Soft-Top Assembly Removal

1. Fully open the soft-top using the power switch.

2. Leave the storage lid in the "open" position (straight up).

3. Move both seats as far forward as possible.

4. Tilt both seat backs as far forward as possible.





5. Remove the inner rocker panel (inner "kicking" plate).





6. Remove the rubber trim pad from the rear of the door frames.





7. Remove the rear portion of the door weather strips.





8. Remove the rear side finishers.





9. Remove finishers (clam shells) from the "seat bars".

a. First, pull off the front halves.

NOTE:
^ When the front half of the finisher is pulled off, the plastic attaching clips are likely to break.

^ You should order new seat bar finishers before starting this procedure (see Parts Information).





b. Then remove the rear halves.

^ The rear halves are held on with six screws (three on each side).

10. Remove the back panel finisher.

a. Remove the 6 clips on the top (3 on each side).





^ The 3 left side clip locations are shown with white circles.

^ There are three duplicate locations on the right side.

b. After removing the 6 top clips, pull up on the panel to snap loose the 4 additional clips along the underside of the panel.





11. Remove the Back Panel Finisher Support Brackets.





12. Close the soft-top to the position shown in Figure 10 using the power switch.

^ However, keep the storage lid in the open position as shown.

13. Locate the "rear" mounting brackets in the soft-top storage area.

14. Remove only the nuts (1 on each side) from the "rear" mounting brackets. See CAUTION below.





CAUTION:
Do not "disturb" (loosen or remove) the bolts shown above with white circles around them.

^ These bolts secure the mounting brackets to the vehicle body.

^ The mounting brackets are very "precisely" (accurately) adjusted at the factory to ensure proper soft-top fit and function.

^ Any change to this adjustment may cause poor fit, resulting in possible water leaks and wind noise.

^ If loosened or removed, they will require the services of a body shop to accurately re-adjust them.

15. Fully open the soft-top using the power switch.





^ Leave the storage lid in the open position as shown.





16. Remove the seat belt guides from the seat belts (see Figure 13).

^ The seat belt guides will be reused.

17. Remove bolts (2 on each side) securing the soft-top to the "front" mounting brackets. See CAUTION below.

CAUTION:
Do not "disturb" (loosen or remove) the bolts shown above with white circles around them.

^ These bolts secure the mounting brackets to the vehicle body.

^ The mounting brackets are very "precisely" (accurately) adjusted at the factory to ensure proper soft-top fit and function.

^ Any change to this adjustment may cause poor fit, resulting in possible water leaks and wind noise.

^ If loosened or removed, they will require the services of a body shop to accurately re-adjust them.





18. Remove the bolts (both sides) from the soft-top "mounting plates" as follows:

a. Hold the adjusting shims with one hand so they will not fall out.

b. Loosen both bolts.





C. Remove the adjusting shims (see Figure 15).

d. Completely remove both bolts.

19. Mark the adjusting shims so you can put them back in the same place.

VERY IMPORTANT:
^ All shims that are removed MUST be put back (reinstalled) on the same side they were removed from.

^ These adjusting shims match the vehicle and not the soft-top.

20. Disconnect the soft-top electrical connectors.





^ There are 3 connectors on the drivers side as shown.

^ There are only 2 connectors on the passengers side (not shown).

NOTES:
At this point you are ready to remove the soft-top from the vehicle.

^ Make sure both seats are moved as far forward as possible and the seat backs are tilted as far forward as possible.

^ To remove the soft-top, you will be "walking through" the vehicle. be careful not to get the carpet dirty.

^ The soft-top is very heavy and will require 2 people to remove it from the vehicle.

^ While removing the soft-top, be very careful. The edges of the soft-top assembly can easily scratch the paint.

21. Remove the soft-top assembly from the vehicle.

^ Lift it out of the storage area by first raising the rear of the top and then pulling upward.





^ Then, walk though the vehicle with one side as shown in Figure 17.