cab top stuck
04-16-2002, 05:57 PM
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cab top stuck
C2 993 1994 cab owner here
My top is stuck half way and will not move. First when it got stuck, the red light on the dash was flashing, but the top did not move. I switched off the car and on again and the light was off.... Press the button and the top refuses to move. Try to open or close manually and it is stuck properly.... wont move either direction. It is right now like an alligator with the mouth open... actually the top is about 12 inches away from the windscreen. Tried switching off the car and switching on and trying the top again... NO LUCK. The porsche mechanic is a good 15 miles away and that too a highway route. No idea how I am going to get there.
Any unusual behavior by me before this happened. This was the first time I really opened up the car since I bought it a couple of months ago. Took it on a long highway ride and revved it up for about half an hour at high speeds (with the top closed) Came home finished dinner and wanted to go for a ride with it open and bingo STUCK...
Need HELP !!!!!! <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
My top is stuck half way and will not move. First when it got stuck, the red light on the dash was flashing, but the top did not move. I switched off the car and on again and the light was off.... Press the button and the top refuses to move. Try to open or close manually and it is stuck properly.... wont move either direction. It is right now like an alligator with the mouth open... actually the top is about 12 inches away from the windscreen. Tried switching off the car and switching on and trying the top again... NO LUCK. The porsche mechanic is a good 15 miles away and that too a highway route. No idea how I am going to get there.
Any unusual behavior by me before this happened. This was the first time I really opened up the car since I bought it a couple of months ago. Took it on a long highway ride and revved it up for about half an hour at high speeds (with the top closed) Came home finished dinner and wanted to go for a ride with it open and bingo STUCK...
Need HELP !!!!!! <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
04-16-2002, 06:14 PM
#2
Zumbera,
Sorry to hear about your problems. I can only offer some advice that worked on my former Boxster in a similar situation. The solution was a new top relay. Once the relay was poped out and replaced the top worked fine. The difference with my situation and yours is that I was able to put the top up manually (a royal PITA on the Boxster). You indicated you could not move yours by the manual method therefore your problem may be the folding actual mechanism other than the relay.
However, the relay is an inexpensive attempt to fix it. Check your manual for the proper relay and drive to the dealer and get a new relay.
Of course I am sure there is someone with a cab that will chime in also. Good luck.
Sorry to hear about your problems. I can only offer some advice that worked on my former Boxster in a similar situation. The solution was a new top relay. Once the relay was poped out and replaced the top worked fine. The difference with my situation and yours is that I was able to put the top up manually (a royal PITA on the Boxster). You indicated you could not move yours by the manual method therefore your problem may be the folding actual mechanism other than the relay.
However, the relay is an inexpensive attempt to fix it. Check your manual for the proper relay and drive to the dealer and get a new relay.
Of course I am sure there is someone with a cab that will chime in also. Good luck.
04-16-2002, 06:23 PM
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DO NOT FORCE THE TOP UP OR DOWN. You will damage the (very expensive) electric motors that power the top.
There are round plastic caps on the panels on each side of the rear cabin of your car. If you pry them out (they should come out really easily, with your fingers), you'll see large hex-bolt heads. Take the tire iron out of the trunk and use it to loosen each of these bolts. This will disengage the motors from the top's mechanism. Once the bolts have been loosened, the top will move freely (like a non-power top), enabling you to put it all of the way down. (This procedure is recommended by Porsche in the owner's manual.)
If you need to raise the top completely and the electric motors that attach the convertible top to the header panel at the top of the windshield are dead, you can manually operate the motors with a screw driver (you'll see the holes in the forward-most part of the convertible top).
(My '91 C2 cab did the same exact thing-- it ended up being a burned fuse)
I would suggest bringing it to the dealer ASAP. Good luck!
There are round plastic caps on the panels on each side of the rear cabin of your car. If you pry them out (they should come out really easily, with your fingers), you'll see large hex-bolt heads. Take the tire iron out of the trunk and use it to loosen each of these bolts. This will disengage the motors from the top's mechanism. Once the bolts have been loosened, the top will move freely (like a non-power top), enabling you to put it all of the way down. (This procedure is recommended by Porsche in the owner's manual.)
