You’re a Pontiac Solstice owner, you get in your car, you roll down your windows, release your convertible top from the windshield, click the trunk release, the trunk clicks open, and the driver side or passenger side buttress doesn’t release. If you Google the problem; you will find out how to release it and get the top down. After a wonderful top-down ride; you close it up and all seems well.
It isn’t! the next time you take your top down, the buttress doesn’t release; you now know how to fix that problem however, you now have a new problem. The problem you will find out is that; the release cable has disconnected from the buttress release mechanism.
Here is a quick easy fix, that takes a bit of mechanical skill and some simple improvised pieces. Read my instruction’s and I believe my photos will make perfect sense. I am a Car and RC hobbyist and have a good mechanical skills.
- Open your trunk and put your top up using panel pullers remove all the trunk lid push pin retainers. You might find it easier to do when you climb into the trunk and sit on the raised area.
- Once the inner panel is removed you will see two cables that actuate the buttress releases. Follow them up to the connection points. If the cable is connected and you click your remote you will see them work. If the cable is disconnected it will not.
- Now that you identified your problem look at the one that works; you will see the one that works has a ball on the end that is connected to a spring that acts as a release for the buttress pin on your top when it is closed.
- Now look at the one that doesn’t work the cable is probably retracted, pull it out to expose the ball on the end, put it back through the lop that attaches it to the spring.
- Use a round object like a sharpy cap to hold back the spring by placing it through the trunk chrome ring that the post goes through. The cable will comfortably leave enough room for cable to be retained by the new fasteners you will improvise.
- Using a new or used push pin cut off the stem, using a Dremel smooth it out to create a disc. Drill a 1/16th hole in the middle and cut a very narrow slit in it. Get a very small hobby spring cotter pin.
- Using needle nose pliers snap the new black disc over the cable next to the spring now snap the miniature cotter pin over the cable next to the ball end retainer.
- Remove the round object used to hold back the spring. Now test with your remote. Success it now works
- For added ease of operation cote and let cure the entire mechanism and spring surfaces with CowRC…
Moo-Slick Silicone protectant. this is great stuff
I hope you find this helpful. the whole process took about 3 hours.
alan b. meschkow
Proud daughter moment! My dad is the ultimate problem solver .. it could be cars or help with my house projects or RC stuff, whatever the subject he always finds a way. Love seeing him share his knowledge to help others how he’s helped me over the last fourty plus years!! Great job, Dad! I Love you!