This is not my first convertible but it is my first with a hard-top. There are probably 2 realities; convertibles leak one way or another, and you either have mechanical or fabric problems to deal with. Probably both with a conventional top.
Yes I have had the dreaded "Top Not Secure" message... I have had a complete failure and in reality the trunk lid seems more of a problem than the top.
The original design used limit switches to move from one phase to the next of the top operation. They quickly learned that the system needed to be able to recover from many conditions and changed to positional indicators so it could understand where the top is actually located in order to make the next or resume the correct move. I don't know exactly how many there are, but they occasionally become a little loose or fail electrically. This is a fairly simple fix and sometimes a failed top operation can be resumed by either turning everything off and starting over, or by physically moving/shaking parts enough to make an electrical component change. There have also apparently been some programming changes too. Your service department can re-flash the computer with that.
Most of the times I have had top related problems, it was really the trunk lid that would refuse to un-latch or otherwise wouldn't move on its own.
I have been in for service on the top 3 or 4 times. Usually I would move the car to the driveway and wash it. When trying to move it back to the garage, I would get the "top not secure" message... when obviously I had done nothing with the top. The service manager always was amused when I told this story... that I would wash my own car. I have lots of car-care tips. Anyway, I have had several sensors replaced and the computer re-flashed. The most significant was a blocked drain in the trunk compartment... apparently where the top pump lives. They had to replace the pump that time. I still get the "secure" message from time to time, but I have never seen it when actually being IN the rain... just when I wash the car. Strange.
There apparently is some water leakage associated with the top problems. I don't think I ever owned a car that didn't have SOME water problem somewhere... but it was always more pronounced in every convertible we owned... the XLR being no exception. I don't think there is much normal leakage, but we all know what happens when you open the trunk when the car is wet.
On other forums I have seen owners go practically postal over top problems. Yes it is an expensive car and no it shouldn't really happen but I think it is not the only expensive car with similar problems... so I keep it in perspective. If you have never experienced the joy of tounue covers, road noise and security... and what about those looks?
My best advice with top problems is to work with your dealer, and more than one if the first one can't resolve things. It is a complex bit that makes the car such a stand-out. It's worth a little effort if needed.
Yes I have had the dreaded "Top Not Secure" message... I have had a complete failure and in reality the trunk lid seems more of a problem than the top.
The original design used limit switches to move from one phase to the next of the top operation. They quickly learned that the system needed to be able to recover from many conditions and changed to positional indicators so it could understand where the top is actually located in order to make the next or resume the correct move. I don't know exactly how many there are, but they occasionally become a little loose or fail electrically. This is a fairly simple fix and sometimes a failed top operation can be resumed by either turning everything off and starting over, or by physically moving/shaking parts enough to make an electrical component change. There have also apparently been some programming changes too. Your service department can re-flash the computer with that.
Most of the times I have had top related problems, it was really the trunk lid that would refuse to un-latch or otherwise wouldn't move on its own.
I have been in for service on the top 3 or 4 times. Usually I would move the car to the driveway and wash it. When trying to move it back to the garage, I would get the "top not secure" message... when obviously I had done nothing with the top. The service manager always was amused when I told this story... that I would wash my own car. I have lots of car-care tips. Anyway, I have had several sensors replaced and the computer re-flashed. The most significant was a blocked drain in the trunk compartment... apparently where the top pump lives. They had to replace the pump that time. I still get the "secure" message from time to time, but I have never seen it when actually being IN the rain... just when I wash the car. Strange.
There apparently is some water leakage associated with the top problems. I don't think I ever owned a car that didn't have SOME water problem somewhere... but it was always more pronounced in every convertible we owned... the XLR being no exception. I don't think there is much normal leakage, but we all know what happens when you open the trunk when the car is wet.
On other forums I have seen owners go practically postal over top problems. Yes it is an expensive car and no it shouldn't really happen but I think it is not the only expensive car with similar problems... so I keep it in perspective. If you have never experienced the joy of tounue covers, road noise and security... and what about those looks?
My best advice with top problems is to work with your dealer, and more than one if the first one can't resolve things. It is a complex bit that makes the car such a stand-out. It's worth a little effort if needed.