Top has quit working. - 986 Forum

Retroman1969 · 11-11-2015, 03:44 AM

Day before yesterday I put the top down during my drive, parked it with the top down overnight, and next morning when I went to raise it to go to work, it was dead. No noise or action at all. I can hear and feel a relay clicking in the dash switch when pushing it up and down, but otherwise nothing.

First thought is one of the switches on the shifter or handbrake. Played with those all day yesterday but was never able to activate the top.

How many likely culprits are there so that I know what to check?
(I know there are micro switches in the top latch, windshield frame, parking brake, shifter, and of course the dash switch. Relays, although I don't know how many or where, and God forbid, the motor and transmission assemblies.)
The top has done this twice before, but worked fine again after a couple of tries. So it's an intermittent problem.
Thank you for any input!

Luckyed · 11-11-2015, 04:01 AM

I had the same problem.
I assumed it was one of the micro switches.
I installed the Comfort Top module and have never had an issue.
(and I now can operate the top even if I am not at a complete stop)

Retroman1969 · 11-11-2015, 07:46 AM

I'd really like to install that. I need to look into it today before fixing the top.

Wyokid · 11-11-2015, 10:20 AM

My convertible top just quite working a couple of weeks ago. It turns out that the plastic gear in the right side of the convertible top transmission was cracked. I have rebuilt the transmission but I am waiting for a standoff to complete the project.

jcslocum · 11-11-2015, 10:22 AM

It does sound like the E-brake switch as there is no noises coming from the back.

Retroman1969 · 11-11-2015, 11:35 AM

Thanks Jon, I'm hoping so. It my first thing to check this evening.

Thanks for the input so far guys!

BoxsterSteve · 11-11-2015, 12:38 PM

+1 on the ebrake switch, the car is looking for it the hand brake to be set before it allows the top to run.
Alternately, you could ground the top relay internally and bend pin 15 & 18 and raise the top on the fly.
I did this hack before I bought a RoboTop module from thstone on here.

Retroman1969 · 11-11-2015, 06:52 PM

That was it! Brake handle switch assembly.
Top now working perfectly!
Would still like to do that mod though.

Thank you guys!

Swhitcomb · 11-12-2015, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoxsterSteve

+1 on the ebrake switch, the car is looking for it the hand brake to be set before it allows the top to run.
Alternately, you could ground the top relay internally and bend pin 15 & 18 and raise the top on the fly.
I did this hack before I bought a RoboTop module from thstone on here.

What does this do for you? I read last night bending pin 18 makes the top operate while moving as long as the ebrake is up enough to illuminate the light. What does pin 15 do?

CrisZenithBlue · 11-12-2015, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swhitcomb

What does this do for you? I read last night bending pin 18 makes the top operate while moving as long as the ebrake is up enough to illuminate the light. What does pin 15 do?

if you bend pin 15 and ground the top relay internally by soldering a wire you wont need to pull the handbreak at all.

Swhitcomb · 11-13-2015, 05:26 PM

You may have just created a weekend project for me. Just have to figure out how to ground the relay.

BoxsterSteve · 11-13-2015, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swhitcomb

You may have just created a weekend project for me. Just have to figure out how to ground the relay.

I have a couple of photos I took while modding mine. I'll post them up. Works on the 2000+ newer relay.