04 Mustang Convertible Top Not Raising or Lowering, Watch This Hydraulic Hack
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- čas přidán 3. 08. 2022
- Specific steps are shown in the video to remove the rear seat bottom and back to gain access to the hydraulic pump and reservoir for the convertible top. The parts you'll need is an 18mm deep socket and ratchet, flat screwdriver, pliers (for the rubber plug), a large syringe, a rag for catching excess oil and a quart of Dextron lll automatic transmission fluid. You won't need but a portion of the whole quart. In lieu of a syringe, a small funnel that will fit into a 3/8'' hole could possible be used, but it would be more difficult. The reservoir should be level or near to it and the fluid should be added until it reaches the bottom of the hole. If it is stood on end and filled, surely it will be overfilled possibly causing the plug to be dislodged as the cylinders retract. There has to be a void to accomodate the fluid displaced to the reservoir by the retracting cylinders.
Only basic mechanical skills are required to successfully make this repair. Even if the pump motor is bad, it is just plug and play... after filling with ATF that is. The same system was used in many many model years of the Mustang convertibles. Any auto parts store will have the replacement components and the repair is pretty much self explanatory once it is exposed behind the seat. #Mustangconvertiblerepair, #DIYconvertiblehydraulics, #Mustangseatremoval - Zábava
Pro tip on the 2 tabs to release the seat. The metal male end of the seat belt buckle is a perfect fit to pop those seats out
Whoa..!! That more than makes sense doesn't it. I didn't even think of that. Thanks Michael for the tip. One of these days I gotta get back on the 66 coupe 289 three speed or the 67 coupe with an adapted 302 automatic.... THIS is the Missus' play around car. Thanks again !!
Straight to the point and informative 👍 wish all CZcamsrs would take note!
Thank you Tony, I hope it helped you if you too had a problem with yours lifting or lowering.
One of the best videos I've seen in a while, straight to the point and very informative, also commercial free , my hats off to you on video skills 👍 love the video, fixing to do my daughter's 2004 convertible today, this video helped take all the guess work out of it , thanks for making this video
A long time ago, I use to take these pumps and cylinders off and do all sort of projects with them.....good repair....CHEERS
Heck yeah Gator, I can see the benefit for many projects. I've not used one for any thing else though. Thanks for the visit my friend.
This video saved the day as my '03 GT top was stuck in the open position. I followed every detail as you explained and was rewarded with a fully-functional rag top once again! Getting the bench seat to release on one side was a bear (had to break the cheap plastic clip) and getting the rubber plug back into the cylinder was maddening, but lots of twisting and pushing got it done. Thanks again for posting this!
Awesome !! Thank you for letting me know it helped you out. It makes the effort worth the while. Another viewer suggested to just use the seat buckle end to release the clip under the seat. Good to know for the future.
Don't bother taking the motor/reservoir off the mount. the electronic connectors are just clipped on. Other than that, best video on the topic.
I only did that because I didn't have a convenient way to fill it horizontally. If I'd had a squeeze bottle handy I would have left it in place. Good note to make though...it really does NOT have to be removed. Thanks for the input...you guys keep me on my toes !!
Great job Wendell, nice video, stay dry and safe.
I barely got it into the garage and the bottom fell out of the clouds !! I really wanted to wrap it up be reinstalling the seat. But that was easy enough anyway.
Doing this this afternoon, thanks for the timeless vid!
Awesome !! I hope it does the trick for you. Thank you for watching and leaving a comment too.
Well fashionably late again I am Mr Wendell 🤦🤦 You sir are a genius!! I have seen many a mustang such as this over the years, but never knew exactly what made the top function! You had me rolling talking about the rubber plug,. " Next time I will grab a pair of pliers " 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I absolutely love your commentary on your videos, it is epic!! Thank you very much for bringing us along!! Very informative and detailed as always! Thank you sir for that!! One more to catch up on😁😁😉😉
Well Nelson as you know, most problems are fairly simple and the harder ones are usually just a lot of simple ones stacked up. Good or bad, that's the way I look at 'em anyway. LOL You know the Mustang body is based on the Falcon running gear, so I bet most all the Falcon and Fairlane convertibles are just about the same...maybe a little variation here or there. Thanks for hanging in there with your busy schedule and watching my silliness....I know its hard to keep up with all the things a fella wants to stay on top of....I do appreciate it big time.
