How to - Repair microswitch for facelift 986 roof

[T24RES]

After not using the roof for a few months, the sun came out and it was top down. The roof presented itself with the following symptoms:

Roof has a smart top.

Roof drops perfectly.

When raising the roof it moves about 8" and stops, if you press the button it moves another 8" and stops. If you hold the button down the roof will close. The windows have not dropped in readiness to accept the roof closing.
I'm assuming this is a fail-safe.

I've noticed that whilst raising the roof the 'warning light' for roof opening/closing fails to illuminate.

The facelift doesn't have a B pillar micro-switch or a rear latch (above the motor) micro-switch, it does have the release catch one, the handbrake one (over ridden by smart top).I believe there are micro switches in the transmission drives each side.

I tried the OE relay and the same symptoms appear.

There wasn't too much information out there, except I found after hours of trawling that the transmission for the roof changed. When it did, the micro switches that I thought were in the B pillar and motor were moved inboard to the nearside transmission. Anyway, I've taken some snaps just in case it happens to someone else.

First thing is to put your roof into service mode.


If you look at the roof motor housing and it doesn’t have a microswitch tab sticking out of the housing, then you have the ‘type2’ transmission with the inboard microswitches.

You’ll need to undo the caps that hold the membrane:


This is the passenger side (UK) roof transmission

Undo the bolts in the order shown and remove the arm.

Then don’t forget this plastic clip, it seems to be responsible for keeping the membrane away from the clamshell mechanism:

You’ll notice the arm is slotted:

Gently pull down membrane.

This reveals the transmission.
Remove 3 x 13mm nuts and the electrical plug at the front edge of the part.

Unclip the loom to the microswitch

Lift off the transmission.

The cable from the motor is still attached, using an electrical screwdriver raise the tab slightly, at the same time pull on the cable. This will withdraw from the transmission.

DO NOT LIFT THE TAB MORE THAN 1mm OR IT WILL SNAP=NOT GOOD, PARTICULARLY ON A COLD DAY.


This is the inside face of the transmission.

This is the outside of the transmission.

Undo the 6 x torx screws, and gently lift of the cover.

This reveals the microswitch on the back of the cover plate.

This is it in situ.

This is the switch removed.

This is the arm that controls the two switches.

Essentially the arm sticks on the peg, not allowing the switch to return to the central rest position.
I used a drill bit (not in a drill-by hand) to gently clean the inside of the arm by running it up/down. Then used a couple of drops of silicon lubricant. The sort that comes with your crash helmet.

Refit parts.
**CAUTION** When putting the two halves of the transmission back together make sure that this half moon peg hasn’t moved.

If not located correctly this will cause the casing to split 

Refit as reverse of removal, taking the opportunity to grease the moving parts.

[Duffy3074]

Good stuff, thanks for that.

[topradio]

The very early cars had a slightly different arrangement, the microswitch is on the B pillar and the transmissions are different.

Lots of good info here https://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/installinga%2703-%2704glasstopandframeona%2797