14 replies to this topic

[pianodirt]

I was pulling my cargo cover towards me to cover the cargo area on my GL and I accidentally pulled it loose from one of the latch spots on the central part of the cover and I could hear an internal spring unwind. Now it will not roll back up and has no tension. Anyone know how to rewind the spring so it works again?

[Caboobaroo]

have you tried to pull it apart and see if it can be fixed?

[pianodirt]

I just did this tonight and haven't tried yet taking it apart. I've tried winding it back up in various manners. The best I've come up with so far is the spring gets re-tensioned backwards...that is, it will eject the cover out instead of pulling it back in.

[electryc_monk]

two suggestions....

1st: while holding the middle of the unit and sitting down spread the unsprung fabric across the table so the end of the fabric is away from you.

b.) holding the middle roll it up about 4 or 5 full turns
c.) then while still holding the middle turn the left side towards you as its being pushed towards the middle
d.) repeat for the right side spring cap unit
e.) while still holding the middle spin it either almost or all the way up at this point.
f.) repeat step b. and c. then it should be fully sprung tight.

*side note* IF that doesn't work out then do the idea backwards and the unit will actually hold itself coiled

2nd: similar idea just more complicated
having the cover partially installed with one cap pushed into its normal space in the wall
b.) while pushing towards the cars body on the backdeck cover unit AND holding onto the other endcap you start to spool up the covers spring system.
c.)once the cover was installd you should notice a marked resistence higher when unscrolling the back deck of the wagon

then you have the "Factory" level of more of friction here in denton . The health codes are not pretty but, welll yeah.

braintoasted night night

[Flowmastered87GL]

Hmmm I'll have to try this on my car sometime... my cargo cover just lays there...

And since my working cover never came from BillyC... I guess its time to try to fix it :madder:

[clantieri]

I did "monk's" trick #1 a couple months ago and the cargo cover works like new. If its working in reverse, just unwind it and work the other way.

Chris

[Russ Hill]

The FSM has the procedure for rewinding the too. And It Works!

[pianodirt]

Great, thanks Monk! I'll go try this...

[ShawnW]

And since my working cover never came from BillyC... I guess its time to try to fix it

This is still not resolved?

Please create a new post in the Older Subaru Discussion for this.

-Shawn

[pianodirt]

Originally posted by clantieri
I did "monk's" trick #1 a couple months ago and the cargo cover works like new. If its working in reverse, just unwind it and work the other way.

Chris

Okay, so Monk's #2 trick is one I tried last night multiple times and multiple times again today. I've tried his #1 several times with same results. Which is, the cover spring will only roll it out, not in.

What do you mean to unwind it and work the other way? It is already unwound and my cover seems to only roll one way. There is a face up side of nice brown vinyl and a face down side of the backside of the vinyl. If I try to roll it backwards, with the backside of the vinyl showing, not only does it not roll up easily, it gets bunch up, plus the spring does the same thing, which is to eject the cover, instead of rolling it up.

I've spent nearly an hour trying to figure this thing out! Maybe I'm missing something or I broke mine.

[Forkspear]

Monks tricks didn't work on my cargo cover either. I had to take the ends off to rewind the spring. Its not very hard to figure out once you take it apart. You have to use a hammer and punch to get the ends off. Hope this helps.

[pianodirt]

Forkspear-

How/where did you punch to get the ends off? I'm hitting pretty hard but I don't want to break the thing. I'm punching in the end where it looks like a punch would go. There's a metal tube with a pin going across it in the end hole, that's what I'm punching on...no luck yet. Thanks!

[baccaruda]

that's the spot. some are really hard to get out! I've used a metal coat hanger to make a punch thing out of before...

[Forkspear]

You have to punch out the small pin that goes through the metal tube. I had to hit mine kind of hard. Then the end just slides off.

[pianodirt]

I finally got the cargo cover fixed. I feel a bit silly...I tried punching the pin crosswise, thus bending it and making the punch through the tiny hole more work, but I did get them out. I couldn't tell it was a pin at first or the tiny punch hole on the sides, I was punching all to hell from the ends (large hole that faces body sides of car). I took it apart and put it back together. I wasn't quite sure how the springs worked, but thought maybe a putogether would work. Oh, I did roll the cover up before the putogether. The cover works now, though it does roll up more slowly and not quite completely, but at least it is not just a limp thing.