Roof Operation Info

[Scott 0168]

The early 2003 had an issue with the top hinges. They were made of a soft steel and had to be replaced with a heat treated steel, mine included. Mine was binding up going into the up position. Have not had a problem since they replaced the hinges 3 years ago.
What's your vin. number? This will tell how early yours was built.

[Flying Dog]

Hi Scott,

As far as I know mine still has the original hinges.
My vin no. is 1GCES14PQ3B101155
Thanks for the advice, I'll ask my dealer service advisor to look into it.

Thanks,
Ron--Flying Dog

[Scott 0168]

Ron, be careful with the top info I gave you! When they replaced the hinges on mine it opened up a can of worms. Go to the top of this page and click on search. Type in the word "hinges". This will give you a lot of info concerning your problem.
It could be a lot of things! Usually once they figure out the problem you should be good for a number of years we hope! It would be nice if you could find a dealer that is familiar with the tops on SSR's.

Good luck, Scott 0168, Scott

[WOW_FCTR]

Originally Posted by Flying Dog

Hi Scott,

As far as I know mine still has the original hinges.
My vin no. is 1GCES14PQ3B101155
Thanks for the advice, I'll ask my dealer service advisor to look into it.

Thanks,
Ron--Flying Dog

mine was the 101st one built after yours (01256).
I can't remember exactly, but I do think yours is in that range with the bad hinges.
My hinges are good though.

[Flying Dog]

Thanks, Wow FCTR.
I'll have my dealer check out the hinges.

You've got a lot of mile on your SSR! Has it been a pretty good (reliable) vehicle over all those miles? I hope so.
Thanks,
Ron (Flying Dog)

[WOW_FCTR]

Originally Posted by Flying Dog

Thanks, Wow FCTR.
I'll have my dealer check out the hinges.

You've got a lot of mile on your SSR! Has it been a pretty good (reliable) vehicle over all those miles? I hope so.
Thanks,
Ron (Flying Dog)

for the most part yes....I'd just have to tell you to read all of my posts (under SSR General and SSR technical discussions)....[I'm over 114,000 miles now, I just haven't posted it yet....shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ]

ok I just found this post which suggested that the hinge problem was in the first 1500 SSRs....so your problem may not be the hinges, but have them check it anyway

Part numbers for hinges

[OC]

While attempting to fix a roof problem (scratchs on pass. side roof due to wiring harness rubbing top in the down position) I developed a time out issue on the last part of the lowering. The rear cover would not come down. After reading all the threads and the owners manual went back to where I started. Low and behold I had pulled the 2 wires from the plug on the pass. side. The wires appeared to be intact but had pulled out enogh to no make connection. The wires are not solid in the plug itself. Top would go down all the way but would not finish closing. Long story made short, be careful when moving the wires. I had a scratch that I would rub out and a week later would appear back. The harness on the pass. side when lowered, would lay against the top and move back and forth scratching the side of the top. BEWARE!!!

THE

OC
__________________
OC

[comley]

Originally Posted by Dick Bellville

I had this message "roof ajar" Found the 30amp fuse was not making contact. Pulled and reset fuse and Bingo, everthing is up and down again

I went out to lunch from work yesterday and my windows would not roll down and I kept getting " roof ajar" message on D.I.C. Tried your suggestion and that fixed my problem too. Just wanted to say thanks for sharing the info. You saved me a lot of money not having to take my SSR to the dealership as it went out of warranty about four thousand miles ago. Happy motoring!

[Floorex]

Today the roof of my car did not give me the cargo cover open on the dash and it just wanted to open as if it was closed, even though it was fully opened!! Lucky I noticed it just in time. any ideas? Hellllllllllllp!! Very Scary!!

[tdq1az]

Is anyone else having the same problem I am...Chevy Dealer has had my SSR 5 weeks now because my baby needs a Roof Module and they are no longer being produced and chevy is looking for a fabricator. 5 Weeks is way too long....Any one else suffering also?

[SSR6SPD]

Originally Posted by tdq1az

Is anyone else having the same problem I am...Chevy Dealer has had my SSR 5 weeks now because my baby needs a Roof Module and they are no longer being produced and chevy is looking for a fabricator. 5 Weeks is way too long....Any one else suffering also?

