RichX Posted May 6 Report Share Posted May 6 Nice sunny day went to open roof and nothing. Hand brake is on and light showing on dashboard Pull lever next to mirror, windows drop. Press button to open roof and nothing happens, can't hear motor I've checked fuse and all are good,i can't tell if relays are good. Obviously I don't want to buy new relay if old is working. I don't have a multimeter to test. Switches next to handbrake and rear mirror look like they work fine. Any one have ideas what the problem could be, looking on you tube doesn't bring any useful answers 986 2.7 base model 2004 reg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phazed Posted May 6 Report Share Posted May 6 Handbrake switch. Easy to expose, (see YouTube )and bridge to check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichX Posted May 6 Author Report Share Posted May 6 1 hour ago, phazed said: Handbrake switch. Easy to expose, (see YouTube )and bridge to check. Just asking why you think it's handbrake switch? The light on the dashboard works fine with the handbrake good on and off fine, which is why I think it may not be that. Happy to be wrong though, just need a reasoning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phazed Posted May 6 Report Share Posted May 6 Suggested handbrake switch as that is often a problem. Your problem is obviously something else… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxob Posted May 6 Report Share Posted May 6 You could try removing the relay, giving it a tap or two, then reinstalling it. Seen it suggested on other forums. Costs nothing so worth a try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichX Posted May 6 Author Report Share Posted May 6 16 minutes ago, Boxob said: You could try removing the relay, giving it a tap or two, then reinstalling it. Seen it suggested on other forums. Costs nothing so worth a try! I've tried it, nothing happened Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
½cwt Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 Not come across one failing before, but could be the switch itself, or of course the motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 Either no power or something is telling it not to open. Checked fuse - by sight or substitution? Try substitution... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBarediver Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 I had the same thing last week. Went to open the roof and I could see it drawing power but nothing doing. I had to go in from inside the car and undo the clamshell by popping off the speedclips that hold it on place. This meant I could then manually lift the clamshell and get into the mechanism. Tested the switch before doing anything else and the roof moved.... No idea why as it certainly wasn't moving before then. Put the roof in service mode and reattached the clamshell. It works but it's not 100% as it is a little temperamental on the driver's side. After I replace the starter today I'll go back to the roof and see if I can get it sorted out. Even if that (whatever it was) is not your problem you would still have to get into it in order to diagnose and fix. Use a long screwdriver and pop off the speedclips that hold the clamshell. I hope you have small hands and long arms, or at least a long flat-blade screwdriver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 9 minutes ago, RedBarediver said: I hope you have small hands and long arms Not something that most men would admit to in public... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichX Posted May 7 Author Report Share Posted May 7 ive tested the micro switch sequence, which is the large relay located under driver side. The only one that gave a negative response was: 7. Covertible top locked. terminal 23 and 29 (B-pillar micro-switch), the reading on my multimeter was was 0 and sometimes 1 to 3. So, im guessing it is this micro switch which is the issue, however, i cant find the switch. Video and info ive read are all USA (and im UK) so im not sure if i need to look for it on passenger side or drive side. Update: ive looked both sides, only wiring are on passenger side. i still could not see any switches. Also read that that some later models may have the switch on the transmission, which im guessing is located under clam shall and that is closed (im not to confident in manually opening it, fear of breaking the ball joint). Does anyone know where the B-pillar micro switch is located or an idea on how to test? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRC Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 I always think it's quite telling that Porsche actually included a tool in the original tool kit to enable you to pop off the arm joints and convert the roof to manual operation in the event of the roof mechanism failing with the roof in the open position. This at least means that you won't get wet if it fails in the open position. Unfortunately, they didn't include a tool to enable you to pop off the speed clips when the roof mechanism fails in the closed position (as mine did), but at least you wouldn't get wet if that happened. Quite an admission from Porsche really ....... we know that it's going to fail at some time, so don't blame us when it does ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBarediver Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 Well, I have managed to get the speedclips off the rams that push the clamshell up and down (and I don't have small hands so it was a bit of a struggle). I now have the roof open and can work in there. First thing is that the rams are in free play so I guess I have to try to get the cables on the gears again. Once that is done I can start looking at why it's not stopping when it's supposed to. My roof was working - just not perfectly and like an idiot I messed around with it. I was going to give the car an oil change today but I guess that will have to wait until tomorrow or next year - depending how today goes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichX Posted May 8 Author Report Share Posted May 8 if i can manage to release the speed clips how do i then unlock the clam shell, is it not locked where the motor is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRC Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRC Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 Once you get the clips off, the hinge lever as shown can be pulled off the "barcoded arm" and it will just open by hand. There is no lock to the clamshell other than the "barcoded arm" pressing it down on the back shelf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBarediver Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 3 hours ago, RichX said: if i can manage to release the speed clips how do i then unlock the clam shell, is it not locked where the motor is? You need to release the clips in the middle of the arm that