trouble removing hard top

kangarool · 10-10-2006, 10:17 PM

Hi everyone, my first post, and I should caveat, I am mechanically inept

I am simply trying to remove my Hard Top on my 2005 Jeep Wrangler Renegade. In order to remove the hard top, I am supposed to disconnect the washer hose, by disconnecting the wire harness from the hard top, by pressing the tab and pulling the connector to disconnect. It won’t come off nor can I press the tab… it appears that the “red lock” is locked.

The manual says to “push the red latch to the right, until you can only see the latch on one end (right) of the connector. This will unlock the connector tab.”

I can’t manage to unlock the red lock, push it, move it, anything. Can anyone provide any help? I can supply any other information if it helps.

Cheers/Kanga

Andrew F · 10-10-2006, 10:24 PM

I had to use a flat head screw driver to move my tab.

**Rocky529** · 10-10-2006, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew F

I had to use a flat head screw driver to move my tab.

I hate those tabs that are all over the TJ

kangarool · 10-10-2006, 10:26 PM

thanks... did you just sort of pry it into the red lock, and pop it over/off?

**Rocky529** · 10-10-2006, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kangarool

thanks... did you just sort of pry it into the red lock, and pop it over/off?

Yea, watch your fingers though... I stabbed myself once.

Jeeper X · 10-10-2006, 10:51 PM

Yep, that was a pain the first time I took mine off too. Like the others, I used a flat screwdriver. After the first time you won't need to mess with that red tab again. Just leave it in the open position. Then you'll just slide it off and on when you take your top off and on.

Here's a close up just in case that helps

kangarool · 10-10-2006, 11:55 PM

got it off, thanks for the tip. Now for the rest of the removal (and after that, Soft Top replacement...) cheers/Kanga

NEWtoTHEjeepLIF · 10-11-2006, 01:20 AM

Next time just pull it.

kangarool · 10-12-2006, 01:54 AM

OK, one more question. Got the hard top off, no problem. Got the soft top on, basically no problem after a couple hiccups. It's all working... only question is, everytime I want to take the soft top back (but not remove it all together) do I have to remove the two side-read windows, and the full rear window?

NEWtoTHEjeepLIF · 10-12-2006, 02:29 AM

If you don't want to ruin them yes. Most run it without those windows the majority of the time. Some just run the hardtop or nothing. Some take them out everytime (we call them "the type with time to kill")

**Awshux** · 10-12-2006, 02:41 AM

Take the windows out if you want them to last any amount of time and roll them up or lay them flat for storage. Otherwise they get creases and eventually cracks in them.

UKFan4Sure! · 04-21-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocky529

Yea, watch your fingers though... I stabbed myself once.

That $%^&* connector is a PITA!! I was sooooo mad after about 20 minutes of fighting "innovative engineering" at it worse (and actually breaking the tab off) that I popped out the housing for the connector, turned it toward me ONLY to see the red locking tab and curse out loud. I thought, "you have GOT to be kidding me".

No mention of this locking tab anywhere in the owner's manual whatsoever. What a crappy design. The epitome of stupid.

Mini-Me26 · 04-21-2009, 03:12 PM

I'd check the post dates when exploring threads.

10-10-2006, 10:51 PM	#6
Jeeper X Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Colfax, CA Posts: 161 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Yep, that was a pain the first time I took mine off too. Like the others, I used a flat screwdriver. After the first time you won't need to mess with that red tab again. Just leave it in the open position. Then you'll just slide it off and on when you take your top off and on. Here's a close up just in case that helps __________________ [URL=http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/JeeperX/]My '04 Black X [/URL]

10-12-2006, 02:41 AM	#11
Awshux Cynical Bastard Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The desert Posts: 1,744 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Take the windows out if you want them to last any amount of time and roll them up or lay them flat for storage. Otherwise they get creases and eventually cracks in them. __________________ You live and learn. At any rate, you live. -Douglas Adams

10-10-2006, 10:26 PM	#4
kangarool Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	thanks... did you just sort of pry it into the red lock, and pop it over/off?

10-10-2006, 11:55 PM	#7
kangarool Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	got it off, thanks for the tip. Now for the rest of the removal (and after that, Soft Top replacement...) cheers/Kanga

10-11-2006, 01:20 AM	#8
NEWtoTHEjeepLIF Web Wheeler Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,349 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Next time just pull it.

10-12-2006, 01:54 AM	#9
kangarool Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	OK, one more question. Got the hard top off, no problem. Got the soft top on, basically no problem after a couple hiccups. It's all working... only question is, everytime I want to take the soft top back (but not remove it all together) do I have to remove the two side-read windows, and the full rear window?

10-12-2006, 02:29 AM	#10
NEWtoTHEjeepLIF Web Wheeler Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,349 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	If you don't want to ruin them yes. Most run it without those windows the majority of the time. Some just run the hardtop or nothing. Some take them out everytime (we call them "the type with time to kill")