I am sorry to post this hear but figure more people read this forum.Problem is think wife broke or did something to the latching mechanism on drivers side of the 96 vert.

I notice now the latch mechanism is very loose the passenger side one is still tight.I tried to remove the trim pieces to get the part where the latch goes into off but no dice.looks like you have to remove the canvas to get to it..and that is over my head.But was thinking maybe the latch has just popped out somehow it seems to go into something on both sides of it.Is there some kind of rod or something that may have just come out of the latch that could be popped back in.Any of you vert guys know what I am saying here hope being clear enough.
Really pretty broke right now to take the car into gm and pay their body shop 80 bucks an hour to do something that I could do myself.

The latch is rattling big time and isn't working that great either.

 

Are you talking about the plastic latch that you use to lock/unlock the top, or are you talking about the actual metal hooks that lock/unlock the top?

1. If it is the plastic latches that are loose, check out the strikers to make sure they are not damaged. The strikers are on each side of the windshield. If you look very closely at how the top closes you'll notice that the hooks will do the securing, but there is a little pin on each side of the top that also lines up. The strikers get worn out very fast if people try to remove the convertible top without first unlatching it. The strikers are quite pricey from your local dealer, but they are simply held in by two screws for each striker panel. You'll need an allen wrench to unscrew these.

2. If it is the metal hooks that are loose, first take your top down all the way. Examine the hook on the driver's side. You'll notice that there is a tiny allen screw in the side of the hook that is securing it. Once you take out this screw you can twist the hook with pliers to make the hook go in or out as needed, and then replace the allen screw.

 

Ok try to be clearer..I am talking about the metal assembly that
has the hook and lever on it.Its loose as heck in the top.It seems like it has popped out of a rod or something..maybe something pushes in or maybe something is broken.You can't really see into the metal channel on the top either very well.And maybe it takes a special tool to push in some plunger thing or rod and then to get the assembly back in .I guess have to take it to dealer and see what they say.Sucks I guess.Might mess with it a little more.

And the assembly with hook and levers is metal not plastic.

 

Ok more problems..still haven't figured out if the latch assembly is simply popped out but now to make matters worse it seems the top doesn't want to come all the way down.I tried it several times and finally got it close and had to pull it down a bit to close it can't leave it open all night.Is there any kind of ajustment on these things..man the chilton manual says nothing about the converts except how to change out the motor.

I love the vert but all of a sudden its starting to **** me off.

The loose latch assembly doesn't really affect things much just rattles when top is down a bit.The top not closing all the way is bigger problem though.

And not sure if this matters but had battery go dead and had to change it..think it had a dead cell.

The darn top was closing perfectly a day or two ago.Not sure what the wife did but suspect tried to get it to go down when still
latched..

 

I feel your pain, there are times I drive by the dealer's lot and think, time for a new one. About your top's up and down motion. In the trunk, drivers side is where the hyd. pump is, there's a lever, turn it 90 degrees. That disingages the hydralics, you can then move the top up and down by hand without damaging the pump. I'm not to sure what you are trying to say about the latch. To repeat what Tair said about the allen screw, loosen it and counter clockwise turn the hook to shorten it and then put the allen screw back in. See if that makes it stop rattling. If all else fails I have and old frame with the old latches that worked fine, if you want them. It was cheaper to buy a whole new. (used) frame with canvas than to replace the canvas new. Good luck.

 

If I try and just latch my driver's side regularly it is loose. It ha s a little rod that has to go into it's hole. I have to tug my top a little to get it lined up right. Maybe that is your prob? Maybe it is out of alignment like mine. My passenger locks fine. If you lock it and then go out and look at the top is it sealed tight on the drivers side windshield? When mine is loose like you are stating it will not seal right and you can see that it isnt flush.
good luck
Brandon

 

Ok took down the top today still with power and put it up and it lines up ok.Think problem was trying to put it up on quite a incline.
Seems to work better on level ground.So that problem seems non issue.The loose latch mechanism is not too serious.it can't rattle when top is closed but it could rattle when top is down .I will get it looked at.Have other problems today..water pump is dying and weeping..hope it hasn't wiped out the optipuke.But if it does ordering a delteq system not spending one cent fixing the optipuke.

 

I think the latch part thats rattling probably has the spring in it popped out or maybe just not lined up right. the spring in it keeps it from rattling and gives it the springy feel when you pop it on or off. I can maybe look a bit closer at my latches, it sounds like your hooks and strikers are all ok. Its just the latch segment thats messed up.

 

The latch works fine..its where the latch goes into the channel on the passenger side.Its like a rod that goes into it has come out or something is broke.The passenger latch assembly is tight no problem just the drivesr one is loose as heck.I tried to get a flat blade in the channel to try to pop it back in but think it might need a custom tool.