I purchased a 1988 Allante minus an owner's manual or other pertinet information. The person that sold me the vehicle showed me how to lower the soft top and install the hardtop but not how to remove it...Question: Is there a release mechanisum for the pin located at the center of the rear window? There seemed to be a lot of resistance as I was trying to lift the top and I didn't want to do any damage. Thanks!

 

Hi DAR,
Welcome to the group. I have an 88 as well, Love it, I've had it a bit over 2 years now and drive it nearly every nice day ( almost every day, since I live in San Diego) ANyway, yes there is a release for the center pin, it's the same for the hard top or the convertible top when it's up.

behind the drivers seat head rest, next to where the seat belt comes out there are 2 levers,
the top one says "soft top hard top" that is the release you're looking for.
the bottom one say "soft top cover" that one is for the boot cover that covers the soft top when down.

Here's a pic from last year




[IMG]local://upfiles/5060/CB9B1FC872D44106AFCB748C9651C996.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/5060/1FDA2ED0F716453C9E6104D6BD5CB4FC.jpg[/IMG]

 

if you cannot tell which of the two levers releases the pull down, pull on both. nothing will go wrong unless you pull like crazy and break the lever .. just remember to lock down the soft cover afterwards or it will become an AIR BRAKE down the highway and THAT will ruin your day.

also ...

on the UNDERSIDE of the soft cover there is an ELECTRICAL Switch .. that works the PULL DOWN which has to be all the way up to engage to the tops.

You need to get three things if you are going to enjoy that car:

1. owners manual - $20 to $50; how things work on the car
2. Factory Service Manual - $20 to $100; repairs
3. Vehicle Diagnostic System manual - $1 to $20; codes and code descriptions

advice .. never, EVER slam either top into the pull down . they break .. cost $200+++

if your electric gas door release quits, do you know where the manual release is? how about the e-brake manual release?


.


.

 

Thanks for the info,sorry to seem so clueless, but just got the car Sat. The picture of your car is fantastic, something to shoot for! I've already ordered the manuals recommended, thanks again, DAR

 

And one more point to remember if it doesn't release when you pull the handle behind the seat, you can open the trunk and find a wire hanging in the center top roughly to the left of the catch which is the emergency release when that cable on the original release is streched "out of whack."

 

one of these may be helpful .. other than the power latches & switch, they are basically the same thing on all year models.

Soft Top procedure









[IMG]local://upfiles/3799/FB03FCFB627540E695D391C70297A794.jpg[/IMG]