@@tractorman4461 Yes sir, I look SOOOOO fwd to these videos, you are amazing!!
Mustangman 44!!! You never know what you’re gonna come up with. Just when you thought you seen everything. Be safe!
Now that's funny Bob, I like it. LOL The Missus really wanted me to get on this repair. See, all peace-makers don't have to be wearing a badge. LOL Thank you for starting my day with a grin my friend !!
This video helped me so much…my convertible top works once again, thank you!!
Well now, I am glad to hear this solved your issue. I don't know what a shop charges to do this at all. But it'd have to knock a hole out of a hundred dollar bill. Might even be more. Thanks for your input.
That was awesome. My hubs thought the mice ate a wire in it but definitely sounds like this is the problem. Thank you !!!!
Well I certainly hope this is your problem, because as you can see, it is quite the simple fix. Good luck Kim, and thank yo for the input !!
This is the best video out there is this procedure. About to do it right now. Thanks Tractorman44!
Awesome....thank you for the kind words Bob. I am glad it helped you with the aggravating problem.
Just when I heard thunder there it is happening here! Of course this makes this tippin to 44Adventures even more exciting! We’re getting quite a down pour at the moment, 7:03 pm and it was hot and humid all day. Now the air smells sweet and I lovely! Nice Mustang! My Brother bought a blue 1965 Mustang with a white convertible top, 289 engine, spoked hub caps and four on the floor. Boy did that thing move right along! Sharp as tacks it was and with the top down it was a looker fer ser! I remember a neighbor down the street bought a Ford hard top convertible and we kids watched him move that top up and down a few times and thought, WOW! My Brother also had a 61 white Ford Galaxy with a white convertible top, red interior and 3 on the column. Of course under the hood was all engine. Then back in 66-67 I bought a 850 Fiat Spider two seater, British racing green convertible to that cost me $2000 new. At $1.25 an hour it took a while. Not a huge engine but great mileage. It handled so well on corners and was a blast to drive. It had enclosed head lights and looked like a minnie XKE, kinda and much cheaper too. A 1950 Ford to Fiat to VW Beetle to pick ups and vans and a few Honda’s, a Pinto wagon I got from my Mon and a Dodge Omni. A few others too. As everybody wishes they had their first car, I wish I had my 50 Ford flathead 6. I see a restored 49 or 50 around at times and what memories. I got 19 mpg and it went through snow just fine. With chains it was like a tank, which kinda of was anyway. I’ll have to email you a pic of my Dad with his 1937 Buick Special. A Straight 8! Down memory lane again, eh? I had a 68 Chevy pick up and could just about cap it off with $5, which would last a week or more. I changed the clutch, water pumps, shocks, hoses, greeted and oil and numerous other stuff. One of my class mates worked at his family auto parts store and always gave me a discount. We were shop class buddies in high school. I did all that fixin in my drive way too, hot or cold weather and it didn’t seem that it took a great deal of time either. Worked on other cars too but now? Simple stuff but so many parts, computers and pains inna buttox! Anyway, things have changed and the days of going to a car lot and buy a junker that ran for $200 ain’t no more! Friends of mine bought a Ford Maverick for $200, a going back and forth to work car, temporary car but it lasted 6-7 years and they sold it for $200! It was in the 70s that they had it. Another friend of mine had a powder blue Falcon and bolted old vacuum cleaner pipes underneath to look cool. And a friend who jacked up his 57 Chevy with wooden blocks for spacers. If you looked right you’d see the blocks. I remember a guy was shouting as we went by,”LOOK AT THAT LUMBER”, which our friend Bob and we passengers found very amusing! Then we went for a 15 cent burger at MacDonolds. I had .50 and got a burger, fries and a coke and had a few cents change. It was the first Macs in Lancaster and only a drive in no inside tables. And then the drive in theaters! But that’s another story. So on these lines of synapse, sparkin a bit I bid you a due with some tippin and sippin to be continued inna morning from my holler to your holler! Hugs to the proper Please! DaveyJO
Well my friend once again you supplied a LOT of unpackage right here !! LOL Man I could go on and on about the cars and motorcycles I have had, but it would probably overload the computer, so I better not. I wish I still had my '57 Chevy I sold for 50 bucks when I left for the Marines in '71 !! Of course it was a bit beat up, but the old 283 and three on the tree was still running like crazy. Awesome comment DaveyJO and I'll be sharing the pottaJO in the morning ready to reply to another reply my friend. Take care and keep doing what the doctor tells ya !!
