Ford Mustang 2012 User Manual page 46

2012
Lowering the Top
1. Bring the car to a stop and set the parking brake. It's
recommended the engine be running to avoid
draining the battery. If the engine is off, place the
ignition in the ON position.
2. Check the top's storage compartment behind the
rear seat to ensure it's empty; then check the top's
outer surface to ensure it's dry and free of leaves
and debris.
3. Unclamp the top from the windshield header at the
right and left sides by pulling each handle down and
to the rear until the handle clears the header. (The
handles are flush with the header when closed.)
4. If the top hasn't been lowered for some time, gently
push the front edge up to make sure it isn't sticking
to the header. If it is sticking, this will usually free it.
5. The convertible top switch is located in the overhead
console. Push and hold it until the windows are
completely down and the top completely stored.
6. Disengage the parking brake.
MAKE THE POINT: Torsional rigidity
A simple way to explain torsional rigidity to your
customers is to use a shoebox analogy. A shoebox
with the lid on top is not easy to twist or bend. This
is like a hardtop coupe or sedan. But when you take
the lid off, the shoebox becomes flimsy. It is easy to
twist or bend it. In the same way, a convertible loses
some torsional rigidity when you take the top off. But
when you put the lid on the bottom of the shoebox, it
regains some of the stiffness it had before. In a similar
way, Mustang Convertible engineers used firmer body
joints and rocker panels to add stiffness without
extra weight.
46
Mustang
Design/Styling
Convertible Features cont'd
Step-by-Step: Convertible Top
esourcebook.dealerconnection.com
RE&T: 2012 Source Book
Raising the Top
1. Bring the car to a complete stop, set the parking
brake and leave the engine running to avoid draining
the battery. Engage the parking brake. If the engine is
off, turn the ignition to the ON position.
2. Push and hold the convertible top switch until
the windows lower completely (if up) and the
top unfolds and moves forward toward the
windshield header.
3. Release the convertible top switch to open both
handles before the top meets the windshield
header.
4. Continue to use the switch to raise the top until it
has reached the fully closed position, flush with
the header.
5. Two pins under the forward top edge should seat
themselves in the matching header holes.
6. To fasten the handles securely, rotate them into
the top's header until they reach the full forward
position, and then push them up to be flush with
the header. Pulling down on the header at the
center grip will usually make it easier to fasten
the top.
7. Raise the side windows.
8. Disengage the parking brake.
ENGINEErING INSIGHT
Lean and Mean
Mustang engineers designed body joints and rocker
panels that give the Convertible outstanding stiffness
without adding extra braces that would have added
weight and cost. An additional benefit is a quiet and
smooth ride. Because the Convertible models are
similar in weight to the Coupe, suspension engineers
made only subtle changes in the suspension tuning
and geometry. The customer benefit is a Convertible
driving experience that is far closer to the Coupe's
than ever before.
May 2011