Power top conversion?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 223
Likes: 15
From: Scranton, PA
Power top conversion?
Hey guys. I have been having problems with my convertible top getting confused as it is opening and getting its movements all out of order. 
This leaves me with the tonneau cover trying to close as the roof is only partially in the trunk and then it gets stuck like that... 
Is there any way that you know to possibly convert the power top to a manual top? I had a manual top in my c5 and I loved it, much more easy and simple to deal with.
Cory
This leaves me with the tonneau cover trying to close as the roof is only partially in the trunk and then it gets stuck like that... Is there any way that you know to possibly convert the power top to a manual top? I had a manual top in my c5 and I loved it, much more easy and simple to deal with.Cory
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
It means he's interested in the answer so he's lurking eating popcorn and waiting to see what you come up with.
I'm halfway serious when I tell you I'd swap with you. I daily drive mine and I can't tell you how many times I've cursed that manual top....you cannot put the top up without getting out of the car..of course on the side of the road when it's raining and you're getting wet in your work clothes... It's the one option I wanted on my car that I didn't get.
You must have a limit switch going out. I bet if you watch closely where it screws up you'll find the bad switch in the operation (saying it's closed when it's really not). I don't mind diagnosing problems like that, but dealers do since they prefer flat rate jobs that pay 4 hours per book but can be done in 1 hour. And in the dealers' defense, if it takes a tech 5 hours to figure it out nobody will want to pay $500 for that fix. It's easy to diagnose looking backwards, not so easy looking forward.
If you post up a video of your top in action screwing up (iPhone vid to Youtube would work) I'll be some experts on this forum will help you diagnose it. Free to try!
And if you're close to S. Fla let's talk swap.
I'm halfway serious when I tell you I'd swap with you. I daily drive mine and I can't tell you how many times I've cursed that manual top....you cannot put the top up without getting out of the car..of course on the side of the road when it's raining and you're getting wet in your work clothes...
It's the one option I wanted on my car that I didn't get.You must have a limit switch going out. I bet if you watch closely where it screws up you'll find the bad switch in the operation (saying it's closed when it's really not). I don't mind diagnosing problems like that, but dealers do since they prefer flat rate jobs that pay 4 hours per book but can be done in 1 hour. And in the dealers' defense, if it takes a tech 5 hours to figure it out nobody will want to pay $500 for that fix. It's easy to diagnose looking backwards, not so easy looking forward.
If you post up a video of your top in action screwing up (iPhone vid to Youtube would work) I'll be some experts on this forum will help you diagnose it. Free to try!
And if you're close to S. Fla let's talk swap.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 223
Likes: 15
From: Scranton, PA
It means he's interested in the answer so he's lurking eating popcorn and waiting to see what you come up with.
I'm halfway serious when I tell you I'd swap with you. I daily drive mine and I can't tell you how many times I've cursed that manual top....you cannot put the top up without getting out of the car..of course on the side of the road when it's raining and you're getting wet in your work clothes... It's the one option I wanted on my car that I didn't get.
You must have a limit switch going out. I bet if you watch closely where it screws up you'll find the bad switch in the operation (saying it's closed when it's really not). I don't mind diagnosing problems like that, but dealers do since they prefer flat rate jobs that pay 4 hours per book but can be done in 1 hour. And in the dealers' defense, if it takes a tech 5 hours to figure it out nobody will want to pay $500 for that fix. It's easy to diagnose looking backwards, not so easy looking forward.
If you post up a video of your top in action screwing up (iPhone vid to Youtube would work) I'll be some experts on this forum will help you diagnose it. Free to try!
And if you're close to S. Fla let's talk swap.
I'm halfway serious when I tell you I'd swap with you. I daily drive mine and I can't tell you how many times I've cursed that manual top....you cannot put the top up without getting out of the car..of course on the side of the road when it's raining and you're getting wet in your work clothes...
It's the one option I wanted on my car that I didn't get.You must have a limit switch going out. I bet if you watch closely where it screws up you'll find the bad switch in the operation (saying it's closed when it's really not). I don't mind diagnosing problems like that, but dealers do since they prefer flat rate jobs that pay 4 hours per book but can be done in 1 hour. And in the dealers' defense, if it takes a tech 5 hours to figure it out nobody will want to pay $500 for that fix. It's easy to diagnose looking backwards, not so easy looking forward.
If you post up a video of your top in action screwing up (iPhone vid to Youtube would work) I'll be some experts on this forum will help you diagnose it. Free to try!
And if you're close to S. Fla let's talk swap.
Hopefully someone could help.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Nice looking car! I have your twin...w/o the power top.
Its a switch I bet. Seems like the switch that says the top is down in the well is reporting that the top is down there prematurely. Go over all the switches and look for something out of place. My top's inner liner has straps that keep it off the tonneau and the straps have broken for example, that might be causing a switch for the tonneau to come down to be triggered early.
