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Volvo C70 Convertible Top Problems

13

Comments

  • volvo_drivervolvo_driver Member Posts: 34
    I have had the exact same problem with my 2006 C70. The first time it happened was about 9 or 10 months ago on a very windy night on the freeway. Same situation, out-of-the blue the warning beeps started with the message stated to stop safely to avoid roof damaged. The top was up at the time, so I pulled over as soon as I could safely, lowered and raised the top and continued on. I phoned the dealer's service center the next day and took it in a day or two later. They stated they were able to see from the car's computer that it occurred but not able to identify the problem. It has happened at least six times since then and I have had the car in and out of the service center for this specific issue. Each time the service advisor tells me they have fixed the problem... only to have it repeat a day or two later. The issue seems to be connected to a roof rattle in the right rear panels of the top. We're all still trying to figure it out. Still, I love the car.
  • ryszard1ryszard1 Member Posts: 3
    try cranking the roof tighter, manually WHEN I DID THE BEEPING STOPPED AND THE ROOF RESET ITS LIMITS ON ITS OWN!!!!
  • toeknail1toeknail1 Member Posts: 2
    How do you crank the roof tighter manually?
  • juliawadejuliawade Member Posts: 4
    Just got back from the dealer, after getting quite crabby about the headlights. They CAN successfully adjust them, mine are now 100% better! Thank you for your encouragement!

    Judie
  • jefe9703jefe9703 Member Posts: 2
    I've got 2 top related issues on my 2004 C70 HPT w/67000. First is that the weather stripping on the boot cover constantly comes off. I had it fixed under warranty 3-4 times and it keeps coming unglued. I'm now running on an extended warranty that doesn't cover weatherstripping. For all I know the dealer may be a bigger dope than I originally thought... They haven't been able to diagnose or fix an issue on the first try yet. Has any experienced similar and if so what is the fix?

    Secondly, my windscreen has had the little plastic bushing fall out from one of the hinges which causes it to rattle pretty bad. Any thoughts/advice? Are parts available?

    Thanks.

    Jeff
  • timsautotimsauto Member Posts: 1
    hi, it could be a drain tube issue. convertible tops have either drain tubes or small holes in you rocker panels. the sebring conv. have tiny holes that get clogged real easy. then the car fills up with water, soaking the carpet, and sloshing around. go to a reputible auto upholstery shop, they can help.
  • Dex2020Dex2020 Member Posts: 1
    I will be taking it to the dealer for a scan check to see if the micro switchs need to be replaced but this is the issue the 12v hood controller in the trunk was change to one from a 1998 car and the original one was miss placed,when Volvo recalibrates the roof system will the 1998 12v hood controller work for my 2000,is this controller hard coded for each car or can they be swapped and reset via recalibration? Thanks
  • redbuzzredbuzz Member Posts: 57
    This winter has been very bad for repeated freezing and thawing here in northern New Jersey. Warmer day usually mean rain or at least melting ice and snow. The next cold (below freezing) morning everything is frozen shut including the doors and power windows. With most cars, a good yank will open the door, and who needs to open the windows before the car warms up a bit. The C70 with a retractable roof always rolls the window down about 1/2" automatically when you open it and rolls it back up when the door is closed - except when it is frozen. This morning it was frozen and I opened the door with a little force. The window did not roll down at all and I had to close it hard to get it to latch. After it had fully warmed up, the window went up and down with the switch, it rolled down the 1/2" when opening the door, but it would not roll back up when closing the door. I took it to my dealer and they re-initiated the window control module. So far it is OK. Does anyone have any ideas how to cope with this issue since it is bound to happen again? I am concerned that I may cause some damage but I can't wait around for warmer weather to use my car.
  • yojasonyojason Member Posts: 3
    Hi all I'm wondering in any of you have had this problem. I have a C70 2004 soft top. Ive kept the top up most of the winter and now when I try to put it down when it is in park and the p brake is on it will not go down if the engine is running. The light just blinks. If I turn the engine off and turn the key switch back on with out the engine running the top goes down but it will not go down when the engine is running. It worked fine last summer. Any help?
  • yojasonyojason Member Posts: 3
    Ha!!!!
    I found the problem hopefully this will help others. For some reason the parking brake light want coming on when I applied the P brake, it would come on intermittently. When the car ignition was on with the motor off all the lights were on so the top worked. I just took out the P brake handle cover and played with the switch and now it works fine. Almost went to the dealer.. that would have been a waste of $125 at the least.
  • hmcveyhmcvey Member Posts: 1
    I had the same problem and this worked for me. The car seat microswitches stop broke and were causing the roof alarm to issue a warning. The microswitch hits a plastic stop which can break when someone enters the rear seat and presses forward on the seat to far. This can cause the seat to fail and not retract or issue a convertible top warning. I fixed the switch by using wire and wrapping it around the lower seat bar around the switch so it functioned correctly when traversing forward and back. The roof top alarm seems to be connected to the driver side seat switch. On the passenger side the seat will just stop working when the stop breaks.