@@tractorman4461 we fix everything and that's the way us country boys are good job /farmer Don and I'm out
@@donaldgardner1216 You're right Farmer Don. Rainy days were spent working on broken equipment in the blacksmith shop. With the huge south double doors propped open we could back in whatever was broken down, from a tractor to a wagon, trailer or plow to cobble together. Thanks for the visit today !!
yes the $200 cars are gone. However if you think about it the $100 dollar bill is the new twenty. I bought a 65 ford mustang for $300 in 69 . Looked good but was very rusted and full of bondo. A couple years ago I bought a 2003 chev 4 wheel drive for $500 and In still in the process of driving it into the ground. I have learned how to fix the newer stuff because I wont take anything to someone else.
100% right on the money. Great video. Thanks !!!
Well Cap'n....I hope this got you raising and lowering again !! I barely got it in the garage and the rain hit pretty good.
Thanks Wendel, take care buddy.
Hey Mark !! Good to see ya buddy. Hope all is well with you.
Great video! Very helpful
Awesome !! Glad to have helped out a little. It'll be jerky for a few cycles until it works out all the air.
Good job. I always heard someone else designed and made it. You ought to be able to fix it. I once owned a 57 ford with a retractable hardtop. I never was able to get the top down.
Those tops were amazing. I never saw the 'works' inside there, but it was really odd to watch the lid go down. Btw, I have a '57 Fairlane and a '57 Courier sedan delivery back in the woods at the neighbors house. The three door delivery was used to store hog feed since the early 60's and is rotted pretty much away, but the Fairlane is complete and only one door window cracked. The hood's up and the intake is gone, motor is roasted but it appears to be a 272 or 292 v-8. Don't know for sure. A few bullet holes here and there add to its looks....
good fix and a very nice car I like the Mustangs you and the misses would look great in it take care have a good night
She says its like driving a go cart !! Yeah, she gets whistled at riding around town with the top down and big ol' sunglasses on quite frequently. She's had guys 'gun' their engines at the stop lights and she just laughs at them and drives off.....LOL
Heck yeah buddy! Have a good one. Love the video !
Hahahaha....but dang it, I had to scramble to get it in the garage before it poured down. I got the car in, but got soaked running back out for the seat bottom !! I really wanted to finish the reassembly of the seat on the video. Didn't quite make it...
@@tractorman4461 still good stuff. you try your hardest. thats what we like! good content here!
😄
Hey Wendell! Is there ANYTHING you can’t fix? Nicely done, my friend. I didn’t even know they were hydraulically operated. I always assumed it was purely a mechanical mechanism with an electric motor. Thanks for sharing!
Hahahaha....well Martin, hydraulics is hydraulics. One thing creates a bit of pressure and something else moves as a result. That is as long as it's all working properly. I got lucky with it having lost a little fluid.
Thx this video really helped. Very easy to do.
