how to manually operate/open the bow/convertable top?

[marcol968]

hi, I am a new owner of a 1987 mclaren mustng #478. the car runs great and looks great. i am having electrical problems. I was wondering if anyone can guide me through opening the convertable top manually? I can get the tonneau cover to release manually by pulling the cable but dont know how to release the bow or convertable top. I would surely appreciate the help.

[Sandy]

The top is a manual top. You pull it up, manually.

OR are you speaking og the big screw that goes into the hole on the tonneau cover ?? I don't understand exactly....

#478 is the next-to-last 1987.

001-479 = 1987
480 = 1,494 = 1988
001-247 = 1989
248 = 300 = 1990
1900=1911 = Silver Anniversary Edition

[marcol968]

yes i can't get the big srew to release from the cover. thanks

[marcol968]

I appreciate the response didn't realize it's so late. I'm from Honolulu Hawaii and sure do appreciate all the help. I'm a firefighter with 21 days free a month to get my mclaren in top shape. thanks Donald

[Sandy]

SORRY TO SAY, THIS CAN BE A BIG MAJOR HEADACHE ! Sady I cannot tell you how to do it. All I can tell you is frequently in climatic changes, (when it gets colder) sometimes it gives it up, and will work.

What to do so that it will never happen again is when pushing the button behind the driver's seat to PULL the SCREW DOWN into the hole, never ever let it go all the way down. Put fingertips under the hem of the cloth top, and when you push the button and it pulls downward, as soon as you feel it snug against your fingertips...STOP let go. When it freezes (as yours is, now) IF IF IF IF you've left room to reverse the thing, it will UN-stick itself. But, you now cannot do that, as it was held to the very end of its travel, and it's stuck.

[ProTouringASC]

While pushing and releasing the button over and over, try hitting the top just over the screw, with your fist a few times.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[marcol968]

thanks for all the response, I am at the moment having electrical problems. the button to open the cover and top does not work. i thought there may have been a way to release the screw manually. Could anyone tell me the wire color sequence that connects to the button to release the top/cover? thanks Donald

[Sandy]

I do not know. Maybe someone else will.

[dahberg]

[marcol968]

thanks again, I am trying to lower the top, I pulled the cable which released the cover and the released the front levers. but had a hard time trying to lift the tonneau. I didn't want to force it too much. it seems to be stuck against the cover. Should I pry harder? apreciate the help
Donald

[dahberg]

Good luck!

[Sandy]

dahberg. do you realize that yours is a Merc. Capri & his is a Mustang?

Were they not a bit different in this area of top working? Doesn't th Capri have like a hook to catch onto something, and the Mustang have a worm gear drive to swevel down intothe hole the big screw ?

yes or no ? I never had a McLaren Capri VERT so I have no basis of comparasion.........

[dahberg]

[Sandy]

No, don't stay outta stuff. You're a valuable resource ! I was just pointing out what I had been told. Like I said, I have never had the opportunity to "eyeball" the workings of the 84 85 86 Capri Convertible McLaren to compare to my Mustang version --but on this site, others have said that they are different. This member's s the Capri so......I am not too sure

One member got his to work (release) by disconnecting his battery, and then re-connecting. Seems the SURGE of power was enough to jar the workings into action.....

[dahberg]