Friends, this has been discussed many times before, but I glanced right past all the previous posts - until it happend to me last night. Since I had about an hour of stress, let me reach out to my fellow convertible owners and hope they, unlike me, take the time to read this and file it for the future. It will save alot of headaches.

Last night I was driving home, roof down. Rain came out of nowhere, so I thought to myself: "finally a good thing I'm in a NJ traffic jam." Well I waited another 100 yards until I was going about 10mph and pushed the up button on the roof. I heard her chime so I knew I was in the safe speed zone for rasing the roof. Traffic being what it is, as I put the roof up, it got just a little faster, then slower. All of a sudden the roof stops moving Hhmm, I thought to myself: "last time this happened in a parking lot and I exceeded the OK to close speed, the roof auto opened again. Well I'll just get back to 3 or 4 mph and push the close button" - Well I did and Nothing happened at all! I was left with the roof 1 or 2 inches open in the rain (of course your back windows are open until the roof latches too). I pulled into a parking lot, checked the fuse - all ok. I remembered the Allen Wrench key by the pump, but couldn't find the manual that describes the process. I remembered the tab above the rear view mirror, which gives access to the latch.

I shortly found 2 things out:

1) You need something to pry the dummy tab at the latch open. Fingers aren't going to do it.
2) The allen wrench can't move anything until you release the hydralic system pressure at the pump.

I drove hope and jumped on my computer for previous threads. It took a bit of digging, but I found the info. These things can get "confused" if you stop midcycle or change direction mid cycle. How did I fix it?

In this case I just had to turn the fluid stopcock counter clockwise all the way (it has a built in stop, you will not pull it out and have your fluid spill). Then I took the allen wrench to the access hole above the rear view mirror. I lifted the roof manually about 2 inches, extended the latch with the allen wrench, droped the roof into it, then locked the latch with the allen wrench. An instant test showed the rear windows now worked. I just tighted the stop **** back up on the pump and everyting works normally. That's all it took to reset things. I hope it helps you if you need it someday.

John

 

good post. I will make sure the wife understand NOT to stop the top during up or down, just let it finish the cycle.

 

I've had this happen to me twice now, luckily I've got the handbook in the car. What it doesn't tell you is to do us the stopcock afterwards.

Obviously with the stress of thinking you've broken the roof th's easy to forget the last bit and wonder why it still doesn't work.

 

Great reminder of this process. Suggestion is that you could grind one end of the allen wrench to a (flat screw driver end) so when you need it to pop the cover you have it? Alternate you could locate a small jewelers screw driver with your allen wrench. Glad it all worked out.

 

What is the "stopcock" ?

 

I think the army called it saltpeter.

The stopcock being referred to is the petcock or valve knob on the pump for the top. It stops (or allows) the flow of hydraulic fluid to the lines.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jag#4

I think the army called it saltpeter.

Chocked on my coffee on that one.