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Old 04-13-2008, 10:05 AM   #1 (permalink)
 
rrrucke's Avatar
 
Location: NJ & NYC
Drive: '08 Cabrio
My SCOA Gallery
Broken Rag Top Button


Yesterday (Saturday), I traveled down the shore to take in the lovely 75 degree weather. The forecast was heavy rain throughout the day. But after the fog burned off and the rain clouds went away (kind of) while traveling south, the day was looking up while my top and rails were down. I finally got to a nice location right on the beach and decided to take a walk. At 11:15 am, I parked behind this guy who just got there too to walk his huge dog.

I found myself being distracted by the man and dog as they were looking at the car. I proceeded to put the top up then I realized why it wasn’t closing…the rails were off. So I went to the back, got the right side rail out and while reaching through the passenger side and kneeling on the passenger seat, I went to push the top down button. It was a bit awkward because I had the rail in one hand. Anyway, I guess I was pushing the button too hard and at a weird angle before it “went inside the casing”. All I could think of was “Oh ****!” No other way to explain it because the rain was going to get me sometime that day if my top was down.

I quickly decided to call the Edison’s Service Center which is programmed into my phone. I recommend EVERYONE do this!! Thankfully they were opened and they told me to come in. I explained that I was at the shore but I would leave immediately and prayed hard that I would get there in an hour. I was happy they didn’t close until 5pm.

Anyway, I’m 35 miles south of the dealership and all I can do is hall ass out of there! Even though the weather is nice down here that’s not to say it’s lovely up north. 25 mins later, my worst fears come true and I find myself surrounded by dark rain clouds. My mind is racing trying to figure out where can I quickly park for cover in case of a down pour. Then it begins to rain lightly and my automatic wipers start up. My heart is dropping by the minute and then the rain gets a bit heavier and the rush of water from the windshield starts sloshing up and over the side windows and into the car. All I can think of is “Damn, my smart is going to drown out in this rain and I can’t do a damn thing about it” while heading north on the Garden State Parkway doing 80 mph.

Thankfully, the rain gave up but there were definitely huge dark clouds all around me with threats of a down pour at any minute. Through the grace of the smart Gods, I finally reached the service center and drive right into the bay. A service manager quickly greeted me and asked if I was the person with the rag top button problem. I said yes and he said those wonderful words you NEED TO HEAR during a crisis such as this. He said, “I think we can help you!”

After they took my little guy away, I went to one of their many waiting rooms and took out my book to read. This dealership’s service center is so impressive. Do you know they never took my name or any personal information? They just took the car in to help me out. After only 15 mins, the same manager came back with good and bad news. He got the rails on with the top up but he told me not to push the button. He asked me to bring the car back in so the smart tech could fix the problem which I am happy to do.

Anyway, Edison helped me avoid a major catastrophe. But I now feel like a bird with a taped up wing who is on the bend and unable to fly. Not being able to have my top down is such a drag but it is one I am willing to put up with until they can fix it.

The moral of this story: Be very careful not to apply too much pressure when engaging the rag top button. It’s pretty fragile. You may find yourself in deep doo doo or you may luck out like I did with a great shop to help you out. I don’t wish this problem on anyone so please be careful when hitting that button. Thanks, Regina

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Old 04-13-2008, 11:15 AM   #2 (permalink)
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Location: Washington, DC
Drive: w/s/r '08 passion
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Just out of curiosity: does the ragtop has a safety system to prevent closing when the rails have been either removed, or badly re-installed? Is there a way to close the top without power? The manual doesn't say.
In some cars (Volvo to name one) there is a hand cranked device. For the top as well as for the windows.

BTW, I was told by smartville that "ALL controls should be handle with TLC", not too roughly. The car is not up to military requirements, after all. But I'm glad that you got the situation solved, at least temporary.
Good posting.

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Old 04-13-2008, 11:32 AM   #3 (permalink)
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jonnysan's Avatar
 
Location: Albany, NY
Drive: S-2000, Acura TL, smart42
Most switches for that purpose...

Quote:
Originally Posted by rrrucke View Post

Yesterday (Saturday), I traveled down the shore to take in the lovely 75 degree weather. The forecast was heavy rain throughout the day. But after the fog burned off and the rain clouds went away (kind of) while traveling south, the day was looking up while my top and rails were down. I finally got to a nice location right on the beach and decided to take a walk. At 11:15 am, I parked behind this guy who just got there too to walk his huge dog.

I found myself being distracted by the man and dog as they were looking at the car. I proceeded to put the top up then I realized why it wasn’t closing…the rails were off. So I went to the back, got the right side rail out and while reaching through the passenger side and kneeling on the passenger seat, I went to push the top down button. It was a bit awkward because I had the rail in one hand. Anyway, I guess I was pushing the button too hard and at a weird angle before it “went inside the casing”. All I could think of was “Oh ****!” No other way to explain it because the rain was going to get me sometime that day if my top was down.

