'69 olds cutlass convertable top acting up

bucknailer · July 29th, 2006, 09:54 AM

hello all-
I'm a new member and have enjoyed looking thru the forums here recently.

I'm having a problem with my convertable top opening and closing.

I took the car out last night for a spin and top went down like a champ -- went to close it and the it kinda worked on one side very slowly until it reached a certain point then closed/went up like normal. This morning thinking that the hinge points on top maybe need a little oil so oiled those up lightly and low and behold worked like I never had a problem -- tried it out couple times worked fine -- felt like a I handled it -- well just went out to raise top since its about 92 degrees sunny -- and I had a hard time getting any sort of response either opening or closing -- I jiggle switch around some and finally worked like normal

So I'm thinking I have a faulty switch. Questions 1) in the event of total failure with top down can I manually get the top up? 2) is the switch easy to find/ replace? 3) any other potential cause of problem besides switch being bad?

my 69 olds cutlass is a 350 rocket with 2 barrel carb. My uncle bought it new in '69 , my dad bought it from my uncle when their mom ( my grandmother) passed away. I inherited the car when my dad passed away last fall. My dad had body work and repainted -- however it has some rust coming back thru -- but looks pretty darn styling turns alot of heads. I have enjoyed it more than I thought I would to be honest. its all oringnal
with the exception of most reccent paint job -- my dad apparently picked a 442 muscle car color -- while the oringnal paint was a creamy buff -- the current color is kinda buttercup yellow does'nt go so well with green interior.

sorry to ramble , appreciate any answers to my above questions -- I have a feeling I may be in here some asking questions

thanks

david davis · August 25th, 2006, 11:37 AM

On your firewall there is a small rectangular junction box drivers side about 6-8 inches below the cowel. Remove the rubber cover and clean the connections. Its a common problen due to moisture corroding the contacts

bucknailer · August 25th, 2006, 01:22 PM

thanks for the reply David -- any chance that this little rubber covered box would also effect the other electronic stuff? I have not had a problem with the top since I posted the help thread but have noticed the the radio clicks on and off as well as lights when driving at night -- u know hit a bump in the road and lights flick and radio goes off 4 a sec. once again thanks

bucknailer · September 15th, 2006, 01:55 PM

well found out the problem was the ground wire on battery not being attached properly - everything works great now -- have to say a little disapointed that 366 of you guys viewed this post and only one person had anything to offer -- guess I'm used to the ar 15.com weapons forum - where a you get responses -- maybe my question was not clear, maybe the people that viewed the post where not registered -- lot of maybes - very little results

July 29th, 2006, 09:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
bucknailer Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 9	'69 olds cutlass convertable top acting up hello all- I'm a new member and have enjoyed looking thru the forums here recently. I'm having a problem with my convertable top opening and closing. I took the car out last night for a spin and top went down like a champ -- went to close it and the it kinda worked on one side very slowly until it reached a certain point then closed/went up like normal. This morning thinking that the hinge points on top maybe need a little oil so oiled those up lightly and low and behold worked like I never had a problem -- tried it out couple times worked fine -- felt like a I handled it -- well just went out to raise top since its about 92 degrees sunny -- and I had a hard time getting any sort of response either opening or closing -- I jiggle switch around some and finally worked like normal So I'm thinking I have a faulty switch. Questions 1) in the event of total failure with top down can I manually get the top up? 2) is the switch easy to find/ replace? 3) any other potential cause of problem besides switch being bad? my 69 olds cutlass is a 350 rocket with 2 barrel carb. My uncle bought it new in '69 , my dad bought it from my uncle when their mom ( my grandmother) passed away. I inherited the car when my dad passed away last fall. My dad had body work and repainted -- however it has some rust coming back thru -- but looks pretty darn styling turns alot of heads. I have enjoyed it more than I thought I would to be honest. its all oringnal with the exception of most reccent paint job -- my dad apparently picked a 442 muscle car color -- while the oringnal paint was a creamy buff -- the current color is kinda buttercup yellow does'nt go so well with green interior. sorry to ramble , appreciate any answers to my above questions -- I have a feeling I may be in here some asking questions thanks

August 25th, 2006, 11:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
david davis Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1	top malfunction On your firewall there is a small rectangular junction box drivers side about 6-8 inches below the cowel. Remove the rubber cover and clean the connections. Its a common problen due to moisture corroding the contacts

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Cutlass Body Teardown on my 92	mrwilde	Cutlass	14	May 22nd, 2007 02:04 PM
75 olds conv.	shaunr	Eighty-Eight	0	November 18th, 2006 05:47 PM
Trunk Light in an 85	Redog	Eighty-Eight	1	November 10th, 2006 06:01 AM
cutlass doesnt go fast	2 door cut	Cutlass	0	September 5th, 2006 07:29 PM
Oldsmobile Links	PetChemMan	Other	0	September 5th, 2006 07:40 AM

August 25th, 2006, 01:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
bucknailer Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 9	thanks for the reply David -- any chance that this little rubber covered box would also effect the other electronic stuff? I have not had a problem with the top since I posted the help thread but have noticed the the radio clicks on and off as well as lights when driving at night -- u know hit a bump in the road and lights flick and radio goes off 4 a sec. once again thanks

September 15th, 2006, 01:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
bucknailer Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 9	well found out the problem was the ground wire on battery not being attached properly - everything works great now -- have to say a little disapointed that 366 of you guys viewed this post and only one person had anything to offer -- guess I'm used to the ar 15.com weapons forum - where a you get responses -- maybe my question was not clear, maybe the people that viewed the post where not registered -- lot of maybes - very little results