replacement of a Convertible Top

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 9:57 pm

2006 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Top .
Im wondering if its worth trying myself or just let the pros handle it.

Err · Post by **Err** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 10:29 pm

I read through this writeup . .

http://www.sebringclub.net/board/viewtopic.php?p=128505

. . . and it looks doable but a big P.I.A. I'd see what the pros are going to charge before tackling it.

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 11:51 pm

yes I think im going to let the pros do it after reading all this.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 10:52 am

I'd never consider trying that myself.

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 11:15 am

its a car im getting for Free to keep in florida !

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 2:56 pm

called a good friend today who owns GEB collision . he said send it out to be done. he was going to give me the guy he use's. but the car's in florida and his guys here in Michigan

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 6:55 pm

renovation wrote:its a car im getting for Free to keep in florida !

Free cars are cool as long as they don't cost you an arm and a leg to keep them alive.

If I ever own a rag top convertible, the top would always be down and only driven on nice days.

GuardianAsher · Post by **GuardianAsher** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 6:51 pm

How much did they give you to take it?

In my experience, Sebrings are nothing but trouble with a capital T. And the tops are definitely nightmares.

But in that rare moment when they're running right and you have the top down, cruising down the highway, they're sublime.

Err · Post by **Err** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:46 pm

GuardianAsher wrote:How much did they give you to take it?

In my experience, Sebrings are nothing but trouble with a capital T. And the tops are definitely nightmares.

But in that rare moment when they're running right and you have the top down, cruising down the highway, they're sublime.

I'm a MOPAR guy and I have to agree with you on the Sebring. They are just hit or miss with the quality. My parents drive a 2000 Dodge Stratus which is pretty much a Sebring and haven had any problems other than things wearing out in the suspension. Other folks I know have had nothing but transmission problems. It has a bad reputation and is one of the reasons why Chrysler dropped the name.

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 9:48 pm

thanks for the heads up - it was my daughters and were just using it as a back up car -price was free to me as she bought a brand new car and the trade in value offer like next to nothing offered !

GuardianAsher · Post by **GuardianAsher** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 10:26 pm

There's a reason the trade in value... as well as sale value... is rock bottom on those things.

My friend had a 97 Sebring Convertible with a V6 and the AutoStick (semi-manual shifting) thing on it. Like I said, those rare moments it ran right, it was so much fun to drive.

But I was constantly replacing parts on it. Some electrical, some mechanical. It was nice at blowing the Blower Motor Resistor. Either full blast air or no air. And it sits under the dash board on the passenger side. Fun to get to. Probably replaced that thing 3 times.

The thing died spectacularly. Water pump gasket let go on a trip, and she tried driving it to the nearest gas station instead of stopping. Motor seized up. We had it towed back to the house. For the heck of it, I went out there, put some water in it, and turned the key to see if it would start, and it did. It would run for about 5 minutes, then seize up again. The motor had gotten so hot, it warped the block. When it cooled down enough, it would unseize and run again. Decided then to cut our losses and sold it off.

I'll give you some little bits of advice I found out when we had it. I don't know if it's the same for the newer models. They are notorious for interior flooding. There are some drain holes/slots located under the car on both sides, about 9 inches forward from the rear wheel wells that get clogged up with crap and stop the water from draining down the back of the top to the ground. They will fill up with water and then you'll have lots of water in the floor boards. You have to get under the car and clear those drain slots, or widen them out with a screwdriver, or you'll have issues.

Also, the batteries on those things are located up in the front driver's side wheel well. You usually have to jack it up, and take off the front drivers side wheel to get to it. There's a little access panel up in there, and the battery is slid into there.

Good luck!

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 10:57 pm

things must of got better. I know this car some as it been around for a number of years now in the family . the tops the main problem . the top is shot stitching given out.

wvjohn · Post by **wvjohn** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 8:04 am

Also, the batteries on those things are located up in the front driver's side wheel well. You usually have to jack it up, and take off the front drivers side wheel to get to it. There's a little access panel up in there, and the battery is slid into there.

That has to be about the most ass-backward design I've heard of.

GuardianAsher · Post by **GuardianAsher** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 6:00 pm

wvjohn wrote:Also, the batteries on those things are located up in the front driver's side wheel well. You usually have to jack it up, and take off the front drivers side wheel to get to it. There's a little access panel up in there, and the battery is slid into there.

That has to be about the most ass-backward design I've heard of.

To be fair, that isn't just a Sebring thing. It's a MOPAR thing. Lots of those little front wheel drive cheapy cars are set up like that. Also, to be fair, they give you places under the hood to connect booster cables if you need to, thankfully. You don't have to get to the battery to jump them. Of course, that doesn't help you much when you're sitting in an Autozone parking lot miles from home at night trying desperately to find the battery on the stupid car so you can replace it.

mackme

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Tue Apr 07, 2015 8:22 am

the tops being replaced this saterday by a pro . its sure not worth the hassle of doing it myself. $900 materal and labor. this is a cloth top with glass window with defroster. now to have a new liner its half as much again $550. so im staying with my old linner its fine and no problems with it. what a pain is everyone down here wants CASH . they don't take credit cards even if they are a brick and mortar shop.