I have a '05 limited roadster, and was going through the manual and in the instructions for opening the convertible top the manual refers to the latch handle release button, then pull the latch handle down. I was wondering if anyone knows what this is. I mean to open my top I just pull the handle down I don't need to press a button. There is a piece that looks like a button but its doesn't move or anything your thumb just rests on it. Does anyone have a button, is there something wrong with mine?

 

You better hurry up and go to the dealer. But drive slow because if you don't your top might fly off.

I'm just josh'n, more than likely this was something on the early roadsters or the concept model of the car and they just didn't update the manual. I wouldn't worry about it, nothing is wrong with your car.

 

That was good Thirteendog. Where did you already get such a good sense of humor at 21?

 

My Dad's a smart *** so I think its genetics.

I loved the hurry up but drive slow part.

 

The "Release Handle" has a button...sorta, the large center button must be pressed before you can release or turn the handle. The piece that looks like a button is the button so in order to "release" your top push the center button and pull down and turn the handle, and then use the center console switch to complete the process.

 

I've never pressed that center button nor did I even know it was there till this thread. Went down to the car and lo and behold there it was. Now I'll have to see if it does anything tomorrow when I drop the top.

 

I've known that button was there but never use it. After testing it within my first week of owning the car to see if it made opening the top easier, which it did not, I just stopped using it - its a simple twist and pop.

Interestingly enough, when the dealer showed me all the bells and whistles before I drove off the lot, pushing the button was not done for engaging the top - it was just a twist and pop.

It doesn't make sense - if its meant to do something, then its an awkward button to engage with the thumb while simultaneously twisting the handle.

 

In my roadster I have to push the button to be able to pull the handle down, once the handles down you can see a little point that the button supposed to catch on.

 

The top should take two hands to operate, the first thing my dealer did was show me how to operate the top. Push in the center button and pull down the handle and give a 1/4 turn. I am not sure if any damage can be caused by not using the button.

 

On my '05 SRT6 roadster, the button is there, but it does not move at all. All I have to do is pull and twist on the handle. One handed operation here.

Danno

 

One-handed operation in my 2005 Roadster Limited. Never noticed any button until today...and as with prior posts...it doesn't move, doesn't appear to do anything. I'm not even really sure that it's a button at all...just a hinge cover for the twist handle. I pull the handle down and give it a turn, the windows roll down, I push the top up to he first stop, and then hit the lowering button. I wish this had a press once past the first detent for the automatic lowering feature...but no...it's a press and hold. Rats!

 

It is a button, on my Roadster Limited the handle will not budge unless the button is depressed. This is the very first thing demonstrated to me by the dealer when putting the top down.

 

Mine is like his. Absolutely NOT a button - just a hinge cover. Not a two-handed operation whatsoever. Maybe they changed the way it works if some of you have buttons and some of us do not.

 

Its my understanding that the 2004 models require you to push the button while the 2005 models do not.

I checked again with the service manager (wanted to make sure I was not screwing up my top) and he said a few things were changed between the two years and he believes this to be one of them, as the 2005 models he has driven and shown to buyers do not require two hands.

Which explains why some of us have to use the button while some of us do not.

 

OH BROTHER!!!

THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS A 2004 ROADSTER...Who the hell is your service manager???

 

The 05' Roadsters were not introduced until Spring of 04' there are no 04' Roadsters, maybe DC has changed the mechanism on later builds. I also checked with a friend of mine and his release handle requires you to depress the button also, his build number is very close to mine.

 

I pointed out to the service manager that the button in the latch on my '05 diid not work. He ordered a new one and when it came in, it didn't have a button. So now I don't worry about the button not working anymore.


Bob Schrader
Wentzville, Mo
'05 Roadster Limited

 

Here is a quick trick. When you put the top back up and latch it, you can put both of your windows up with one click of a button. After the top is secure, hold the top up button for a second or two and both windows will go up at the same time...

 

My Roadster was built in November '04 but registered in March '05, it has NO button.

 

Well I went out last night and tried with all my might to get the "button" to push in. No luck. As far as i can see, it is there only as a place to put your thumb when you engage the lever. When i had the lever pulled down, there was no indication that there was any movement in the button area. Just my 2 cents.