If you need to raise the top completely and the electric motors that attach the convertible top to the header panel at the top of the windshield are dead, you can manually operate the motors with a screw driver (you'll see the holes in the forward-most part of the convertible top).
(My '91 C2 cab did the same exact thing-- it ended up being a burned fuse)
I would suggest bringing it to the dealer ASAP. Good luck!
04-16-2002, 09:51 PM
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Hi,
I just had problem with my top not too long ago so i have a few tips.
1. If you don't hear any sound of the motors trying to work the top, check the fuse. If the fuse is ok, remove the rear speaker panel in the back seat (instruction in your owner's manual)on the passenger side. Make sure the sensors are in the proper place. (i think when the sensors are in contact, they'd stop the motors)
2. If you feel that the top trying to work but something is holdig it back, stop and check the locating pins to see if they are the cause especialy when you also tried it manualy (after disengaging the locking mechanism like McDonald mentioned or in the owner's manual).
3. If you can hear the motors running and nothing move, one or more of your transmission components are busted, or out of place. The motors rarely go out.
If you need further info. Email me. I am waitig for my part to fix my problem.
Thx
I just had problem with my top not too long ago so i have a few tips.
1. If you don't hear any sound of the motors trying to work the top, check the fuse. If the fuse is ok, remove the rear speaker panel in the back seat (instruction in your owner's manual)on the passenger side. Make sure the sensors are in the proper place. (i think when the sensors are in contact, they'd stop the motors)
2. If you feel that the top trying to work but something is holdig it back, stop and check the locating pins to see if they are the cause especialy when you also tried it manualy (after disengaging the locking mechanism like McDonald mentioned or in the owner's manual).
3. If you can hear the motors running and nothing move, one or more of your transmission components are busted, or out of place. The motors rarely go out.
If you need further info. Email me. I am waitig for my part to fix my problem.
Thx
04-17-2002, 01:48 AM
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One other thing that wasn't mentioned is that the car has to be on level ground. It happened once to me that even though I thought the car was flat, mofing it a few feet (slowly) resolved the problem. May be worth a try.
04-17-2002, 04:04 AM
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[quote]Originally posted by J-McDonald:
<strong>
There are round plastic caps on the panels on each side of the rear cabin of your car. If you pry them out (they should come out really easily, with your fingers), you'll see large hex-bolt heads. Loosen each of these bolts. This will disengage the motors from the top's mechanism. Once the bolts have been loosened, the top will move freely (like a non-power top), enabling you to put it all of the way down. (This procedure is recommended by Porsche in the owner's manual.)
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Did that and the top moves... thanks for the info'. Now to fix the problem.
BTW... where are the fuses if I need to check them.
Cheers
Zumbera
<strong>
There are round plastic caps on the panels on each side of the rear cabin of your car. If you pry them out (they should come out really easily, with your fingers), you'll see large hex-bolt heads. Loosen each of these bolts. This will disengage the motors from the top's mechanism. Once the bolts have been loosened, the top will move freely (like a non-power top), enabling you to put it all of the way down. (This procedure is recommended by Porsche in the owner's manual.)
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Did that and the top moves... thanks for the info'. Now to fix the problem.
BTW... where are the fuses if I need to check them.
Cheers
Zumbera
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04-17-2002, 12:01 PM
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I believe the cab top fuse is in the front fuse box. I do not believe there is a fuse in the "brain", wich I think is located under the passenger side floor carpet, behind a false wooden floor, but you might want to look there if the fuse in the fuse box is intact.
Now that the top is unlatched, do the motors work again?
Now that the top is unlatched, do the motors work again?
04-17-2002, 12:19 PM
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Z-
Had the same problem six months ago. Top only opened about six inches though, so I held it down all the way home with my left hand (about twelve miles, half of it interstate)!!! Made for an interesting ride home, never got above 50 mph though.
