[TX08manualGXP]

as you may know, I picked up an 08 GXP Saturday. this thing was super clean and you'd think the interior was only a month old. this one has a liner on the top which my 06 did not. the 06, I could push the top in the trunk very lightly and close the trunk with almost no effort. the 08 trunk comes in contact with the top and I still have about 3 inches before it will close. Is this normal? the whole thing is thicker having that liner and I don't want to bend anything so I have not driven topless yet.

 

[Freaky Tiki]

Though neither one is particularly easy to close, my '08 takes more of a slam to close than the '06 does. I'm not absolutely sure, but I've always assumed it was due to the liner in the '08. (Then again, I'm pretty good at rationalizing things in my mind...lol)

 

[rob the elder]

The Dragon has the same top as you have. I have to press down on each side of the top to get it fully seated before I close the trunk.

Check to see that you have the vent on the left rear of the trunk and that it is working. On the later cars, the trunk liner has a vent in the trunk liner adjacent to the flapper valve in the side of the car. I cut a hole in the side of the trunk liner and added a 4 inch drain cover from Home Depot to allow better air flow out of the trunk. It makes closing the trunk a lot easier.

Alternatively, you could drill a series of holes in the existing trunk liner with your drill to increase air flow.:grouphug:

 

[chickenwire]

I have the liner and need to give it a little "persuasion" to settle down low enough that the trunk lid doesn't hit it.

 

[GS Stage 1]

Or just hold open one of the Tulip panels while you close the trunk lid. I do that with my car, and it helps tremendously.

 

[TX08manualGXP]

Hey Rob, could you post a photo of your mod please?
I'll look into the tips you guys posted and thanks. seems like GM could have put a bit more thought into this and designed it to fit better.
I'll see if I can get it closed at lunch time and I just hope that with the pressure it takes to close it that it does not wear the top or warp the trunk over time.

 

[KappaKadet]

The '08 trunk comes in contact with the top and I still have about 3 inches before it will close.

Am guessing that the previous owner didn't take the top down very often.

I have to press down on each side of the top to get it fully seated before I close the trunk.

Putting the top down snugly into the trunk takes a bit more force with cars that have the acoustic liner.

 

[TX08manualGXP]

I don't think they ever did. weird though, the top and latch and everything look brand new. they muct have kept it covered whenever they weren't driving it.

 

[rob the elder]

The flapper valve is 11 in this drawing. If you drill out air holes in the liner in this area you will be good to go. Pull the edge of the trunk liner out a bit and you can see it from outside the car looking down into the trunk

 

[TomatoSoup]

http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f62/mod-simple-no-roof-wear-trunk-liner-fix-63560/

Try this as well. My 08 does not have the vent, but closes easily now, since doing the above. Note, if air pressure is your issue, simply holding up the nearer tulip panel flap while you shut the trunk will also solve the problem.

 

[Sly Bob]

Mark, the URL for that fix over at KP changed a few years ago to

Mod: Simple 'No-roof-wear-from-trunk-liner' fix

 

[rob the elder]

Mine does not meet the trunk on the side. Closing resistance is from trapped air.

 

[TomatoSoup]

Mine does not meet the trunk on the side. Closing resistance is from trapped air.

Sometimes the resistance is from the lower part of the roof, that you can't see. But in any case, if it's air, raise the flap like I said.

Thanks SlyBob, for the correct photo links.

 

[TX08manualGXP]

No, my trunk lid comes in contact with the top and I still have a good 2" gap before it closes. it is getting caight on the sides too so I'll try your fix Mark and see if it's any better. I did notice that on the drivers side of the top the side has pulled away from the bracket. the flap has a hole like done by a hole punch that's supposed to be sandwhiched and the hole is not torn so someone didn't install it correctly. I'll have to figure out how to get it back in there. I'll take a photo so you can see. not sure if this is part of the problem but needs to be addressed all the same.

 

[SkyPilot]

Or just hold open one of the Tulip panels while you close the trunk lid. I do that with my car, and it helps tremendously.

:agree: Simple fix!

 

[TX08manualGXP]

I checked it out at lunch time and it has nothing to do with air pressure and lifting a flap does nothing. Here's a few photo's:

First, the side thing has pulled out. this may be some of the cause. Not sure how to stick this back in and what happened. there's a bolt that's supposed to secure this:


this is my top sitting in the trunk after I pushed it down. seems high to me. should have thought of this but I'll compare it with the 06 this evening.



you can see here he guide pin is flush with the bracket so it's down all the way:


and here is as far as the lid will go down before it makes contact with the top:


one more thing, my 06 top is very easy to latch. this one you almost have to push the top towards the front of the car before the latch will catch and then it's a tight squeeze before it latches. are all 08 latches red? maybe this is a new top?


any help would be appreciated as I do not want to bend or break anything.

 

[rob the elder]

The first picture looks like there is a missing link . . . there is a ball joint that has been known to fail. the only way you can get the top into that position is with a mechanical issue with the top structure. That needs to be addressed first. Get the dealer to fix it for you.

The shots of the top in the trunk look similar to what I have seen. Pressing down on the top and then briskly closing the trunk is what works for me. Get the mechanism fixed first.

 

[The_Ghost]

Whatever you do....NEVER use the humps on the decklid to close it!!! It's the weakest, thinest part of the decklid and it WILL dimple...trust me, I know...first week I had it!! :brentil:

 

[TX08manualGXP]

No, the link is there. what has happened is the end should be tucked in and it has pulled out. the exposed flap with the hole should have had a bolt thru it which keeps this from happening. Not sure if the factory missed this or what. I'll see if I can get easily get to it and if not, looke like the dealer will have to do it. Here's the other side and then a photo of the bold that's supposed to be holding this in.

 

[GS Stage 1]

That flap of material could easily be binding up in the down position, and not allowing the top to settle down in the rear. So definitely get that fixed before attempting to close the the top down anymore.

But as a general statement: With the headliner, everything is much tighter. As others have said, you will need to push down on the top a lot; going back and forth from one side to the other. Even though the pins are sitting down in the "saddles"; the rear of the top will squish down a lot more.

What you are describing is a top that was probably not put down very often, so the material is tight. Hence it is a stretch to put it back up, and to squish it down in the trunk.