Well that's good !! Another success story then. I love it when I find a video that has helped someone. Btw, the Mustang roof is still working smooth !!
Great Video! My top moves so much better. Thank you
Great !! I am glad to know it helped you out a bit with yours Jim.
Great info... thanks ❤
Thank you. I hope it helps you if you are having the same probem.
Thanks for the video! Well done
Thanks Reggie for watching. These are very simple systems and all the parts are easily obtained and changed if necessary. Heck even the pump/motor assembly just pops out of rubber mounts.
@@tractorman4461 you're welcome. I have a 2001 Mustang Gt I just purchased and come to find out it needs to have that to done to it. Gonna save money 💲💰
@@reggiesanders1229 well I hope yours turns out as simple as this was. If it’s just jerky going up and down or just barely starts then stops chances are it’s the same issue.
@@tractorman4461 I appreciate it, thank you.
You make it look easy.
Well DM, like I say all the time, it it was hard I wouldn't be able to do it !! Thanks for the visit as well as the comment.
That is an interesting video Wendell, never seen that part of a convertible, nice car however, If a car have a Mustang sign on I love it no matter what, thanks showing that for us
Hahahaha....I really like them too. I have a 66 and 67 coupe in the shed too....Both of them 289 V-8's, one has three on the floor and the other automatic. The three speed in a one owner car and I have all the original paperwork including the window sticker from the dealer and original spare and 68,000 original miles.
@@tractorman4461 whaoo my friend, I would like to pay you a visit, seems if you have a lot of treasures there, hopefully one day we will seen them
@@jankotze1959 Oh if I live long enough I'm sure a lot more stuff will be drawn out Jan. I appreciate you guys watching my friend.
So far so good with my Mini Cooper Convertible top, but I guess it`s somewhat similar, should I need to do this. ( I hope not :)
Thanks for this, you probably will save somebody a few dollars by showing this.
Well done Wendell!
I'm not familiar with the Mini-Coops, but I'd like to think they are hydraulic as well. One friend in town told me he was quoted 800 bucks for a similar repair at the dealer. Thanks for stopping in this evening Reg.
@@tractorman4461 And I said `a few dollars`,.. Not bad profit in that job at least, IF you had to go to a dealer.
@@regsparkes6507 Heck yeah....but I keep those trips to a minimum !! For obvious reasons. LOL, but with the new vehicles now coming off the line, I don't think we have much of a choice for most problems beyond oil and filters. I wouldn't even think of tackling much on the Missus' Subaru beyond oil, filters and tires.
@@tractorman4461 Ahh yes, my buddies and I have chatted about what the cost of repairs may be on new cars and trucks now and into the future,...
man oh man, it`s going to be costly!
Thanks!
Sorry I wasn't too much help. I just don't work on too much newer stuff except my own. And then only go as deep as necessary to fix the current issue.
One never knows where they will be next lol. Life will throw anything at you. Good job
Heck yeah John....roll with the punches every day. When I was working commercially I always said that plans change with a phone call !! Thanks for watching my friend.
@@tractorman4461 exactly right. Dang phones always starting trouble 😂
@@johnanthony2545 Hahaha....phones are kinda like women. Can't live with 'em and can't live without 'em. And BOTH can start trouble !! LOL
Going to be doing this to my terminator probably this weekend. Vert function hasn’t worked since I bought the car and when I press the button it makes very faint squirting noises. Sounds like the fluid is definitely low, hopefully won’t have to replace any hydraulic cylinders if I’m lucky. 🤞Thanks for the video.
Well, good luck with the project. It should be a similar setup. Remember to cycle it up and down to move all the air out. It will smooth out pretty quick. The hardest part is getting the rubber plug back into the hole.
Need to do this on my Terminator as well lol. My top worked fine but recently has started going up and down extremely slow and gets stuck about half way.
@@JordanSVT Well that's the typical indications of being low on fluid. Remember to cycle it a few times to push all the air back to the reservoir. Good Luck !!
