Convertible Top Stopped Working

[aussieboxy]

Can that the power is still being applied to the motor but it has stopped moving.

Any assistance on how fault find the problem would be appreciated

[Brian in Tucson]

Originally Posted by aussieboxy

Can that the power is still being applied to the motor but it has stopped moving.

Any assistance on how fault find the problem would be appreciated

Disconnect the motor from the cables. Does the motor turn? No, you've got an electrical problem--on mine it was the parking brake switch. And the power top relay. Spendy.

If the motor works with out the drive cables attached, you have something mechanical wrong. Start with a visual inspection of the linkage--nothing can be bent or broken. The plastic ball heads, they're probably red and attach to the top frame, may be broken--it's common. Or the gears in the transmissions may be stripped. Read the Pelican fixit article completely, fixing the transmissions can be messed up if you don't know what your doing.

Replacement linkage parts are available on Ebay, I had to replace pretty much everything.

[Jamesp]

Originally Posted by aussieboxy

Can that the power is still being applied to the motor but it has stopped moving.

Any assistance on how fault find the problem would be appreciated

Broken plastic gears in the transmissions are common and result in stalling the motor. That's what happened to me. I bought metal gears for $200 on fleabay and they did not work. They installed but the transmissions were too tight to turn easily.

Disconnect the transmission cables a the motor and if it runs, replace both transmissions.

If not you'll need a new motor.

You can get the motor or a couple of new transmissions from Woody.

Or you can just go manual.

[78F350]

As Brian said, the parking brake switch is often the problem. It's located inside the console just forward of the brake lever. I have been able to poke at it with the ashtray removed and get it to temporarily work. When you activate the parking brake, does the light come on in the instrument panel?


Here's some info that may help find the problem, or convert to manual operation:
http://986forum.com/forums/diy-project-guides/68939-stuck-convertible-top-manual-operation.html

[oldskool73]

if the parking break switch was gone, the motor wouldn't run.

@aussieboxy ... if you're near Sydney I'd be happy to try to help?

If you can hear the motor running, I'd check if the transmissions are turning? (if not, broken cables or broken transmission gears). then if the arms/sockets are broken. that's about all it can be, not much in there really to go wrong.

[aussieboxy]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Discovered that there was a cracked drive gear in the left hand transmission.

Replacement from Pelican Parts is $150...Porsche want $1140 for a replacement trans.

It's now manual with both transmissions removed until the parts arrive.