I HAVE THEM FOR SALE IF YOU NEED THEM

[WOW_FCTR]

Originally Posted by tdq1az

Is anyone else having the same problem I am...Chevy Dealer has had my SSR 5 weeks now because my baby needs a Roof Module and they are no longer being produced and chevy is looking for a fabricator. 5 Weeks is way too long....Any one else suffering also?

See this thread also:
Roof Door Module

[bronco]

My top was acting similar to your description and my dealer replaced the ignition switch and have had no problems since. Please deon't ask me anything more I am a mechanical moron.

bronco

[WearyEagle]

Originally Posted by KWB

Before any movement of the top is allowed, the following messages must be received by the RDM and may also be retransmitted periodically:

• Ignition in ACCY, RUN or RAP
• Brake is pedal pressed
• Vehicle speed less than 5 mph
• A/C is OFF • Cargo cover is closed.

I had my top stop while going down 30 minutes ago. Tried everything to get it to recycle. Thank goodness the top had just barely disengaged with the back cover up, so I could get home. Called several dealers to get an appointment to "analyze" it and then . . . went to this site immediately. Was a little amused at the "A/C is OFF" part of the conditions listed above, but figured, "What to hell". Just got back from my truck and it completely closed the first try AFTER TURNING THE A/C OFF ! ! !

Thank you KWB. I'm not sure if this is purely anecdotal or if there is something to it. It seems like I've cycled my top many times with the A/C on, but this time, at least, allowed me to get my top up and LOCKED and the rear cover DOWN. Now I'm skeeeeeerd to do anything ! !

[KWB]

Originally Posted by WearyEagle

I had my top stop while going down 30 minutes ago. Tried everything to get it to recycle. Thank goodness the top had just barely disengaged with the back cover up, so I could get home. Called several dealers to get an appointment to "analyze" it and then . . . went to this site immediately. Was a little amused at the "A/C is OFF" part of the conditions listed above, but figured, "What to hell". Just got back from my truck and it completely closed the first try AFTER TURNING THE A/C OFF ! ! !

Thank you KWB. I'm not sure if this is purely anecdotal or if there is something to it. It seems like I've cycled my top many times with the A/C on, but this time, at least, allowed me to get my top up and LOCKED and the rear cover DOWN. Now I'm skeeeeeerd to do anything ! !

Gary:
Seems like these vehicles have more complicated electrical systems than the ordinary car or truck. Glad you got your roof to cycle.

KB (Soon to be "Vegas" transplant)

[tdq1az]

It sounds like the roof module (a computer behind the seat that controls the roof, windows, traction control and trunk lid). If that's what it is good luck...My SSR has been out of commission for 7 weeks waiting on this very part. GM is searching for a fabricator for this part....So far: NADA....Best of luck and I hope it isn't a roof module!

[Jgrden]

Originally Posted by SSR6SPD

I HAVE THEM FOR SALE IF YOU NEED THEM

I am buying a 2003 and I wonder, after reading all the messages, if I should invest in one now before it goes bad. At least I'd have it.

[shiftz33]

Originally Posted by Jgrden

I am buying a 2003 and I wonder, after reading all the messages, if I should invest in one now before it goes bad. At least I'd have it.

I did purchase a spare one for my 06 SSR. If they truly become impossible to find, I didn't want to be stranded or missing major functionality of my SSR for an extended period of time.

Make sure you check around with all of our SSR part suppliers, because the price varies GREATLY from one to the next.

The 03/04 module is about $10 more than the 05/06 module from the parts department I purchased mine from just over a week ago.

03/04 SSR Roof/Door Module part number 15134308
05/06 SSR Roof/Door Module part number 15828426

[harleyhutton]

Thanks, MARC. Saved to Word and printed it out. Good to have for long TRIPS!!!!

[bogey1977]

My 03 roof will on occasion refuse to open -engine running, brake depressed, air off.
The tonneau will come ajar briefly but will fail to open. When it is manually lifted the open cycle will then complete. There is no problem in the the closing cycle. It is of course out of warrenty. Any ideas? Thanks.

[Dicktator]

Yes, Mine does that too once in a while.

