*Pop! Pop!* went my top...

[Overdrive]

So wait...how do I get the clamshell up without power to the top mechanism? Do I really just have to pry it up by hand and disconnect its hinge?

Might be time to go all Popeye on some spinach.

[Jaxonalden]

Of course, that's the damn clam shell hinge, dah. OD, is you clam-shell up or down? If it's down you can run it up with the switch (the rods to the top are not hooked up because of the plastic cups being broken). Run up the clam-shell for clearance, then you'll have room to reach in and remove the broken rods. Until you get new parts you can now raise and lower your top manually...open the clam-shell, get out and raise/lower the top, get in and close the clam-shell.

When you get your new parts, open the clam-shell, pop the new rods on (at this time you'll need help because your top will be in a state of transition and you'll find this out when you hook up the rods). The rods are only so long and the top transmission will always move weather the top is hooked up or not. So no matter where you stop the clam-shell opening you'll need to raise or lower the top to get the rods installed. Once they're on just operate the switch and the whole convertible sequence will work.

If this sounds complicated, PM me with your phone number and I can talk you through it.

[Overdrive]

Clamshell is down (otherwise the hurricane would've REALLY sucked), hence I can't see what's broken just yet. Like I was saying before, the clamshell was trying to close when things went pop, and once I removed the bag from underneath it and let go of it, the clamshell dropped right down into place.

What you've explained sounds do-able, but the only problem is that my switch does nothing right now. Pressing the button in either direction provides no movement or sound from the top, clamshell, or the motor, so this is why I'm trying to find out how I'm supposed to raise the clamshell with no power going to any of the moving parts of the top operation.

[Mark_T]

that sounds like a blown fuse, unless....

Um, you do have you hand brake on when trying to operate the top, right?

[Jaxonalden]

OD....you do have the convertible top locking handle unlocked right? Parking brake set? and whatever else you're suppose to do to drop the top? (I have a SmarTop and those aren't my requirements). If you still don't have any movement Mark T is right...no power.

[Overdrive]

I tell you what guys, I'm about 99.9% sure I did the usual when I pulled over and had the brake up and handle unlatched when I tried to move the top before and after removing my lunch bag from under the clamshell...but now you've got me doubting, lol. At the same time, I know that all activity stopped with the brake handle up because that's what happened when things went pop. I tried pressing the switch in either direction after the pop and nothing happened. I'm going to try tomorrow evening to work the top and see if the clamshell moves. The brake is already up so the latch is the only thing I'll have to do. Watch it make a liar out of me.

If not, then could the fuse have blown just as ironic timing or as a result of the malfunction?

[insite]

1. check to be sure your e-brake light on the dash comes on when you pull the brake up. if it doesn't, your ebrake microswitch could be bad.

2. if you can't get the clamshell to open:

a. remove your rollbar screens

b. looking at paul's 3rd picture above, use needlenose pliers to remove the clip holding the black bar to the clamshell hinge. do this on both sides. don't worry about damaging the clips; they're like nine cents.

c. push the black bars out of the hinges; you may hear a pop.

d. lift the clamshell by hand

e. remove the clips & put the back of the convertible top (at the window) upward into its service position; this will expose the motor hatch & the convertible top transmissions.

f. take a picture of the convertible top transmissions & post here.