I had an incident with my 2007 350Z when trying to close the convertible top. It closed half way then stopped, so I pushed the closed button and it would move a little then stop. I couldn’t get it to close and the top standing up at mid point so I couldn’t drive it. I had to get help and followed the steps in the manual to get it closed. There is a latch at the back end of the convertible top that clamps onto a latch but has left a 2” gap and we couldn’t get the top flush against the car. The manual says take it to a dealer to have it checked. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area so I go to 2 Nissan dealers and was told they don’t usually work on convertibles but gave me the option of leaving the car there. Given they don’t work on convertibles I didn’t leave the car. I contacted Nissan North America and was told there is a propriety procedure on how to get the latch disengaged. They said they don’t release the procedure to anyone and it has to be done at the dealer. If the dealer unlocks the latch but cannot fix the top, I have a whole new set of problems. I’ve gone to a few convertible top shops and told the latch has to be released so they can diagnose the problem. So I am in a Catch-22 here.

Can anyone tell me how to get the latch unlocked or how to get the procedure so I can give it to the convertible shop. I love the car and close to needing the top replaced but am stuck driving it with the gap in the back, cannot drive in the rain, and really want to put a new top on it and be done with impossible situation. Or if there are other options, I really need your help.