    Rgds
    Henri
  • jnm2jnm2 Member Posts: 3
    Thanks for the info... However when I try to put the top down the back window opens properly, but the next step is for the cover to open, this does not happen... The only way to open it is to manually push the window back down, than I have to keep tap the top bottom until the window locks down. Than I can open the truck lid and go thru the manual openning process... Am I missing doing something or should I unplug the plug your talking about?? Thanks for any futher help...
    JNM2
  • jnm2jnm2 Member Posts: 3
    switch on dash seems to be dead now, any sudjustions
    jnm2
  • jnm2jnm2 Member Posts: 3
    Have tried everything I know to get top to work.... Top switch seems to be dead.... Replaced relay, not sure it was bad... Fuses are good.... Even tried unpluging the plug behine the right rear sear with the top haft cranked down... Acts like there is no power to the top at all when I push the switch, the light at the top of switch doesn't come on and the windows won't open...

    What else can I try, Anybody Help Please
  • adiincaadiinca Member Posts: 1
    It seems I got the exact same problem... :cry:

    It happened this morning. I tried to close the top. It stopped during the closing process... the topswitch's light is of now and seems to be dead, since no reactions occur. The lid for the roof is stuck in upward position!!!!... and I cant find a possible way to close it. Because of the upward lid i have no access to the trunk either...

    I dont know what the problem is, since it used to work fine, so i thouht its the topswitch. i pulled it out and put it apart. Everything seems right to me ( I'm no electritian :D). Now I just took the electrical part with the brazings and plugged it in ( accidently upside down) then the light from the switch turned on again, but still nothing works. If i plug it in the correct way theres still no light and no reaction :(

    SO do you guys think its a problem of the switch or something else. Besides is there any way I can put the stck lid down so I can at least drive?

    PLS....HELP!!! I'm grateful for any answer....
  • mlubinmlubin Member Posts: 6
    Has anyone had problems with water leaking into the trunk? I have an 09 C70. It's been into the dealer 3 or 4 times bc there's water in the bottom of the trunk. It's coming in from above bc it's been as bad as several inches of water sloshing around under the spare. Dealer is waiting on volvo specialist to come see the car. Any advice out there for me? I love the car, but the ongoing problem has taken all of the fun out of it.
  • carlzalezcarlzalez Member Posts: 1
    Hi, I'm looking at purchasing a 2000 C70 convertible. The owner tells me that the lid that is supposed to open into the trunk, doesn't open so the top starts going down, then goes back to closing position, since lid won't open. I went on fixit.com and got a Volvo mechanic/expert to give me advice. He said it's a potentiometer issue. Has any one else had this problem & can you give me an idea of what this might cost to repair.
  • ocelittleocelittle Member Posts: 2
    Yes! I have had major problems with water in the trunk. It has been to two different dealers over 7 times with only short term effects. It ultimately refills and sloshes around again. It is such a headache, I would love to have this problem solved. Not sure if it's related, but the inside carpet also filled with water and got moldy, as well as the leather seats. Any answers?
  • mlubinmlubin Member Posts: 6
    Is yours a 2009? The dealer has had the car for three weeks, had the trunk completely apart, ordered new tubes to replaced crimped ones, and is waiting for the Volvo tech guy to review the repair. I haven't had seat and carpet issues as far as I know, but I guess time will tell.
  • ocelittleocelittle Member Posts: 2
    no, mine is a 1999 - maybe the first year they came out, not sure. No one seems to know the cause of the trunk water. I said it had been to 2 dealers, and now I realize it has been to three dealers - each of whom have proclaim the problem solved. it does get old. Please let me know if you find a solution. I haven't given up yet. And about the seat and carpet issues - you'll know it if it happens, it's not subtle.
  • rick146rick146 Member Posts: 1
    When closing the top, the passenger side (roof liner - fabric) panel is not releasing freeling through the guide eyelet causing the fabric to snag and not seat properly. Anyone else experiencing this problem? Thanks.

    This is a 2007 C70.
  • tpkidd3tpkidd3 Member Posts: 1
    I have tried many fixes to reattach the glass window, all fail. I am now considering just replacing the whole top. I've replaced other tops, is this one any more of a pain in the @$$ than a typical convertible top replacement?

