[Oodaloop]

Hello everyone. I hope you all can help out a new owner. I've had my 2008 Sky Redline for one day and I already messed up the top.

I believe I may have latched the top incorrectly and bent my latch upward. I couldn't line up the latch correctly any more so I took some pliers and bent it downward.

This got everything lined up correctly but now when latched, it would not stay locked in and could easily be pulled back out with a little bit of pressure.

I kept playing with it and got that part fixed but the next problem is the handle would not tighten the latch. It would get real close to latching but once it got to the point where some pressure was needed the lever would turn but the latch would stay still.

I tried to tighten the bolt in the lever thinking that was the problem but ended up torquing the head of the bolt clean off

Took it to the dealership and they want me to pay $341.88 for the part and a total of $879 for part & labor. That is just a rip off :brentil:

Anyone have any experience replacing the latch and can help me make sure I pick up the correct part from gmpartsdirect.com or another site?

I found two parts that I think are correct, and they may or may not be the same part.

I found this one labeled "LOCK Solstice; Front"
GMPartsDirect.com - Find a Item

And also found #20 on this diagram which is labeled "lock left"

GMPartsDirect.com - Find a Item

I believe they are the same part since they have the same price but I'm not sure. Also the second one is labeled left for some reason.

Also these are both for a Solstice...am I correct in assuming that it should work for the Redline as well?

Did I find the correct part?

On another note, I would of loved to install this part myself. I took off the bow bracket of the top only to find that the cloth is glued to the framing of the convertible top. That makes me a little nervous to mess with. Anyone have experience or another way to get to the latch?

Thanks again guys!

 

[rob the elder]

Welcome, sorry for your problem. If it is any help, many of us have done the same thing. I bent the hook but straightened it and it works find.

The Sol and Sky tops are identical and interchangeable. Buy the Pontiac part as it should be cheaper

Call Tom at Crate Engine depot ant talk with him. He can set you up probably cheaper than others and he is a forum sponsor. Go to their website and find their 800 number

I have a spare latch I bought from them

 

[Oodaloop]

Welcome, sorry for your problem. If it is any help, many of us have done the same thing. I bent the hook but straightened it and it works find.

The Sol and Sky tops are identical and interchangeable. Buy the Pontiac part as it should be cheaper

Call Tom at Crate Engine depot ant talk with him. He can set you up probably cheaper than others and he is a forum sponsor. Go to their website and find their 800 number

I have a spare latch I bought from them

Thank you very much, I think I'll do that first thing tomorrow when they are open!

Question though. How has everyone gone about installing it?

 

[Oodaloop]

Thank you very much! I'll do that bright and early tomorrow.

Question though. How has everyone installed it?

 

[GS Stage 1]

Took it to the dealership and they want me to pay $341.88 for the part and a total of $879 for part & labor. That is just a rip off :brentil:

GM Customer Service, are you reading this?

Really? Do you feel this is a reasonable charge to replace a fricken latch?

 

[chickenwire]

Oh, and by the way, welcome to the forum Ooda!

 

[Oodaloop]

Oh, and by the way, welcome to the forum Ooda!

Thank you!:cheers:

 

[Oodaloop]

Part ordered from Tom.

Now to figure out if I can install it myself without removing the cloth part of the top :/

 

[TX08manualGXP]

Hi ooda, welcome aboard.

If you do end up fixing this yourself, that would be great if you could post some "how to's" and "do's and don'ts". my latch on the 06 needs some tweaking and thankd to you, I'll be sure and use caution. Hope it turns out well.

 

[Oodaloop]

Hi ooda, welcome aboard.

If you do end up fixing this yourself, that would be great if you could post some "how to's" and "do's and don'ts". my latch on the 06 needs some tweaking and thankd to you, I'll be sure and use caution. Hope it turns out well.

Thanks, will do.

 

[rob the elder]

I will go take some pictures of my spare top and see if I can get access to the latch from "inside". I have always assumed that it is possible to swap out the latch without major surgery on the top but have not had to confirm that yet. Good time to do same

:thumbs:

 

[Oodaloop]

I will go take some pictures of my spare top and see if I can get access to the latch from "inside". I have always assumed that it is possible to swap out the latch without major surgery on the top but have not had to confirm that yet. Good time to do same

:thumbs:

That would be AWESOME! I GREATLY appreciate that!

 

[BellaVerde]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[MEANGXP]

Convertible Top Front Latch

The manual shows three screws securing the latch. On my car, with the top partially opened so the latch was just above my head in the driver's seat, I was was able to easily push the sound absorber up enough to reach in and feel all three screw heads. The trick will be to have a ratcheting bit driver to remove and install the screws as clearance is at a premium (just limited enough to be irritating, but not so bad as to prevent removal...). Really shouldn't be all that bad of a job with the right bit driver. Hope this helps.

 

[Oodaloop]

The manual shows three screws securing the latch. On my car, with the top partially opened so the latch was just above my head in the driver's seat, I was was able to easily push the sound absorber up enough to reach in and feel all three screw heads. The trick will be to have a ratcheting bit driver to remove and install the screws as clearance is at a premium (just limited enough to be irritating, but not so bad as to prevent removal...). Really shouldn't be all that bad of a job with the right bit driver. Hope this helps.

That is a great diagram. I've only felt one of the screws so far. Is there anything that indicates what type of screw it is? I wonder if it is a hex like the retaining bar has.

 

[LatinVenom]

By the way since you are a new owner you need to know the following.
Once you open the latch to open the top, you MUST!! leave it in that position or it will get damage again.

 

[Robssol]

Welcome to the forum:thumbs: Since we helped you, you gotta post a pic of your kappa, even though it's a Sky:leaving:

 

[rob the elder]

I spent some quality time with the Punisher last evening. I opened the top about 6 inches and went into the area above the latch with a flashlight and my iPhone. I took a number of pictures. My car is an 07 without the acoustic liner so gaining access was very easy. There are three Torx screws. #30 if my memory serves. I need to transfer the pictures (no phones at work) but I did get a picture of the screws with the Torx wrench installed and ready for removal. Without the headliner, its trivial to gain access. With the headliner, not so much I suspect, but still not impossible. I need to look (or maybe OC?) to see what is required to remove the headliner in front to gain access.

There are two screws on the left about an inch and a half apart lined up fore and aft. There is one screw on the right about centered on the latch mechanism. I did not actually remove mine (following the if it is not broke do not f . . ool with it rule) but I am confident that I could have done so in a few minutes on the non headliner equipped car.

 

[DaveOC]

Rob,

Since this manual is for a 2009, it should include the liner which was standard by that time. Do these instructions make sense to you if there is a liner?

They make sense to me but my car is a 2006 and doesn't have a top liner.

Advise.

 

[rob the elder]

I need to look at the Sky which has the headliner to be able to tell for sure.

The instructions make sense as far as they go