Try holding your hands on the top as it operates (with someone else doing the switch), you may feel where it binds and or screws up and that will give you clues.
I enjoy this kind of work. Too bad you aren't local. The problem is out there, a Saturday afternoon and a beer or two and I predict you'll find it.
Bill Curlee may chime in with the factory trouble shooting guide for this. if he doesn't, PM him. He's the man when it comes to such things.
Its a switch I bet. Seems like the switch that says the top is down in the well is reporting that the top is down there prematurely. Go over all the switches and look for something out of place. My top's inner liner has straps that keep it off the tonneau and the straps have broken for example, that might be causing a switch for the tonneau to come down to be triggered early.
Try holding your hands on the top as it operates (with someone else doing the switch), you may feel where it binds and or screws up and that will give you clues.
I enjoy this kind of work. Too bad you aren't local. The problem is out there, a Saturday afternoon and a beer or two and I predict you'll find it.
Bill Curlee may chime in with the factory trouble shooting guide for this. if he doesn't, PM him. He's the man when it comes to such things.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 223
Likes: 15
From: Scranton, PA
Nice looking car! I have your twin...w/o the power top.
Its a switch I bet. Seems like the switch that says the top is down in the well is reporting that the top is down there prematurely. Go over all the switches and look for something out of place. My top's inner liner has straps that keep it off the tonneau and the straps have broken for example, that might be causing a switch for the tonneau to come down to be triggered early.
Try holding your hands on the top as it operates (with someone else doing the switch), you may feel where it binds and or screws up and that will give you clues.
I enjoy this kind of work. Too bad you aren't local. The problem is out there, a Saturday afternoon and a beer or two and I predict you'll find it.
Bill Curlee may chime in with the factory trouble shooting guide for this. if he doesn't, PM him. He's the man when it comes to such things.
Its a switch I bet. Seems like the switch that says the top is down in the well is reporting that the top is down there prematurely. Go over all the switches and look for something out of place. My top's inner liner has straps that keep it off the tonneau and the straps have broken for example, that might be causing a switch for the tonneau to come down to be triggered early.
Try holding your hands on the top as it operates (with someone else doing the switch), you may feel where it binds and or screws up and that will give you clues.
I enjoy this kind of work. Too bad you aren't local. The problem is out there, a Saturday afternoon and a beer or two and I predict you'll find it.
Bill Curlee may chime in with the factory trouble shooting guide for this. if he doesn't, PM him. He's the man when it comes to such things.
Cory
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 11,216
Likes: 178
From: Pensacola Florida GO GATORS!!! www.rlsebring.com www.c6c7vette.com
St. Jude Donor '17
Need to check all 7 position switches. I'll see if I still have my PDF's from my manual. Check each switch to see if the little plunger that activates the switch makes a little detent noise when pushed. It could be faulty or stuck in the open or closed position. It working the second try tells me one of them is sticking.
You have 1 switch over the drivers visor where the top pin drops into the top of the windshield. 2 switches behind the moulding behind the passenger seat, 1 switch on the partition in the trunk (doubt it's this one), 1 switch under the tonnue cover on the drivers side and I believe a couple in the bends and folds of the top frame.
1 switch out of sync will casue havoc. Re - index your windows just for fun. You never know.
You have 1 switch over the drivers visor where the top pin drops into the top of the windshield. 2 switches behind the moulding behind the passenger seat, 1 switch on the partition in the trunk (doubt it's this one), 1 switch under the tonnue cover on the drivers side and I believe a couple in the bends and folds of the top frame.
1 switch out of sync will casue havoc. Re - index your windows just for fun. You never know.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 223
Likes: 15
From: Scranton, PA
Need to check all 7 position switches. I'll see if I still have my PDF's from my manual. Check each switch to see if the little plunger that activates the switch makes a little detent noise when pushed. It could be faulty or stuck in the open or closed position. It working the second try tells me one of them is sticking.
You have 1 switch over the drivers visor where the top pin drops into the top of the windshield. 2 switches behind the moulding behind the passenger seat, 1 switch on the partition in the trunk (doubt it's this one), 1 switch under the tonnue cover on the drivers side and I believe a couple in the bends and folds of the top frame.
1 switch out of sync will casue havoc. Re - index your windows just for fun. You never know.
You have 1 switch over the drivers visor where the top pin drops into the top of the windshield. 2 switches behind the moulding behind the passenger seat, 1 switch on the partition in the trunk (doubt it's this one), 1 switch under the tonnue cover on the drivers side and I believe a couple in the bends and folds of the top frame.
1 switch out of sync will casue havoc. Re - index your windows just for fun. You never know.
Hopefully you can find those PDF's. That would be quite helpful.