Great vid....but to purge the air dont you need to put the plug back in first?? please advise
Thank you!!
No, I didn't purge it with the plug installed. It's a non pressurized reservoir so cycling it a few times with the plug out will allow the fluid to return mixed with air and allow the air to escape. After a few cycles the hesitations will end then with the top down, fill to the level of the plug hole. If you fill it to the full level with the top up, the oil used to fill the cylinders will be out of the reservoir and may have a tendency to overflow when the oil returns to a full reservoir.
I believe that some of them transfer oil from one end of the cylinder to raise then to the other end of the cylinder when its lowered. The big thing is to cycle it a few times to purge the air at the fill port, top it off and install the plug. But then I'd test it a few more cycles before covering it all up with a large towel around the end of the pump/reservoir end in case it does decide to puke out some of the oil. I took the same precautions before closing the system in behind the seat. Good luck to you !!
@@tractorman4461 Cant thank you enough!!!!
Good evening Sir, Yes these thunder lightings are coming fast !!!! OUTSTANDING informative video Sir, I wish that I was able to have a car like that, perhaps or maybe I would have better chance to pick up a lady than my single seat Mahindra Tractor when I patrol the street in Arvida lol : ) Cheers and thank you again for all the nice comments from you and your lovely Daughter on your previous video Sir Cheers
Aw heck Dave, a gentleman possessing your grace and charm could probably talk sweetness out of the devil herself without driving a fancy topless car !! LOL My daughter was very impressed at your very good command of a language not natural of your birth.
@@tractorman4461 You are Sir THE Best positive feed back writer on YOU TUBE : ) Well mon ami, As you know a Drill Sergeant at the Boot Camp will make you an OUTSTANDING Master of language command lol : ) in both official languages have a very nice week end Sir Cheers
Good job
Thanks Dave, I'm hoping this helps one or two other Mustang owners make the repair for themselves too.
Great video. I'm curious if you had issues putting the grommet back in. It was really tough on my 2007 Mustang GT Convertible. Grommet was really tight on mine
@@craigkaliebe1161 Yes, it was tough. but if you use a blunt ended tool...like an old mid size screwdriver ground off rounded, use that to stick in the hole in the end of the plug. Then stretch it out to allow it to slip inside the fill hole as you push it in with the makeshift tool. Lube it up on the end first then gently stretch. Don't push too hard or it may puncture the rubber plug though. Too big of a tool won't fit in the hole, too little may poke a hole in it.
Do you guys think the defrost back window is worth it or is the cheaper plastic one ok?
I would say that would depend on where you live. Right here it’s very much worth it. If I were in an area with more mild average winter temps I would say no. Fortunately this Mustang lives in the garage and never goes out in bad weather, so it’s kind of not needed usually.
Good video! Have a 2007 GT. But everything should be the same. Question, does the top have to be open for refilling, or closed?
THX, BR
Stefan from Germany
l don't know what's recommended, but I did this one with the top open and it did not over fill. I did work it up and down three or more times to force the air out and would suggest doing the same, with a large towel to catch the excess IF any appears. I had not one drop escape, so it should be the same for yours. But to make it easy, I DID pull the pump loose from the base and hold it in my hand at an angle to ease the filling.
@@tractorman4461 Thank you! I probably just need to refill something
Tip for reinstalling the plug. I used a punch, somethin long and not sharp, pushes right in.
Yes, I was gonna show that but edited it out of the video because I used too little of allen wrench and poked a hole through the plug. I ended up replacing the plug with a refrigeration dehydrated pipe rubber plug. I think it was 1/4'' OD. Another good tip.
Now what if the motor is making no noise when trying to open or close. I can’t figure out how to test it with a multimeter
Its been a while since I worked on this one. But I would think it'd be easy enough if you found a wiring diagram in a generic manual at an auto parts store. I'm betting theres three wires, one should be a ground and the other two should be up and down. A cheap meter should show voltage as you press the rocker switch for up or down. The first thing I'd do is locate which fuse sends power to it and check that. You should be able to find a diagram on google too.
