Pacific Coast Roadster - stains on convertible top and rattle behind seats

[MikeD]

I bought my PCR in July of this year. I removed the hardtop within 2 days of taking delivery. When I raised the convertible top, there were what appeared to be stains in the areas where the top folds and creases. I assumed that these marks would come out with cleaning, but they're only getting worse. My dealer has checked with Ford and apparently some other owners with light tops have reported similar problems, but Ford doesn't have a recommended fix. My dealer sent my car to a convertible top specialist and they said the marks appear to be imbedded in the fabric and even with professional cleaning could not be removed. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

I also have a rattle coming from somewhere behind the seats (possibly the trunk). I've looked everwhere trying to isolate it and cannot find the source. I was also talking to another 2004 Thunderbird owner and they were experiencing the same rattle in their car. Anybody else having this problem or ideas on where the noise may be coming from?

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[00mustng]

.....might want to contact www.Haartz.com the manufacturer of the top material. They do have cleaning tips, as you will see. You don't have anything loose in the spare tire well do you?

 

[MikeD]

Thanks for the response. The product that the convertible top specialist used to try and remove the stains was RAGGTOPP made by Harrtz. After their attempt they also commented that the fabric is a different texture at all of the points where the stain exists and it's possably a defect in the top's material. Also, I did check the spare tire well and all seems to be well secured. Thanks for the recommendations.

 

[LZeitgeist]

The rattle may be a loosely-mounted speaker - this happened in BrandonBird's PCR.

I'd thought it was a blown speaker, so she took it to the dealership to have it replaced - however if you're careful, the speaker grilles are not all that difficult to remove yourself to check, if you feel brave.

Good luck with the top fabric problem - it sounds to me like Ford owes you a new top. I hope they also see it that way.

 

[MikeD]

Thanks for the speaker suggestion. I'll check it out.

 

[ourbail]

i had a couple of stains on my sandstone top also,took it to the dealer and they got it out,i have a bad thread in my top and ford and the dealer said it was within spec no replacment i might bug the maker and see if they want to do somthing,not a big issue tho

 

[George]

MikeD
I know of both an '02 and '03 Birds that had similar noises behind the seats. Both turned out to be "rear sway bar end links, both left and right".
A dealer in FL sent in an EDSR, Electronic Dealer Service Report to Ford regarding this same issue.
Another person with an '03 Lincoln had to have his rear shocks replaced. They were "bad" per his service order.
Note: I believe the underpinnings of Thunderbird are the same as Lincoln. Maybe quickdraw can weigh in on this as well.
Hope this helps.

 

[Quickdraw]

MikeD
I know of both an '02 and '03 Birds that had similar noises behind the seats. Both turned out to be "rear sway bar end links, both left and right".
A dealer in FL sent in an EDSR, Electronic Dealer Service Report to Ford regarding this same issue.
Another person with an '03 Lincoln had to have his rear shocks replaced. They were "bad" per his service order.
Note: I believe the underpinnings of Thunderbird are the same as Lincoln. Maybe quickdraw can weigh in on this as well.
Hope this helps.

Sorry, I haven't really seen them being assembled. As I recall there is a vertical x brace at the front of the convertible top storage well. I don't know if thats bolted in or welded but if the sound seems to be right behind the seats I'd suspect that.

 

[MikeD]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions on the rattle. I believe I may have resolved it. There is a plastic cap that rests on top of the metal rod that holds the spare tire in place. The cap keeps the tire well cover from resting directly on the metal rod. I placed a small adhesive rubber disk on the top of the plastic cap and the rattle seems to have disappeared (it used to come and go) hopefully it's gone. Thanks again for all of your suggestions.

 

[00mustng]

.....so Mike....what number is your PCR?......

 

[Ticket Ted]

Noise in Rear area

I had the same noise. Took the car to the dealer for an oil change. When I looked underneath the car while it was on the rack, I saw a mis-routed emergency brake cable on the right side. I had them wire strap the cable to the rear axle housing so it would bang against it. It cut the noise out.

 

[Gearhead99]

I have the rattle on the 04. Sounds like maybe the trunk area.

I'll look at your fixes and try them out.

Thanks

 

[George]

gearhead99:
If you do not find it, open the trunk and push down and up on the rear of the car. I had a noise and service sent it around to the body shop. Something was loose but I neglected to ask what.

 

[MikeD]

00mustng

Sorry for the delayed response, I haven't been on this site for a while. My PCR is number 466 of 1000.