    :confuse:
  • redbuzzredbuzz Member Posts: 57
    I didn't have that problem, exactly. One of the fabric cables became detached at one end and the headliner was a little loose. Not a big problem - the dealer was able to fix it under warranty. The other problem I had was the rearmost corner of the headliner on the passenger side would sometime twist 180 degrees when closing. It is under a good amount of tension when the roof is fully closed and even though it was fixed over a year ago, the fabric is still wrinkled a bit from when it wasn't working right.

    Whatever the issue is with your car, the dealer should be able to make it right.
  • bertc70bertc70 Member Posts: 1
    I had same problem and it was because the seal around the boot area (space the top occupies when down) had a small section that was not completely attached and water would enter. I also had problems with the drains which they claim were clogged....not sure how this would happen since the boot area is always very clean, but were cleaned anyway...don't know if drains really were cleaned since I know longer have water entering the boot area. :o)
  • kabooneykabooney Member Posts: 1
    HELP! Moss is growing on the hood of my 2004 C70 convertible. I've cleaned it with autoglym and used the roof protector but it doesn't seem to have made any difference. Can someone please advise?? :cry:
  • julie911julie911 Member Posts: 1
    My glass seal has finally completely failed. I've tried everything--but I need a new top. I wonder if anyone else has ordered a new top that is sewn in or has a gasket. BMW and Mercedes both have tops that are not "glued"--this is such a silly design flaw!! Sure would like to know if I can replace it with a different type?
  • warwarwarwar Member Posts: 1
    I know this is a familiar topic and that either gluing the window back ourself or replacing the top are the general alternatives. My question is, what adhesive is recommended if you attempt to do it yourself?
  • ruby61ruby61 Member Posts: 1
    Does anyone have a good resource/vendor to purchase a new top from, I have tried the gluing thing and it just doesn't hold up in the Florida sun?
  • mikeswinneymikeswinney Member Posts: 4
    I'm having an on-going problem with a water leak through my drivers-side window. The water ruined the window mechanism in the door and the window eventually fell into the door and cost $1200 to replace. There is still an intermittent leak so I assume the water is getting into the door again and the same thing will happen again. The window is not flush with the top when the door is closed sometimes, sometimes it is. In any case, what the solution to this problem? A new roof? Have the window recalibrated so it closes flush with the roof seal (doesn't seem possible as I can feel a slight abnormality in the plastic seal in the roof). I can see this is going to be an on-going problem.....the car is a 2004 model T5. I've put a lot of money into it over the last year. It has 99K miles and I'm afraid I'm going to have to sell it.
  • mikeswinneymikeswinney Member Posts: 4
    My top was damaged in a hail storm. The fabric is beginning to fray in on small spot. Any ideas on how to keep the fraying from speading to avoid water leakage into the rest of the roof?
  • mattdacostamattdacosta Member Posts: 1
    i have a '99 c70 and what my water problem is is that the drains in the covertable top storage area are always clogged so the tubes break off then the water leaks into the trunk.
  • weldonblairweldonblair Member Posts: 6
    edited September 2010
    I've had my car for about 2 months and have had it to the dealer for this once already. When the top is up and i go over moderately bumpy pavement, I get this clunking like sound coming from the back. It seems to be in the rear pillar somewhere around where the top sits on the body. All the dealer could do was relube the plastic pieces in the roof but the noise is still there--more prominent the longer the top is up (don't hear it right away after putting the top up). What is odd is that the car was completely quite for the first month or so. Any ideas? Thannks!
  • jfangjfang Member Posts: 1
    I think I have the same problem and the top was in close position and I also get this clunking like sound coming from the back. It kind like something is lose dealer don't know what it is and I still not able to ask them to fix it because you don't hear it right away so they say they can not do anything unless they hear it. Problem is they don't want to spend the time with me to test drive for a while on the road. I wander you have already fix it. anyone got the same problem with the 2011 C70. I got it in Aug, 2010. Yes,first, it was completely quite then it happen.
  • grandprixzgrandprixz Member Posts: 12
    my convertible top on my 2000 c70 volvo will not go all the way down and will not come all the way up....the hard top cover will not come down it is stuck straight up....the orange light is on the button solid there is not flashing of the light nor a chime.....it says something about circuit breakers for the convertible top that can be reset and are located in the cars central electrical dept....prior to this there was a constant chime..I pushed the button and the back window section came up and then I pushed the button and it came down and the chime stopped....dumbfounded....do you have any advice...thanks for your time.... cali c70
  • rezkidrezkid Member Posts: 1
    I just experienced the same issues with my 1999 C-70 ...plus a whole lot more. I found out that my problems exsisted with Micro switches . As I was bringing the top down. The stowage cover came up and the front of the convertible top had just came up and preparing to fold back, when it stopped. I manually cranked the front top back to closed postion and locked.
    It was enough to activate the stowage cover to come down when i pushed the button on the dash . The Micro Switches that control these functions are located on the rightside or passenger side of the top near the front . while the front of the top has just separated from the windshield. stop the operation . just lift up on the top and you should see two micro switches . one towards the front detects the front of the top is locked down and activate the stowage cover . the rear switch activates the motors to take the top down..my rear switch is going out. Also, I ve learned that these tops needs servicing frequently. When it rains i have to keep the front of the top lubricated. shortly after a rains it squeals terribley when i bring the top down .
  • grandprixzgrandprixz Member Posts: 12
    Thank you very much for replying about convertible top. Info you provide will greatly help my dilemma. I have another question please. Do you know how to manually crank down, (or up) the top when the storage cover is stuck in the open position? By open, I mean straight up. The trunk wont open at all. I actually had to unbolt the storage cover so I could drive it 20 miles to a repair shop. They fixed the top, but only for a short while. It jammed again before we drove it home. They are currently trying to fix it now. It is a good shop with volvo software, but they say volvo will not let them have convertible top software. Any more help would be greatly appreciated.
  • noisyroofguynoisyroofguy Member Posts: 2
    I have the same exact issue that I am dealing with from the right front side. Has yor been fixed yet? Any advice?
  • noisyroofguynoisyroofguy Member Posts: 2
    I have the same exact issue that I am dealing with from the right front side. Has yor been fixed yet? Any advice?
  • junpogijunpogi Member Posts: 1
    In a 1999 Volvo C70 convertible the light on the switch that operates the convertible top stays on what is wrong?
  • rwelliverrwelliver Member Posts: 1
    This morning, I had the roof down on my 2008 C70 and opened the trunk (don't ask why). After I opened it, the collpased roof sarted to open, stopping when it hit the open trunk lid. The Owner's Manual and the Dealer had nothing to say. The Dealer and their Service Department even said there is no re-set button. There is. It's a small, yellow, square button along the back rim of the trunk. Just pressed it, and the roof collapsed back into the trunk well.
    I hope this helps someone. Even a dealer.
  • bobparisbobparis Member Posts: 28
    The yellow button is a push-up and push-down switch to raise and then lower the roof assembly a few inches so that you can stow cargo when the roof is "down." I believe Volvo's design goal was to allow a golf bag to fit. You must have pushed the button without realizing it. What you describe is a normal operation and described at length in the owner's manual.
  • rich163rich163 Member Posts: 2
    Can you tell me how to get the crank out of my trunk since the boot cover is stuck all the way up and will not go down and the cloth top will go most of the way down or most of the way up but stops about 3 inches from the wind shield? I am about to unbolt the boot from the hardware that is attached to the drive screws so I can get the trunk opened and then when I do does the crank go into that slot on each shed in the back seat?
  • steve387steve387 Member Posts: 1
    Julie,