Great job My friend. At least ford didn't make it almost impossible to fix like they do now : ) Love the old Cars and trucks, Not to impressed with this new stuff. All my very best.
This time Bobby maybe Ford really DID have a 'better idea'....LOL, Isn't that their old slogan back a few years...?? Yeah, I like my 85 F250 with the 460 a lot for workability.
you must have vise lock hands to get that out with them. I needed pliers..lol
Hahaha...those are the same plugs that replacement hermetic compressors are shipped with. I've probably changed more than a hundred over the years. There's a trick, but it does take a bit of a grip. I hope it helped you fix your issue with yours.
This was very helpful thank you !!!! Great video and edited very well
I had to rush it at the end. Rain was on the way and I barely got it back into the garage !! I hope the video got you where you needed to go.
so does this mean It's leaking hydraulic oil somewhere, if it needs refilling? as Its a closed system right?
@@finbah5706 yes, but I never even found a trace !! I think a very slight leak becomes absorbed by the insulation in around the trunk and fenderwells. Now, if it was a massive because of a burst tube, it would be very easy to find. It took mine roughly 18 years to leak enough to cause my problem. So that’s my thoughts.
@@tractorman4461 ok good to know. just last night, my1990 fox conv didn't want to go up. the motor was working. so it must be this problem in your video. the first time thats happened. so Im trying to sort the problem. thanks for the informative video. Ill look for some leak puddles/staining when I top off the reservoir with atf oil this weekend.
Hey what’s the fluid called ? I’m gonna go buy it but don’t know what it’s called, thanks !
It’s basically hydraulic fluid. I have always just used power steering fluid. Power steering is a hydraulic system too. But if you go to the auto parts store, you can ask them if there is really a difference.
@@tractorman4461 thank you so much, I’m 16 years old and this is my first car so I don’t have a lot of money to spend on repairs so your videos are REALLY helpful, thank you so much !
Where do I get a syringe like that
If you have a local farm store, go to the butchering/meat seasoning section and look for a cheap plastic syringe for injecting marinate. Or even a plastic turkey baster will work because it takes no pressure at all to squeeze thefluid into the pump. Amazon should have them as well, but you don't need the fancy expensive ones at all.
That must have been a honey do job! How many miles does it have on it?
It's a 50th anniversary edition . 2004 V-6 automatic. I snuck out and bought it for her in '06 with 29,xxx miles. Driving it only in the summer, its got around 70,xxx now. It lives in the garage most of the time. I take it to town for repair parts runs in the winter IF the weather is nice though, just to keep the battery up. The Missus and the girls have had a lot of fun in this Mustang for sure.
You made me nervous with that open jar of ATF. I would have spilled it.
Is that the Missus' car?
Aw heck yeah that's the Missus' fair weather car. Its gotta be just the right conditions out with no sign of rain before she'll use it. But I sneak it to town all year long to make parts runs, but I do make sure the weather is not nasty. It likes to live in the garage the rest of the time.
I just did it from the trunk and didn't need to remove the seats
I thought of that, but I no longer have the flexibility nor eyesight my younger self. LOL. So I opted to make it easy on my body instead. Thanks for letting me know it IS possible. I sure wasn't going to suggest it without knowing for sure.
@@tractorman4461 I understand and this helps both types however they want to fix it. Great video it helped.
If is low on fluid U have a leak 😢
Yessir, I have to agree with you. But for the life of me I could find no residue anywhere. So I figured it would squirt out somewhere under pressure....but no, that didn't happen either.
U don’t think just over time it loses fluid by being used just like anything else?
No it shouldn’t consume oil. It’s a sealed system so it has to have lost it one tiny drip at a time. I’m thinking one of the compression fittings in the fenderwell is the culprit. It has to be tiny because it took so many years to fail in raising.