I quickly decided to call the Edison’s Service Center which is programmed into my phone. I recommend EVERYONE do this!! Thankfully they were opened and they told me to come in. I explained that I was at the shore but I would leave immediately and prayed hard that I would get there in an hour. I was happy they didn’t close until 5pm.

Anyway, I’m 35 miles south of the dealership and all I can do is hall ass out of there! Even though the weather is nice down here that’s not to say it’s lovely up north. 25 mins later, my worst fears come true and I find myself surrounded by dark rain clouds. My mind is racing trying to figure out where can I quickly park for cover in case of a down pour. Then it begins to rain lightly and my automatic wipers start up. My heart is dropping by the minute and then the rain gets a bit heavier and the rush of water from the windshield starts sloshing up and over the side windows and into the car. All I can think of is “Damn, my smart is going to drown out in this rain and I can’t do a damn thing about it” while heading north on the Garden State Parkway doing 80 mph.

Thankfully, the rain gave up but there were definitely huge dark clouds all around me with threats of a down pour at any minute. Through the grace of the smart Gods, I finally reached the service center and drive right into the bay. A service manager quickly greeted me and asked if I was the person with the rag top button problem. I said yes and he said those wonderful words you NEED TO HEAR during a crisis such as this. He said, “I think we can help you!”

After they took my little guy away, I went to one of their many waiting rooms and took out my book to read. This dealership’s service center is so impressive. Do you know they never took my name or any personal information? They just took the car in to help me out. After only 15 mins, the same manager came back with good and bad news. He got the rails on with the top up but he told me not to push the button. He asked me to bring the car back in so the smart tech could fix the problem which I am happy to do.

Anyway, Edison helped me avoid a major catastrophe. But I now feel like a bird with a taped up wing who is on the bend and unable to fly. Not being able to have my top down is such a drag but it is one I am willing to put up with until they can fix it.

The moral of this story: Be very careful not to apply too much pressure when engaging the rag top button. It’s pretty fragile. You may find yourself in deep doo doo or you may luck out like I did with a great shop to help you out. I don’t wish this problem on anyone so please be careful when hitting that button. Thanks, Regina
Are single pole switches that simply connect one wire to another thru the switch contacts. Popping the switch out and shorting the two poles together with a metallic object (nail clippers, paper clip, etc)would have closed the top. If there are more than 2 terminals, I would try shorting but with caution....

It worked out Ok the way you handled it, too, though, Regina so happy it worked out satisfactorily for you.

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Old 04-13-2008, 05:53 PM   #4 (permalink)
 
rrrucke's Avatar
 
Location: NJ & NYC
Drive: '08 Cabrio
My SCOA Gallery
Johnnysan are you talking English? All I understood from you post was "glad everything worked out".

JPaul, TLC is definitely an understatement. I'll try to remember this is just short of a tonka tike. Cute, cuddly and can be a bit fragile when handled too roughly (even though it really wasn't that rough). ;)

BTW, I remember a guy said on the board that this happened to him when he took delivery before putting his smart on eBay. I think it was the first person who smartUSA recognized as the first delivered smart owner here in NYC (if memory serves me right). Anyway, I remember he got it fixed pretty quickly.

It was still a scarey situation to find myself in. I'm sure glad it wasn't Sunday!

Last edited by rrrucke; 04-13-2008 at 05:58 PM..

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Old 04-13-2008, 07:27 PM   #5 (permalink)
 
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Location: Roseburg,OR - Tujunga (LA), CA
Drive: 06 450 Passion Cpe
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jonnysan View Post
Are single pole switches that simply connect one wire to another thru the switch contacts. Popping the switch out and shorting the two poles together with a metallic object (nail clippers, paper clip, etc)would have closed the top. If there are more than 2 terminals, I would try shorting but with caution....

It worked out Ok the way you handled it, too, though, Regina so happy it worked out satisfactorily for you.
After looking at the illustration in the owner's manual, I'll bet a dollar to a donut that it's a SPDT(NO) (single pole double throw, normal off, spring return) switch.

Three terminals (open) (power) (close). A temporary switch can be had at Radio Shack, Lowes, Home Depot etc.

Donald LaFavor

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Old 04-14-2008, 06:00 PM   #6 (permalink)
 
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Location: Zionsville, IN
Drive: 04 TSX, 08 smart
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Just the type of terminology rrrucke likes to see.
Glad you made it to the helpfull dealer on time..

Gus

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Old 04-15-2008, 04:36 AM   #7 (permalink)
 
rrrucke's Avatar
 
Location: NJ & NYC
Drive: '08 Cabrio
My SCOA Gallery
Hey Gus...auto terminology or any techie terminology always flies right over my head. I'm the kind of girl who "Just wants the facts mame!" Anyway, I dropped my little guy at the dealership last night so I'm praying the smart tech can get it fixed in time for me to pick it up tonight.

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