rear roof bolts not grabbing?

[SC UL8R1990]

never had an issue with the roof before today so im not sure if maybe i lost my touch. the roof seems seated perfectly yet the rear bolt wont grab and tighten. ive left the front ones loose and jiggled it around no luck. tightened the front a little....nothing. threads look good, definitley not stripped or cross threaded. this is the glass roof, the solid roof is packed away so id rather not try that one as well.

any tips on getting the roof on properly?

[jrd1990zr1]

I start my two rear bolts first, snug up but leave room for a little movement side to side, then start the front bolts.

Possibility something shifted.

[SharkPilot]

Just a hunch but...
The bolts have a sleeve that they go through. The sleeve allows the bolts to be loosened from the top frame but still remain attached to the top. Could it be that your bolts were unscrewed a bit too far and are backed into those sleeves? Perhaps giving them a few extra turns would solve the problem? I've had that happen to me.
Good luck.

[todesengel]

Originally Posted by SharkPilot

Just a hunch but...
The bolts have a sleeve that they go through. The sleeve allows the bolts to be loosened from the top frame but still remain attached to the top. Could it be that your bolts were unscrewed a bit too far and are backed into those sleeves? Perhaps giving them a few extra turns would solve the problem? I've had that happen to me.
Good luck.

weird, my bolts just back all the way out

[John Boothby]

The manual says not to back the bolts all the way out. When replacing the roof, do the rear bolts first, then the fronts. When removing the roof, do the front bolts first and rear bolts last. Do not back the front or rear bolts completely out.

[todesengel]

Originally Posted by John Boothby

The manual says not to back the bolts all the way out. When replacing the roof, do the rear bolts first, then the fronts. When removing the roof, do the front bolts first and rear bolts last. Do not back the front or rear bolts completely out.

That is what happens when you do not read the manual I guess. All my other targa cars the bolts stay in, but spin freely once they are free from the body. I just assumed that these had to come all the way out. You know what they say about assumptions

[SC UL8R1990]

Originally Posted by SharkPilot

Just a hunch but...
The bolts have a sleeve that they go through. The sleeve allows the bolts to be loosened from the top frame but still remain attached to the top. Could it be that your bolts were unscrewed a bit too far and are backed into those sleeves? Perhaps giving them a few extra turns would solve the problem? I've had that happen to me.
Good luck.

thanks for the tip...im betting thats what it is. ill giv eit a look in the a.m.

that thing was rattling like a SOB on the way home.

[SC UL8R1990]

just to verify... the sleeves im looking for are in the roof right? not the car?

[tomtom72]

Originally Posted by SC UL8R1990

just to verify... the sleeves im looking for are in the roof right? not the car?

Yes.

I don't mean to be a wise guy, but when you messed with the bolts the car was on level ground? I messed with my roof once and the car was not level and I couldn't get the bolts back in till I got the car level again.


Tom

[SC UL8R1990]

im an idiot and cant believe im admitting to this....but here it goes.

i always remove the bolts completely out of the rear and stash them in the center console. i brain farted and completely forgot that the screws were out and was turning the ratchet on nothing....sure felt like the bolt was there though. so in summary i assumed the rear roof bolts were in because the front ones stay in. must be getting old.

wow, time for a beer.