Boxster Convertible top Wouldn't open

[gjin15]

Hi,
As I putting my convertible top back down.. i heard a loud noise.. then my convertible top stop responding to the close button.. so i manually closed it..

I was wondering how I would be able to manually open my boxster top so that I could check to see what is wrong with it?
When I try to open my convertible top it doesn't respond to the OPEN button....

Thanks. And also, does anyone know whats wrong?

[cambo]

Please help me!! I have the same problem; I tried to put my top down, and I heard some really loud noises. Now it won't move at all At the same time it ripped my top cover and put a whole in my pastic rear window...I'm practically in tears. Any info would really be apprecitaed

[RandallNeighbour]

There could be a couple of thing going wrong with your tops... the transmission one side or the other went out, or the motor gave up in the center in the back or some of the inner workings of the top have fallen apart due to age.

You'll have to either take a good hard look at the top mechanism or get it to a shop.

[cambo]

How much do you think it would cost to replace the whole top?

[cambo]

because those noises definitely sounded like something, or a few things broke :'( I'm really depressed right now, it happened this very night.

[RandallNeighbour]

Relpacing the whole top, mechanism and all, is gonna cost you $3k. Repairing it should be a lot cheaper.

[cambo]

I thought it would cost me around 5-6k, I feel relieved. Have a good one!!

[RandallNeighbour]

Replacement of the whole assembly in Japan might be 5-6k! I don't know.

[cambo]

How much do you think it would cost to repair it?

[RandallNeighbour]

No idea. Could have broken something secondary when the first thing broke! You need to get it into a repair shop.

[bosxter7]

MY top made a realy loud noise and would not close (N) but the realy loud noise was the small piece that clips on the side right behined the door and the panal that lifts up when the top goes up or down the top unlatched its self and wedged its self agaisnt the small pice witch was wedged againt the door so i couldnt open the door and had body damage all from trying to close the top I think the top was just miss alined

[larez2]

If its stuck closed these directions might work for you. When my top cable broke/snapped, I too heard a loud noise - a crack/pop.

I ended up just needing a new set of cables - it was about $70-$80 US for the cables.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=662

Good Luck,
Larez2

[986 Girl]

I just recently had this happen, just before winter set in. Heard a loud cracking sound and then I couldn't get the top to open or close.

Took it into my favorite repair place, and they said that one of the hydraulics had given out, and in the process had broken a lot of other pieces. Estimate for fixing the whole thing was $800.

I opted, at the time, to not get it fixed because it was just going into storage for the time being. But I'll be having it taken care of within the next two months.

[Peter Serbanica]

is emergency brake all the way up?

[RandallNeighbour]

Hydraulics? I may be totally off on this, but I don't think there's any hydraulic parts in the top mechanism. Get a second opinion before you shell out $800 to that mechanic and ask him to show you exactly what's broken before he replaces it.

[986 Girl]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Hydraulics? I may be totally off on this, but I don't think there's any hydraulic parts in the top mechanism. Get a second opinion before you shell out $800 to that mechanic and ask him to show you exactly what's broken before he replaces it.

I don't remember if that's exactly what he called it... it's been about 2 months since then. The two controls that handle the movement on either side, something about a ball bearing had come out, or worn down and caused it to malfunction.

I trust these guys 100% (they solely work on higher end vehicles, and I know them personally) so I never question their work. They will definitely show me what all needs fixing before I okay it. I just wanted them to do a quick diagnostic on it and give me a rough estimate of cost before I stored it.

I'm not worried in the least

[RandallNeighbour]

It sure is nice to have a mechanic you trust! I just get the chills when I think about repairing a non-engine issue for $800! It's like the tops on our cars are another engine altogether when it comes to repairs and worries.

Just to increase anyone's knowledge base reading this thread, there's a central motor in the back, just ahead of your third brake light. It twists two cables left and right that go to the sides of the top just above the exterior vents (driver's side intake and passenger side fan grills, but on the inside of the top area). These cables go into a transmission on both sides that both raises and lowers the top and moves the clamshell up and out of the way. It's really ingenious.

The loud POP could easily be that twisting cable coming out of the motor or one side of the transmission. The key is not to do a lot more damage by continuing to press the button after you hear a loud noise like this.

Or, the pop could be a part near the transmission with a ball joint on the end of it that is known to break due to it being made out of plastic and usually under a lot of stress.

Or, a third possibility is that the transmission fell apart inside and needs replacing.

Replacing the parts isn't that hard from the repair manual. The hardest part (which requires some saavy or experience) is timing the top again so the left and right go up and down at the same time and there's no twisting of the top or clamshell.

I sure wish our cars had simple top components or they were designed in such a way as to be far more reliable over the course of a boxster's useful lifetime.

[FrayAdjacent]

Man... I think when I get my top replaced, I might get the cables and have the shop replace the cables while they're in there! Might be a good idea to prevent breakage and costly repairs!

[RandallNeighbour]

If the cables are the newer ones with a diamond pattern embedded in the plastic sheath surrounding the cable (which is reinforcement) you're probably good for a long time cable-wise.

Heat issues stretched the first batch on 97-99 models. The cable inside is made of steel and doesn't stretch, but the outer sheath did and that caused it to stretch and disengage from the motor or transmission and caused all sorts of $$$$ problems.

Not a bad idea to have them inspected though... they're not expensive, but if they are removed, re-timing the top may cost you some extra money.

[FrayAdjacent]

Where could I check the cables? If I have the 'good' ones, then I'll forego new ones. I have to get into the engine soon to remove and check/clean my MAF, so I'll be putting the top in service mode anyway.