'01 S Soft Top stopped working. Any stepxstep instructions for diagnosis?

[gowestwarho]

Update: When I once again tried after a few days, I was able to get the top to open but I had to help it along as it sounded weak or something. So I got it opened and looked everything over and can't visibly see any issues. So I then closed the top. AND>>>> Now it won't open again. The motor just makes a think sound. In other words everything seems to work fine electrically and the motor runs, etc. I read elsewhere that the round plate on both sides revolves to cycle the top open/closed, can come off its sprockets/gears and get itself into the "wrong" spot or point in the cycle routine. But how do I determine that and set it right if that's the problem?
2001 Boxster S

[jcb986]

I believe the motor is connected to one side and drives the other via a cable. You can search the forum for answers. Maybe check out Pelican Tech area and see what is listed there. Good luck.

[stephe57]

Originally Posted by gowestwarho

Update: When I once again tried after a few days, I was able to get the top to open but I had to help it along as it sounded weak or something. So I got it opened and looked everything over and can't visibly see any issues. So I then closed the top. AND>>>> Now it won't open again. The motor just makes a think sound. In other words everything seems to work fine electrically and the motor runs, etc. I read elsewhere that the round plate on both sides revolves to cycle the top open/closed, can come off its sprockets/gears and get itself into the "wrong" spot or point in the cycle routine. But how do I determine that and set it right if that's the problem?
2001 Boxster S

What more than likely happened is one of the transmission have failed resulting in the cable from the electric motor to twist and snap on the one side. Orrr the latter which is a pushrod has broken on one side resulting in one transmission doing all the work.