Since day 1 Ive had a VERY hard time getting the little pin that locks the sunrider portion of the soft-top to lock into place when Im putting the top back up. IS there some trick to it or is mine maybe bad?

Its not the latch on the front, its the pin/release thats above the door. The drivers side clicks right in and locks fine, but the one on the passanger side wont click into the lock position. The only way I can get it to lock in, is to climb into the jeep, stand on the passsanger seat facing the rear of the jeep, and really reef on the top pulling it forward HARD to get it to latch... And even then it takes 10-15 attempts for it to catch on that pin and stay locked into place.

I know this cant be right.

I dont see anything to adjust, and that latch looks like its just riveted on the door surround.

Probably something to take to the dealership to have them replace, But I thought I'd ask here first if anyone has any suggestions???

 

I have the same problem - I've finally learned to undo the top from the back and the front, then I can get the pins to go into the holes. Basically, get those pins in first, then do the back, then the front. It is easier than my friends CJ-5 from the 70's with its snaps, but still tough!

 

I just helped my friend out with his 2012 2 dr Sahara tonight. Man was that top tight! I am used to my stretched out 2007 version!

We had the same problem, on the passenger side. We had the best success when securing the front clips first, then working our way to the back sail panels. Make sure the plastic sunrider bar is locked over the "hinge" -- slide it to the back of the rail as far as you can so that it covers the hinge, and press down like hell. Then press down firmly to allow the little pin clip to lock into place. You shouldn't be able to pull up on the metal bar if it's locked in place correctly.

The top is extremely tight when it's new; you might need another person to help you put it back up the first few times until it stretches out from use and sitting in the sun.

Pull down on the entire top in the corners as far as you can where the sail panels are when tucking them in the rear on the corners on sides of the tailgate.

Hope that helps!

 

thx for the ideas.

I have been leaving the rear sails loose to make the top as free as possible. I havnt tried to latch the front latches first yet, so maybe I'll give that a go..

 

This is the only problem I've had so far with my '12 JK. The passenger side sunrider side latch catches but the driver side latch releases as soon as I secure the windshield latches.

Again...everything works perfectly until I perform the last step of latching the top to the windshield frame - then - the driver side sunrider latch unlocks.

 

i had the same issue. ignore them for now... put the front hooks in but dont snap them, put the rest of your top together THEN lock in the front hooks LISTEN AND YOU WILL HEAR THE LOCKING PINS CLICK INTO PLACE!!!!!
this took me many hours and many deep breaths as to not rip my brand new top into pieces

 

I did that too...put the front hooks in but not snapped closed until the whole top was assembled - then I go to snap the hooks closed and the driver side sunrider latch releases!

 

This is exactly what I do, too. It's easy to pull the back down a little against the spring tension to hook it over the corners on the back even though it's not the "official" way.

 

Same damn problem here but the reverse...my drivers side wont latch while the passenger does. Its extremely frustrating just to do a quick sunrider drop, yet have to damn near take the whole top down just to hook it back in place. I honestly cant figure out why its doing it either. Its like the top is almost crooked.