After getting home, called mechanic and lowered the top via the manual instructions posted earlier, then manually locked it back into place.
I took it to my mechanic just knowing it was a burned out motor, costing serious bucks. It wasn't that, nor was it a fuse, relay, binding in the connections or any other failed part.
The result of mine was a loose connection on the control unit. Inside the control unit was a cold sauter joint, meaning it had separarted. The circuit that failed inside the box was the "power in" circuit, which my mechanic re-sautered. He also restretched the sheaths on the cables that pull the top so they would not bind either.
The unit is under the dash to the left side, above the area of the ignition switch. Not real easy to get to, but my mechanic only took 3 hours worth of labor to find AND fix it, including the cable work.
Hope this helps. It's a bit obscure, but it saved me A LOT OF MONEY!!! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />
Goood luck
Robert Collins
Had the same problem six months ago. Top only opened about six inches though, so I held it down all the way home with my left hand (about twelve miles, half of it interstate)!!! Made for an interesting ride home, never got above 50 mph though.
After getting home, called mechanic and lowered the top via the manual instructions posted earlier, then manually locked it back into place.
I took it to my mechanic just knowing it was a burned out motor, costing serious bucks. It wasn't that, nor was it a fuse, relay, binding in the connections or any other failed part.
The result of mine was a loose connection on the control unit. Inside the control unit was a cold sauter joint, meaning it had separarted. The circuit that failed inside the box was the "power in" circuit, which my mechanic re-sautered. He also restretched the sheaths on the cables that pull the top so they would not bind either.
The unit is under the dash to the left side, above the area of the ignition switch. Not real easy to get to, but my mechanic only took 3 hours worth of labor to find AND fix it, including the cable work.
Hope this helps. It's a bit obscure, but it saved me A LOT OF MONEY!!! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />
Goood luck
Robert Collins
04-17-2002, 12:20 PM
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I had a similar problem on my 95 993 cab and thankfully it turned out to be just a fuse. The fuse was located in the fuse box under the bonnet/hood towards the firewall. Can't remember the fuse location number, but hopefully the location map is still attached inside the cover to the fuse box. Also, the H-shaped tweezers in the box is a great tool to help pull out the fuse. Hope that it is only a fuse. Good luck!!
04-18-2002, 07:15 AM
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[quote]Originally posted by jhb:
<strong>
Now that the top is unlatched, do the motors work again?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Nope.. the motors did not work. Took it to the mechanic. It was a fuse. Now my mechanic says that its not that simple that i just tighten the bolts and start working the top again. He says that the top has been disconnected from the motor, it is advisable to make adjustments in the machanism so that everything is aligned properly. Something about adjusting cables etc. Says its a 2 hours job. Is he right or am I being taken for a ride.
Zumbera
<strong>
Now that the top is unlatched, do the motors work again?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Nope.. the motors did not work. Took it to the mechanic. It was a fuse. Now my mechanic says that its not that simple that i just tighten the bolts and start working the top again. He says that the top has been disconnected from the motor, it is advisable to make adjustments in the machanism so that everything is aligned properly. Something about adjusting cables etc. Says its a 2 hours job. Is he right or am I being taken for a ride.
Zumbera
04-18-2002, 10:21 AM
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Can be difficult, but try this. With the top open, and the trx bolts loose (top NOT engaged)on both sides, move the top switch so the motors stop (hit the micro-switch) in the OPEN position. Here, you should have a close match between where the top was and where the motors are in the open position. Now, tighten the bolts to the nearest seated position, connecting the top to the motors, be sure BOTH sides are at the same level! Now, the motors are open and the top is open. Then slowly close the top with the motors, after the top comes across the top of its travel, it should seat in the windshield. When the switches in the header hit the windshield, the top motors should stop and the header locking motors should kick in to lock the top shut. If it does not work correctly, THEN take it in to be fixed and adjusted. Never know, could save couple a hundered bucks. If this works and needs some adjusting and you want to do it yourself, you can adjust the bolts behind the side panels covering the traansmissions. See previous posts for more details.