Convertible top weirdness

[MikeMcMo]

My 1999 base 986 did not have a convertible issue for my first 6 years with it. Last month the top stopped going up reliably.

TTGator's excellent troubleshooting guide https://youtu.be/xntJKWZpFac​​​​​​​
has kept me going, but only intermittently:

I pulled the convertible top relay, and whacked it on the ground, put it back in, and the top came back to life. As a backup, I bought a "new" relay from Parts Geek LLC ($250+/-) and I had it handy a week later when the top stopped going up again. I swapped the new relay in but unfortunately, it did not get the top going up. (When the top is oiperating, it works as normal, no grinding or strange sounds.)

After a day of the top not working with the new relay I remembered TTGator's first suggestion: just take the relay out and put it back in again. Then, that did it, so now the new relay has been working for 3 days. But for how long?

Yesterday l pulled the dashboard up/down rocker switch out and checked the contacts. Everything looked good as new, no corrosion, no oddities.

So, could this mean the replacement relay has aged out and developed the same condition as the original? Should I return it and try another one?
Parts Geek said it was new, and it didn't look especially worn, but it also didn't look brand new.

Thoughts? TIA~

[dghii]

Given removing and replacing the relay 'fixed' your problem (for now) I'd be looking at cleaning the relay socket contacts with electronics contact cleaner. Also be aware that there are a few microswitches involved that can be an issue with top operation.....parking brake switch (bypass at relay to eliminate or test), switch at the top latch and a switch on the drivers side, behind seat and below roll bar.
All may be worth a look due to age. Parking brake switch is easiest to eliminate and see if it affects your issues.

[MikeMcMo]

Originally Posted by dghii

I'd be looking at cleaning the relay socket contacts with electronics contact cleaner. Also be aware that there are a few microswitches involved that can be an issue with top operation.....parking brake switch (bypass at relay to eliminate or test), switch at the top latch and a switch on the drivers side, behind seat and below roll bar.
Parking brake switch is easiest to eliminate and see if it affects your issues.

Thanks, I hadn't heard of electronics contact cleaner. Will look into that.
On one video I saw, they said that if your parking brake light goes on, that means your parking brake is not the issue, but I am not sure that is right. That supposes the microswitch there is dependent on the parking brake light working, and I don't see how that relates, if it all. Do you think that is it or do I have to dig deeper than just looking at the parking brake/parking brake light relationship?