993 cabriolet top problem
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Tokyo
993 cabriolet top problem
Electric top got screwed up after trying to put the top down. There was a can of oil in the area behind the rear seats which stopped it going down on LH side.
The top is now out of alignment and doesn't sit properly on the RH side of the front window.
Get this - the local dealer in Tokyo wants $10k
(yes, ten thousand dollars)to fit a brand new top!!!
Anyone got any ideas on how this can be fixed without breaking the bank?
1995 993 cab
1992 968 coupe
The top is now out of alignment and doesn't sit properly on the RH side of the front window.
Get this - the local dealer in Tokyo wants $10k
(yes, ten thousand dollars)to fit a brand new top!!!Anyone got any ideas on how this can be fixed without breaking the bank?
1995 993 cab
1992 968 coupe
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 414
Likes: 4
From: Boston
I have done it, it's not hard, but can be tricky. First thing, did the top bend. That could be a problem, these pieces are aluminum and are expensive!
the next question is, did the transmissions shift in there mounts. That could be easy. Just realign the trx.
A fine tune can be done by adjusting the bolts on either side under the trx, behind the carpeted covers on either side of the rear seats, these covers come out with two screws. There are up/down and back/forth glides there.
How out of align is it?
My top had a golf club get stuck in the mechanism, so I had the same problem. The dealer spent 1 DAY on it, and told me I needed to spend 800.00 for a new right side trx, and a new 200.00 motor, plus labor. I took the car home and in 20 MINUTES had the top mechanism apart and deterimed I needed neither, and fixed it with an additional 2 hours of effort. In my case, the cable from the motor to the TRX had slipped (like a speedometer cable). This meant that the left and right trx were no longer in line. So I put the top UP, unbolted it from the trx, and let the motors run until the gear inside fell away free. (hard to explain in an e-mail, but the main top gear is a 3/4 circle, so if it runs to far, it will fall "off" the drive gear. Make sure both sides fall away. then, from the bolts, just spin them around to the top. Then run the motor again and let the gears re-engage at the top (mine made a loud unsettling bang as the gears "popped" back onto the drive, but no damage was done, be careful! I then let it run a tiny bit so they would not fall off when I put the top up. Re-bolt the top to the trx so they are square. Then put the top down. Any adjustements can be made by the bolt connections under the trx on either side. Do it by trial and error, until its right.
Sounds like work, but it is fairly straight forward. I actually removed my trx from the car, cleaned them and reinstalled them in two hours (that was how I knew the gear is a 3/4 moon shape. Good luck, but do be careful.
the next question is, did the transmissions shift in there mounts. That could be easy. Just realign the trx.
A fine tune can be done by adjusting the bolts on either side under the trx, behind the carpeted covers on either side of the rear seats, these covers come out with two screws. There are up/down and back/forth glides there.
How out of align is it?
My top had a golf club get stuck in the mechanism, so I had the same problem. The dealer spent 1 DAY on it, and told me I needed to spend 800.00 for a new right side trx, and a new 200.00 motor, plus labor. I took the car home and in 20 MINUTES had the top mechanism apart and deterimed I needed neither, and fixed it with an additional 2 hours of effort. In my case, the cable from the motor to the TRX had slipped (like a speedometer cable). This meant that the left and right trx were no longer in line. So I put the top UP, unbolted it from the trx, and let the motors run until the gear inside fell away free. (hard to explain in an e-mail, but the main top gear is a 3/4 circle, so if it runs to far, it will fall "off" the drive gear. Make sure both sides fall away. then, from the bolts, just spin them around to the top. Then run the motor again and let the gears re-engage at the top (mine made a loud unsettling bang as the gears "popped" back onto the drive, but no damage was done, be careful! I then let it run a tiny bit so they would not fall off when I put the top up. Re-bolt the top to the trx so they are square. Then put the top down. Any adjustements can be made by the bolt connections under the trx on either side. Do it by trial and error, until its right.
Sounds like work, but it is fairly straight forward. I actually removed my trx from the car, cleaned them and reinstalled them in two hours (that was how I knew the gear is a 3/4 moon shape. Good luck, but do be careful.
