salraf

Within the last week, my convertible has been very hard to retract. I did have the car washed but dont see how that is related. Opens and closes very slow and sluggish now.

Suggestions?

RClurg84

If you don’t get a lot of responses here make sure to also ask in the 996 NA forum. Tops are the same.

Carlo_Carrera

Could be your battery is on the way out. Is the top sluggish when you operate it while engine is running?

salraf

I drive the car 1-2x/week. Remained of 'off' time I have a trickle charger connected so I dont think it is a battery issue

Carlo_Carrera

Okay, but is the top sluggish while the car is running? Is the sluggishness the same with the car not running?

salraf

Not sure. The car is usually running when I try to retract the top. After top is back, then I turn off the engine

jungt

I had this issue when one of my cylinders started leaking. I did see a pool of fluid however behind the drivers door door on the floor. You may want to check your fluid level.

autobonrun

I've never owned a convertible but will offer what I can. You need a voltmeter if you don't have one. You also need wiring diagram for the top. I would confirm 12v all the way from the fuse or relay to the motor. A corroded connection will reduce the voltage resulting in sluggish operation. Something binding could as well but eliminate one possibility at a time.

salraf

I retracted the top halfway and did not see any particular areas of leakage or pooling anywhere. Could it be just a lubrication issue?

Carlo_Carrera

If the hydraulics are not leaking it is most likely an electrical/power issue or the hydraulic pump itself is failing. As Autobonrun wrote check your electrical connection and voltages.

fpb111

Check the fluid level in the reservoir.

Flat6Music

All good advice. My cab is n.a., but the mechanicals for the top are the same as the turbo. Mine started with the same symptoms. In my case, it turned out to be a small hydraulic leak that over time caused the reservoir to run down and subsequently impact the action of the top when in motion. When you have the clam shell retracted and the rear of the top held upward after you release the cable from each side, you can then reach in and put your fingers onto the rod of the hydraulic cylinders, one per side. If there's noticeable fluid on your fingers from either side, that's the leaker.

Here's a link to a pretty good tutorial that you might find helpful. After reviewing it, the above part about the cables and the rear of the top in the upward position will make better sense.


http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti..._Mechanism.htm

DaveCarrera4

Same idea as the hydraulic wing mechanism. Same problems. I am converting a Carrera GT wing over to eRams, that wing hydraulic system was a converted cabrio mechanism. Complex Rube Goldberg piece of over engineered *cough* wonderment.

salraf

well I am hoping that it is just a low reservoir issue. I have ordered some fluid and will pop off the back this weekend and see what's going on..