Tip transmission while I'm in there...

[Starter986]

It's been 3 weeks since I got the car back... after the second transmission rebuild. Everything appears to be working great.. as it should after the $4800 repair bill (including the 2 rear boots. Yesretday converted the top to manual... and will wait until the weather is more favorable (cooler) before I begin diagnosing why the top failed.

When I finished removing the started, for the trans rebuild, I went to close the top. It started closing... then got 'stuck' followed by a loud POP! I had left the plastic shop light between the clamsheel and the lid. Squeezed the light out... and no worky. No sounds, bells, whistles, or buzzers. Nothing popped off the 'arms' (not the little ball joint things). Everything appeared to be in proper form... but no juice (sounds) to the transmission motors.

The POP didn't reveal anything mechanical wrong (to the eye and without digging). Does anyone have an idea what may have been that loud POP I heard? Where would you start?

Thanks!

[blue62]

Originally Posted by Starter986

It's been 3 weeks since I got the car back... after the second transmission rebuild. Everything appears to be working great.. as it should after the $4800 repair bill (including the 2 rear boots. Yesretday converted the top to manual... and will wait until the weather is more favorable (cooler) before I begin diagnosing why the top failed.

When I finished removing the started, for the trans rebuild, I went to close the top. It started closing... then got 'stuck' followed by a loud POP! I had left the plastic shop light between the clamsheel and the lid. Squeezed the light out... and no worky. No sounds, bells, whistles, or buzzers. Nothing popped off the 'arms' (not the little ball joint things). Everything appeared to be in proper form... but no juice (sounds) to the transmission motors.

The POP didn't reveal anything mechanical wrong (to the eye and without digging). Does anyone have an idea what may have been that loud POP I heard? Where would you start?

Thanks!

I you see nothing external that may be the issue.
You may want to consider the drive gears in the motor, I believe they are plastic.
Or there are plastic components in the motor drive system.
Do a search on the issue I remember seeing some pictures of the motor drive system here on the forum.
Perhaps the pictures will give you some insight.
So I think the place to start is to get as familiar as possible with the drive system first.
Then you will have an idea of the weak points in the system and where to look.

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by blue62

I you see nothing external that may be the issue.
You may want to consider the drive gears in the motor, I believe they are plastic.
Or there are plastic components in the motor drive system.
Do a search on the issue I remember seeing some pictures of the motor drive system here on the forum.
Perhaps the pictures will give you some insight.
So I think the place to start is to get as familiar as possible with the drive system first.
Then you will have an idea of the weak points in the system and where to look.

Thank you. I've read through the years many posts on the matter... watched a few vids... in anticipation of, at some point, a top failure. I'll do more research on the drive system, thank you.

Even with the POP... I hear nothing 'electrical'... 'mechanical' anywhere through the system when pressing the top button (on the dash). Emergency brake light works fine.

For now the top is down. The humps, I believe, help hold down the clamshell... keeping it from rattling around. Sooner or later I'll be inspired to get back into the top.

Thanks!!