    I know you dealt with this awhile ago. We just had the window cave in on the convertible top. Many are saying we need a whole new top? What did you do? Is there a way to seal or go to an Upholstery shop?
  • 05clue05clue Member Posts: 2
    I have an 05 C70 soft top. The roof works fine but sometimes when it is closing the left-side locating-pin (which locates on the top of the windscreen) misses it's slot and sits awkwardly until I raise the roof again and reclose it. It's not the end of the world, but it is blxxxxy annoying.
    Can anyone help?
    cheers
  • tmarttmart Member Posts: 2,233
    Can you guide it in by hand the first time? Would definitely be annoying to operate the top twice.
  • 05clue05clue Member Posts: 2
    Yes I can, and it will locate usually on the second hit. It is only a few thou adrift!
  • 2002c702002c70 Member Posts: 2
    because of a crimp in my antennae (due to the garage door coming down on it:( , it would not retrack and caused my top got stuck going down and then lost power all together when I tried to put it back up. I have seen the posts about cranking the top down manually. How do you do that on a 2002 C70? And/or how do I restore power to the system? eventually, I presume that I need to get a new antanae to restore full operation. thanks.
  • 2002c702002c70 Member Posts: 2
  • scotts911escotts911e Member Posts: 2
    you said you manually cranked the front top back to closed postion can you please explain how you did that without getting into the trunk?

    thanks, scott
  • cliffykatcliffykat Member Posts: 4
    I used my key to open my trunk. From there I used the small tool and cranked it closed.
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