Before the hot summer rolls in, I decided to lubricate all the rubber seals for the HTC with silicone grease, then wipe down. Doing this keeps the creaking down to a minimum and keeps the rubber from drying out.

While I was in there, I noticed all those large gears that are part of the convertible mechanism. Question - would it be a good idea to put a little grease on those gears too, and if yes - what kind?

 

Following

 

 

Do not open and close the HTC. It is only there to add on costs and reduce value based on how many times you to have take back to dealer for service. Nice feature, but, too many posts on here about wire failures and Nacelles flapper hangs resulting in scratches. Then how about the two posted that it hung in mid open / closed and had to be towed to the dealer at 25MPH, and the other guy drove to the dealer at 25MPH to get it back there.

I have the HTC too, but, I just dont trust it much now.

 

Ok so probably 50,000+ HTCs have been built, and a handful of failures you hear about on this forum (covered under warranty and simple fixes)- and you want to act like the sky is falling? Some people just don't understand the difference between anecdotes and macro-level.

 

Unless you are clean all the old lubricant off I wouldn't put any new lubricant on the gears unless you knew what the original lubricant is and then use the same. Many lubes aren't compatible and you could do more harm than good. If you feel it must be done I'd use a silicone grease since that is least likely to cause problems although it depends on the carrier. There is no scheduled maintenance for the HTC operating mechanism and I don't plan on doing anything unless the gears look like they got dry.

 

The sky is falling, the sky is falling.... Oh-My!

There are failures in all mechanical parts, in electronics, and on and on.
The failure rates are low! The odds are good for no failure. Enjoy the cars. Get an extended warranty to fell better.
This forum highlights problems so we are aware, how to avoid if possible, and maybe how to fix.
I also get some stress time to time on issues but I would buy another C8 in a minute without hesitation.
Bet wishes to all. When the temp gets to 70, the top is going down!

 

I drop the top on my HTC almost every drive, for over a year and no problems. If there's maintenance, I'd have the dealer do that, or mention it to them if it's a concern. I enjoy watching those gears turn. The top is designed by the same company that did the Maserati MC20 Cielo and other HTCs. It's mechanical, so there are always going to be potential problems. I enjoy watching the HTC work, and it does so beautifully.

 

Same. I live in NM where i can drive my car year round. I drop the top maybe 10 times/month and i've had the car 2 years. Never an issue. I remember all the rhetoric trying to scare us out of buying the HTC, but you hear negative comments on nearly every purchase you make. I didn't see it as much of a gamble, the odds were drastically in my favor. And it's not like it can't be fixed if there's an issue. And when the HTC transforms the car in a parking lot or at a traffic light, even the C8 coupes are a little jealous.

 

Same here. I live in SoCal and drop the top most days when I pull out of the garage. Then I put it up when I park, drop it again for the next leg of my errands, etc. The car is over 3 years old, can't count the number of top cycles, and (so far) no problems at all.

 

So you paid the $7500 for the HTC and then fear to use it? Probably better off trading it for a coupe. I’m sure there are plenty of people that would enjoy it. Love mine more than I expected.

 

This post deserves the Nervous Nellie award for 2025.

 

Post 4 is a pure troll. Ignore it.

 

Lol.

Mine has gotten used 10-15 times a week for the last two years.

 

i bet you're fun at parties.

 

So Somehow this post became a pro/con discussion of HTC usage - that was not the intention. All I asked is whether anyone recommends applying grease to the rather large gears of the HTC mechanism, and if yes, should it be the thick silicone grease or the old "balljoint grease" from yesteryear. I was hoping the mechanically inclined would reply.

Thanks again

 

Absolutely horrible advice.

I have an HTC as well and use the top several times a week. Every week. No issues whatsoever. And I didn't buy it to not use the feature for the irrational fear that it may break. By the same rational, why would you even ever start the car??? I mean the engine can malfunction. Why ever drive the car?? The transmission could explode!

As for me, I'm going to continue driving and enjoying all aspects of my car. But then again, I come from an abundance mindset, whereas others come from a scarcity mindset.

Life is short. We are not the same.

 

I like @RKCRLR s advice. I did not check mine, but is there any sign of lubricant on them now? RCKRLR said putting some on if "got dry" that implies they may have a touch of lubricant already. Anyway, if I was going to do that, I would use SilGlyde - its type of silicone lubricant, essentially clear. And I would use very very little. For the record, I have not lubricated mine, and there is no stated maintenance requirement for that. But then again, lubricating the upper edge of the rear HTC window is not called out either - and that comes from the factory with a little bit on it, and it needs to be there to prevent noise.

As for post 4 about not using the top, I think it was meant sarcastically (that's just a guess). Of course most of us have had not trouble with the top mechanism.

 

I thought the last time I looked closely at the gears there was some lubricant on them but I could be misremembering.

 

I can see remnants of some sort of lube, it appears yellowish so I am assuming its conventional petro type grease.