problems. I didn’t do a relearn but I don’t think it would have helped anyway. I’m going to take it to my Cadillac dealership.

 

[heinz13]

I’ve got the same problem with my top. I cut the screws off to prevent further damage but that is just a band aid, not really solving the root problem. I hooked my techII but it didn’t show any problems. I didn’t do a relearn but I don’t think it would have helped anyway. I’m going to take it to my Cadillac dealership.

Hopefully they have a XLR specialist who can figure it out. Let us know what they come up with...

 

[hmarksanford]

Hopefully they have a XLR specialist who can figure it out. Let us know what they come up with...

I will but I’m not sure if I will take it in right away. I have to get some other work done first.

 

[heinz13]

Did the dealer ever figure this out?

 

[hmarksanford]

I’m still waiting on the dealer to fix the top. They have had my XLR for 2 months now and still working on the top problem. Three of those weeks have been waiting on parts. To give them a little credit there were multiple other problems they had to fix. Just minor problems but since I haven’t had it long I wanted to get everything fixed and out of the way.

 

[heinz13]

Ok then...please keep us informed. I'm curious as to the fix.

 

[hmarksanford]

No fix

Ok then...please keep us informed. I'm curious as to the fix.

The dealer finally called me and said after talking to GM they thought the problem was the main hinges were bent and it would cost about $4500 to replace them with no guarantee that would fix it. I said no. Sounds like a cop out to me. With all their putzing around with the top I saw that it was visibly misaligned when I went to pick it up so they still have my car (they have had it for 3 months).

I’m very frustrated! So does anybody know of a dealership that actually knows how to fix an XLR top in the north Alabama area?

 

[CadillacSam]

The dealer finally called me and said after talking to GM they thought the problem was the main hinges were bent and it would cost about $4500 to replace them with no guarantee that would fix it. I said no. Sounds like a cop out to me. With all their putzing around with the top I saw that it was visibly misaligned when I went to pick it up so they still have my car (they have had it for 3 months).

I’m very frustrated! So does anybody know of a dealership that actually knows how to fix an XLR top in the north Alabama area?

Unbelievable - price and time

 

[David_B]

If it wasn't like that when you took it in, sounds to me like the body guy thought he could fix it by manual manipulation (the fancy term for grab it and jerk it hard till it lines up). Not really a good way to try and fix this. I'd be POed..

The dealer finally called me and said after talking to GM they thought the problem was the main hinges were bent and it would cost about $4500 to replace them with no guarantee that would fix it. I said no. Sounds like a cop out to me. With all their putzing around with the top I saw that it was visibly misaligned when I went to pick it up so they still have my car (they have had it for 3 months).

I’m very frustrated! So does anybody know of a dealership that actually knows how to fix an XLR top in the north Alabama area?

 

[hmarksanford]

Nope. I have the pads on the shaved off bolts but I need to warn people this is just a temporary fix. I found that after serveral months with the pads even they will start to damage the paint. It's cold now so I will not be driving the XLR much if any so I will probably not get it into the shop anytime soon. Also my wife is having a lot of health issues and the bills are crazy exspensive so the XLR is not a priority.
I also want to replace the BIlly Boat exhaust the previous owner put on with stock muffler. The Billy Boat is just too loud for me.

 

[CadillacSam]

Nope. I have the pads on the shaved off bolts but I need to warn people this is just a temporary fix. I found that after serveral months with the pads even they will start to damage the paint. It's cold now so I will not be driving the XLR much if any so I will probably not get it into the shop anytime soon. Also my wife is having a lot of health issues and the bills are crazy exspensive so the XLR is not a priority.
I also want to replace the BIlly Boat exhaust the previous owner put on with stock muffler. The Billy Boat is just too loud for me.

What will it do to the paint? Dents or scratches?

 

[Bill S.]

Hey

So is this a common problem? Is there something that goes out of adjustment? Does the trunk lid settle? Is there linkage wear? Not understanding how, if you dremmel off the end of the bolt, the damage then could continue to occur even after putting in a felt pad. Sounds like things getting worn or out of adjustment.

Bill

 

[XFireXLR]

This happen to my XLR also a few years back, and the bolts can leave a dent or leave a hole in the paint about the size of a pencil eraser. You can either shave the bolts down or cover them with some silicone, I did the latter.

 

[Bill S.]

Hey

OK, but still not understanding how it can happen. Something must be wearing or going out of adjustment, OR people are sitting on the back when the roof is folded up.

Bill

 

[XFireXLR]

This has happened to many cars, there was a thread a few years back about it. I can only think/assume that maybe hitting bumps/potholes or something of that nature can cause it to happen. If memory serves no one could come up with a definitive answer as to why and Cadillac was suppose to have made a new bracket to quell the issue, but they were on perpetual backorder.

 

[hmarksanford]

What will it do to the paint? Dents or scratches?

Scratches on mine.

 

[CadillacSam]

Scratches on mine.

Do you think exchanging pads wouldn't fix it?

 

[IAN]

Hi Bill

Wear is our problem, our XLR have 10 to 15 years of age, time makes it happened, this temporary fix is a fine way for now unless of changing the defectives parts and this will become an expensive repair that could have some crazy costs.

IAN

 

[hmarksanford]

Hi Bill

Wear is our problem, our XLR have 10 to 15 years of age, time makes it happened, this temporary fix is a fine way for now unless of changing the defectives parts and this will become an expensive repair that could have some crazy costs.

IAN

The problem with mine is when the roof folds and goes down into the trunk it is held there by hydraulic pressure. At that point there are two hooks below and on each side of the roof that come up and hook bars attached to the roof. On mine the hydraulic pressure releases before the hooks can attach to the bars and the roof is not secured as far down into the trunk as it should go. So it is free to bounce upwards at every bump in the road causing the damage.

You can manually take the palm of your hands and push down on the edge of the roof to make it engage with the hooks. I've done this but I would not recommend it unless you are going to keep the top down for an extended period.

I showed the shop guys at my Cadillac dealership but they still could not fix it.