daustin173

I have a 2007 C6 Convertible and the waterfall just started having an issue. Occasionally, the waterfall/boot won't close all the way. I have to push the lift top button and then re-close it to make it latch. It just started doing this. Any suggestions or is this a dealer issue.

Thanks!

rhoyvald

Mine (05) just started doing that too - so just tagging on to this thread. The waterfall hits the rear window section when coming down too...

windyC6

The "waterfall" is the portion that sits stationary in the interior of the car with the crossed flags emblem on it. I assume that you guys mean the "Tanneau" (sp) cover ??

rhoyvald

Yes

windyC6

I have been having this type of issue for a while now. I may have narrowed it down to the switch on top of the pull down latch. But thats a maybe. The pull down latch is that squared looking ring that you see behind the waterfall. When ready it's spose to grab the tanneau and pull it down all the way. Mine works off and on with no consistency, so you know whats gonna happen if I take it to a dealer...yep....it's gonna work fine. Thats part of the reason I haven't taken it in yet. Just like one post mentioned, I have to cycle the top back up a bit and then push the down button again to get it to close. If you look closely at the pull down latch, you can see a small tab sticking out. This tab is what contacts the switch. I'm guessing that maybe the switch is going bad and when the little tab contacts the switch it isn't working correctly. I've been experimenting with different things but thats as far as i've gotten. Sorry I can't be of more help. Let us know if you find anything....

rhoyvald

You described my issue exactly - same issue! I'll check mine out to see if I see anything out of the ordinary.

rvsullivan

You're talking about the tonneau? Does it matter if you're opening or closing it?

rhoyvald

Just closing it and yes the tonneau - it will close almost completely - but doesn't (up about 1/4") then I hit the button up to open it a little then down and then it completely closes and it doesn't so this all the time either. Strange

Charlie in TX

Mine started giving the problems you (ya'll) are describing. I had to start pushing the tanneau down to get it to latch. One day things went bad and I heard a load crunch. Replaced http://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/acd...own+motor,1544 and all was right with the world again. Took less than an hour if I recall.

Charlie in TX

I was amazed at the different cars it fits.

BUICK PARK AVENUE 1991-1996
BUICK RIVIERA 1989-1993
BUICK ROADMASTER 1992-1996
CADILLAC 60 SPECIAL 1993
CADILLAC ALLANTE 1993
CADILLAC BROUGHAM 1992
CADILLAC COMMERCIAL CHASSIS 1992
CADILLAC DEVILLE 1991-1999
CADILLAC ELDORADO 1989-2002
CADILLAC FLEETWOOD 1991-1996
CADILLAC SEVILLE 1989-1997
CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2005-2013
OLDSMOBILE 98 1992-1996
OLDSMOBILE TORONADO 1989

windyC6

Exactly. And after you cycle it back up a bit if you watch the pull down latch it will start rising. Then you know it's gonna grab the tanneau and pull it down. This seems to happen after you hear that noise that sounds like a "ricochet" for lack of a better explanation. Or at least thats the way mine sounds.

onemortoy

I repaired the window hitting issue by replacing the old stretched webbing with a 5" piece on flat bungee cord on either side. I found the "fix" on the forum, but I don't recall the title.

enventr

This is common on most verts at least after awhile. The strap stretches. There is a TSB on this or you can use your hand to guide the top when top is going down so that it won't hit the tonneau cover. You can modify the existing strap or order a new pair.

my1970conv

I have been having this issue for a little while now... I'm not convinced that it's the lid pull down motor... this only happens to me the first time that I put the top down when it hasn't been in the down position for a few days. When this happens, it's like the top isn't being "compressed" enough by the tonneau cover, so it does not catch the latch and pull down completely. After I raise and lower the tonneau a second time, it compresses it more and it closes completely. I can open/close the top several times that day, and it works perfectly fine. It's only on the first try when a few days have passed.
I actually opened another thread just yesterday as I did not find this one because of the waterfall/tonneau confusion... my other post is titled "Convertible top operation... is it just me?"...
Someone mentioned to check the oil level in the convertible top motor, and also to ensure that the pressure relief valve is tightened. This is the motor that is located over behind the passenger seat under the carpet. Look at my post to see a picture of it.
I'm going to take a look at those 2 things (oil and pressure valve).

Corvette_Ed

If both of these check out, the problem is your motor.

windyC6

I believe I am having the same exact problem that you are.
have you observed the pull down latch to see what its doing during this cycle ? When its working correctly, the pull down latch will go down and then come back up to grab the tanneau. When it doesn't work correctly, the pull down latch will go down and stay down while the tanneau is coming down. Obviously I can't see whats going on while the tanneau is over the latch, but for some reason the latch is not high enough to grab the tanneau and pull it down all the way. I believe that chasing the hydro fluid block may not be prudent because the pull down latch is electrical. But this is a C-6 with GM's best engineers () design behind it so I guess anythings possible.....

my1970conv

Hi windyC6... I haven't had the chance to take a close look at the pull down latch yet... hope to get to it soon... I guess I'm only questioning the pull down latch because if it were defective, I would expect it not to work on a regular basis. The only time this happens to me is when I haven't put the top down in a few days. It won't shut properly on the first attempt. When I do get it to close properly, anytime after that I can open and close with no problems.
So instead of maybe the pull down latch not being high enough to catch the tonneau cover, I'm saying that maybe it's the tonneau cover that's not low enough for the latch to catch it... and that could potentially be a hydraulic issue of maybe the top not compressing enough, or the tonneau not compressing the top enough for the latch to catch the tonneau.
I'll have to take a closer look at what's happening to the pull down latch, but why would it only happen once i guess is my question.
Thanks...

windyC6

You bring up some good points about the tanneau and hydro fluid. As mentioned anything is possible. I've been chasing this issue off and on for a while now. Last thing I did was add a small pieces of hard plastic hose to the little tab on the latch ring so it would contact the switch sooner and/or better. Seemed like it helped, but I may just be in denial....LOL. I'm gonna keep chasing it and sooner or later maybe we'll get a fix......

DaveJB

Wow, I hate to dig up an old post but I nobody has replied to nearly any of these that I saw. Odd, the way this thread loaded I only saw the first post. Anyway, this should still help.

I'll reply for anyone else. First, mine broke today too. Lately it had troubles closing and it would make a ratcheting sound. I'd slap it with my hand to close. Today, it seemed to really struggle, the hand slap didn't work so I jammed it with my elbow. This sort of broke the whole mechanism. The clear plastic just snapped. The replacement part isn't that bad at $255 so not worried about that. But I wanted to help others. I realize now that I think I caused it all. In the trunk, there's a small area under the storage area for the top. I had been storing a blanket and other cloth things under there. I now realize it had been pushing the ... panel upward. I don't know how to describe it better but basically I was causing there to be less room for the top to store so it was sitting up higher and therefore causing the latch to struggle to close it. Lesson learned, don't put anything much taller than an inch or two in that space. I hope I help someone. I'll paste this as a new thread too.

samhillus

The tension arms have been discontinued by GM. I can not find anywhere any suggestions?