Soft top stops after starting to open and then will not go up or down

[NEBoxter]

Hi,

problem with the soft top on a 1999 Boxter (original not facelift),

Handbrake and it's warning light are on.
Unlatch, and windows drop (so that microswitch is OK)
Hood starts to go down, but stops after a few seconds.
Will not then go up or down.
'Fixed' as in closed, by shorting the contacts at the control module in the fuse box.

Motors etc all, fine, as the shorting the wires will fully raise and fully lower the soft top.

I've had the header/ latch mechanism and microswitches to pieces and they seem to operating as they should.

Any thoughts?