I now push the UP button BEFORE I activate the DOWN button. Works every time. Mine makes a very short cycle into UP before I push the DOWN button.

I beleive that the check valve is bypassing a little while it is in the UP or DOWN postion. I haven't taken it to the Dealer. YET!!

Try that, it works on mine.

Dick

Originally Posted by bogey1977

My 03 roof will on occasion refuse to open -engine running, brake depressed, air off.
The tonneau will come ajar briefly but will fail to open. When it is manually lifted the open cycle will then complete. There is no problem in the the closing cycle. It is of course out of warrenty. Any ideas? Thanks.

[Scott 0168]

Originally Posted by bogey1977

My 03 roof will on occasion refuse to open -engine running, brake depressed, air off.
The tonneau will come ajar briefly but will fail to open. When it is manually lifted the open cycle will then complete. There is no problem in the the closing cycle. It is of course out of warrenty. Any ideas? Thanks.

They had some problems with the first few hundred 2003's made. Mine included. I had to have a rep from the factory come down to the dealership to fix it. Check the search thread under roof problems or email me.

[bogey1977]

Thanks Dick I'll give that a try.

Tom
Ft. Lauderdale

[Largossr05]

Same subject but difference set of roof conditions...

Got hit in the rear at a stop light while the other driver was on the phone. End result, tailgate damage etc. but the worst part was the hit was hard enough to open the roof panel.

The roof stayed closed the first time you closed it using the switch and drove the car. Heaven forbid you turned the car off and then drove it again (without cycling the roof open/close). Any bump (speed etc.) caused the roof open indication alarm to sound telling you the roof was open (not ajar! HA HA).

Took the dealer darn near two weeks after the body work to figure out that a latch within one of the two roof modules was damaged ever so slightly causing the problem.

Dealer replaced both modules and haven't had a problem since. (Did I mention they were ~$700)

I believe GM created a service bulletin from this event.

Alex

[Jeffanatic]

I`ve got a question about the top operation. When I am raising or lowering the top and I stop about 1 third of the way up the top slides down on its own, it holds its position with the engine running, but when I shut her down the top goes too. I sometimes do this at car shows for effect. If I raise it past that mark it stays just fine. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Jeff /

[randelG]

Originally Posted by OC

Back in the summer I know for a fact that I have had the air on while lowering the top. But, I have had the problem of the top not lowering with the backend open. Will not close or raise like this due to the rear switch it seems.

The top can’t go up or down if the deck lid is up they will hit that is why it wont work.
I had the top cover in up position while rerouting the solenoid lines (they were rubbing my roof and now need to have that fixed)
Anyway I also had the tail gate down,... well my buddy saw the escape handle in the bed (glow in dark on the left) and said what does this do and pulled it.
Well up goes the deck lid right into the roof cover. Thankfully no damage there.

[WOW_FCTR]

Originally Posted by oldasdirt78

I got my Magnaflow 16651 at [edit out] for $454.23 and Free Shipping. They had the best price I could find and still have a valid warranty. Heres the link [Edit Out Link]

Wrong thread.
Why would you post this here unless your just spamming our site?

[gcarlson]

On the design flaw in the SSR retractable top: We've been to the moon, we are into stem cell research, great strides in brain surgery, Ford offered a retractable hard top in '59, and Corvette did the same in '58. Many other models are currently offered as well. Yet Chevy, here in the year of our lord 2008, still can't get it right.

When we read about the auto industries laying off because business is down, I wonder if anyone at GM ever connects the dots?

[Jgrden]

Originally Posted by gcarlson

On the design flaw in the SSR retractable top: We've been to the moon, we are into stem cell research, great strides in brain surgery, Ford offered a retractable hard top in '59, and Corvette did the same in '58. Many other models are currently offered as well. Yet Chevy, here in the year of our lord 2008, still can't get it right.

When we read about the auto industries laying off because business is down, I wonder if anyone at GM ever connects the dots?

BINGO !!!

[MoodyBlue]

Just for the heck of it did anyone notice that the operation cycle for the top did not mention other details. For one they didn't mention that the PLC also lowers your volume on your Radio. I guess so you can hear the two chimes. But you would think that they would mention all the inputs and outputs. My point is if you need to troubleshoot the Electronics. You need all info on all signals.