operates the clamshell. This releases the rams from the clamshell and you can then lift the clamshell manually. I spent all morning fighting with mine - not to get the speed clips out, but to get the cables back on the gears and try to sync the roof again. I have it now that it opens and closes on the button, and sits more or less flush on both sides when the roof is up or down - so I count that as a major win.... There is clearly still something wrong as the motor doesn't stop running and the light on the dash doesn't turn off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBarediver Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 3 minutes ago, CRC said: Exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichX Posted May 8 Author Report Share Posted May 8 Just now, CRC said: Once you get the clips off, the hinge lever as shown can be pulled off the "barcoded arm" and it will just open by hand. There is no lock to the clamshell other than the "barcoded arm" pressing it down on the back shelf. awesome, thanks, im going to try it tomorrow, im running out of ideas why it wont open, maybe the transmission Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRC Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 Eventually, I concluded that I had a problem with the double relay unit and as I'd checked everything else out, I just gave up and left the roof as a manual operation .... it might not be cool, but it is guaranteed to work every time. I just didn't have the arm reach or strength to get those clips off .... but a friendly, ex-mechanic, now turned scaffolder solved the problem. You're probably better off trying to lever the top of the clip up and over the spigot end with a flat blade screwdriver rather than trying to hook it and pull it off, as they're pretty tight. You can get new ones ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBarediver Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 (edited) 2 hours ago, RichX said: awesome, thanks, im going to try it tomorrow, im running out of ideas why it wont open, maybe the transmission Mine was stuck with the roof closed. Pressing the button to operate the roof would make a sort of "clunk" noise but nothing else. I took off the speed clips and lifted the clamshell so that I could get in there. Disconnected the front arms which operate the roof (a 5mm Allen bolt) and was careful not to drop the bush on the bolt into the drain hole (I put a rag underneath just in case). With the clamshell and the roof disconnected it very quickly became apparent that the transmission is off the gear. I tried messing around with a drill to see if I could get it back on but in the end I took the transmissions out, took each apart and put the gear back as it should be. The cable runs a worm gear that drives a smaller gear, which in turn drives the big gear. The big gear is not a full circle, but a bit more than a half circle. Once the big gear was back on the small gear and the cable could drive it again. I reassembled everything and reinstalled. Then the fun started. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing but pressed on regardless. Twice the blasted thing came off the gear on the driver's side so I had to do the whole thing again. I finally have it so everything is connected and working - had to mess around with the cables and the motor to try lining the two up with each other. My big issue was that one side was sitting a little higher than the other. Then I would disconnect the cable on the side that is correct, run the roof a smidgin and then reconnect. Try again and see if it seats properly. Endless iterations of this later I now have it so that the two sides sit flush when the roof is up and also when the roof is down. Success, right? Unfortunately there is still an issue as the warning light on the dash won't go out and if I keep the button pressed I'm pretty sure the motor will just keep running and the big gear will come off the small gear again. I spent all day working on the darned thing. I understand the mechanics of it better now. A few potential problems remain - the microswitch by the B-pillar could be faulty, the microswitch on the motor could be faulty, or the relay may be faulty. I've opened the relay and it looks fine with no obvious signs of corrosion but that doesn't mean much. Now of course I also found the point of water ingress - at the bottom of the driver's side the roof is starting to come apart... Hopefully I can glue that or something. Never ending fun with this car. Edited May 8 by RedBarediver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 Stitching or the plastic of the rear screen? There are specialist soft top repairers if you find one, old guy in his garage doing a great job etc. I was recommended sailmakers once, also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBarediver Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 16 minutes ago, Menoporsche said: Stitching or the plastic of the rear screen? There are specialist soft top repairers if you find one, old guy in his garage doing a great job etc. I was recommended sailmakers once, also. No, the rear screen stitching is fine. This is just behind the driver's door at the bottom of the roof. Normally it is hidden behind the frame around the driver's window, but because I was messing around with the roof in various stages of open or closed for most of today, I noticed it. I am sure it is an easy fix for someone who knows how to do upholstery and/ or sails etc. After all, it's just basically canvas being stitched. I can take the roof off and take it to them for repairs, and then put it back on myself. After today I'm no longer so terrified of the roof going wrong. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBarediver Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 12 minutes ago, RedBarediver said: No, the rear screen stitching is fine. This is just behind the driver's door at the bottom of the roof. Normally it is hidden behind the frame around the driver's window, but because I was messing around with the roof in various stages of open or closed for most of today, I noticed it. I am sure it is an easy fix for someone who knows how to do upholstery and/ or sails etc. After all, it's just basically canvas being stitched. I can take the roof off and take it to them for repairs, and then put it back on myself. After today I'm no longer so terrified of the roof going wrong. Also, I may have been too hasty with my diagnosis of the relay. Zooming in on the pictures I took I can see some corrosion in one corner that impacts a few of the tracks, Got one on the way from Steve Strange. Hopefully that cures it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iborguk Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 (edited) . Edited May 8 by iborguk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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