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Dear members
I cannot close/lock the top of my convertible. When the top is on the frontwindscreen, when I want to lock it with turning the locking handle, the top comes up again. Appearently the dowel pins don't fit into the 3 wholes. Have I done something wrong or is the pin inside the system bend?
Let me please know when you know something about this issue
Thank you for reading
Jan Hermans
Holland
Desoto convertible coupe S 13 1949
I wish I had the correct answer, but when the top is down, can you see the mechanism move when turning the knob so you can tell if it is operating? The knob has to be moving something that you might be able to see and then determine if it is functioning properly, can fit onto the windshield header, and lock the top down like it's supposed to. Just a suggestion but might help.
You might have to take it apart to see if anything is bent or broken if you can't see anything move to lock and unlock the top from the windshield header.
"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"
"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"
good morning Fred
Thank you for your answer. Haha, your answer to take it apart ehhhhh, I have postponed for the last rescue so to speak.
Your suggestion to look at the inside of the little hole where that pin moves in or out of has given us the right attitude to look over it again more carefully this time. My brother, who helps me a lot, has bent that pin a little bit so it is now back again in its proper place.
After that time I haven't opened it yet, because of the bad weather in Holland and also because I can't drive the car at this moment at all because of a leaking radiator. It has been fixed once, but a bit more to the left appeared a new little pinhole. I heard that when it has to be replaced it will cost me at least $2.500 for a replacement and which will take at leat 4 weeks before I get it back. I think that that is a lot of money and a long time.
Would you know somebody in the USA or amongst the members who know what the best way is to deal with this issue?
Are they still for sale somewhere, new or a good secondhand?
Hope to hear from you and I will ask the same question on the message board.
With kind regards
Jan
And yes I'm still very happy with the car and my sun, wife and 2 grandchildren too
Hi Jan,
Glad to know there is something positive regarding your top mechanism and it may be OK now. Time will tell for sure.
Regarding your radiator, I suggest trying a radiator stop leak product that is added to the coolant and circulates within the system. It coagulates at the leak and seals it. This method only works for small leaks and may not be a permanent solution but what I refer to as a "band-aid" approach. I personally have used the stuff upon more than one occasion with satisfactory results.
There are radiator shops here in the states that repair and re-core radiators. This makes for a like new radiator. I cannot fathom that there are not shops like these in your area or at least much closer than the USA. You need to check with restoration facilities nearby and see what they suggest.
Good luck and am glad to know you are enjoying your car and hope it gets better.
"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"
"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"
