top mechanism question
 

My neighbor had his top to make a very loud bang when raising it. Now it works just as it always did, up and down with no problem, except when raising it it stops about 2 inches short of reaching the windshield frame. You can then push it up with one hand and latch it with the other and everything fits normally. Clamshell operates perfectly. I checked all the pushrod fittings and they are all fine. It is as if a gear jumped a tooth or something. Any ideas? If it was me, I would use it as is until something obvious showed up. It is an 04 boxster S, by the way

Sounds like a gear or something. He should get it rectified ASAP because ignoring issues with the top system can lead to his $$$ being spent.