Problem: Cannot open my manual convertible top! Help!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 412
From: Miami FL
Problem: Cannot open my manual convertible top! Help!
Hey all,
I have a 2011 Corvette with the manual convertible top 1LT. For some reason I cannot get the top to open up! I purchased the car used and never tested the top so now trying to get everything in working order.
I pull the latch and the windows go down fine but when it comes time to open the tonneau cover and I press the yellow button nothing happens. No noise is heard, anything...
I checked the 2 fuses in the passenger fuse panel for the tonneau panel. I made sure the trunk is closed, I even put the handbrake on in case it mattered (Its Automatic). I pulled out the button and figured I could jump the two wires together but nothing... no noise nothing. So far I have been using the manual pull cable behind the passenger seat. I'm probably at the end of my technical expertise here short of taking it to the dealer for diagnoses. If anyone has any other ideas please do share!
I have a 2011 Corvette with the manual convertible top 1LT. For some reason I cannot get the top to open up! I purchased the car used and never tested the top so now trying to get everything in working order.
I pull the latch and the windows go down fine but when it comes time to open the tonneau cover and I press the yellow button nothing happens. No noise is heard, anything...
I checked the 2 fuses in the passenger fuse panel for the tonneau panel. I made sure the trunk is closed, I even put the handbrake on in case it mattered (Its Automatic). I pulled out the button and figured I could jump the two wires together but nothing... no noise nothing. So far I have been using the manual pull cable behind the passenger seat. I'm probably at the end of my technical expertise here short of taking it to the dealer for diagnoses. If anyone has any other ideas please do share!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 412
From: Miami FL
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 412
From: Miami FL
Yes, to open the tonneau cover you have to press a button behind the drivers seat. Then after this step you can manually lower the top. My issue... the button does nothing.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 94
Likes: 51
Ah, I gotcha. My power top has a manual latch on it, I am assuming that the manual top would as well.
In the meantime, it would seem that the issue is not in the switch but in the release motor. That would be the place that I would check out next.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,222
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Long shot here.
Some times if a electrical solenoid switch is stuck or weak, etc. you can thump the part (deck lid in your case) to get it to retract. Once you get it open, make sure your latch pins are clean and lubricated.
Some times if a electrical solenoid switch is stuck or weak, etc. you can thump the part (deck lid in your case) to get it to retract. Once you get it open, make sure your latch pins are clean and lubricated.
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I agree with the other posts, make sure that the trunk is fully closed
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From: Long Island
Have You tried it with the car running. The Trailblazer would do that on the rear hatch when the battery was a few years old. The extra volt or so would open the rear window / hatch. just a thought
Last edited by BLUE1972; Apr 24, 2021 at 07:00 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
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I agree. These cars need a good battery like we need oxygen!! OP, have your battery load tested. It can't hurt. Also, I've found that I sometimes must try pushing the button several times, then I hear that "thunk" sound, and the waterfall will pop. I have a C5, but they're very similar. I have found its a lot like other things on these cars. If you don't use something often, sometimes it starts misbehaving from non usage. Stainless Steel Brake Corporation founded their company on brake calipers that seized up from long term storage/non usage......
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 412
From: Miami FL
Thank you guys for all of the information. So far no luck. Tried car running, battery new, hand brake up, trunk closed. I'm going to dig into the car a bit deeper tomorrow and maybe have some more information if I get it figured out for the next person who may experience this.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,861
Likes: 4,665
Thank you guys for all of the information. So far no luck. Tried car running, battery new, hand brake up, trunk closed. I'm going to dig into the car a bit deeper tomorrow and maybe have some more information if I get it figured out for the next person who may experience this.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 412
From: Miami FL
UPDATE:
Traced the wiring on everything in the car and grabbed my volt meter. The button checked out to be operational. The mechanism that releases the tonneau cover checked out to be operational. After much digging the issue pointed to the BCM. When I pulled the BCM I found the pins corroded that point to the tonneau release. Cleaning the BCM which I figured would be effective proved to be useless. Without spending the $1000+ dealer wanted for a new BCM I spoke to my brother who mentioned we bypass the BCM entirely and that is what we did. Ran power to the button and tonneau once again started working like it should. Although the BCM no longer controls its ability to open close if certain conditions are met, the top works great.
Traced the wiring on everything in the car and grabbed my volt meter. The button checked out to be operational. The mechanism that releases the tonneau cover checked out to be operational. After much digging the issue pointed to the BCM. When I pulled the BCM I found the pins corroded that point to the tonneau release. Cleaning the BCM which I figured would be effective proved to be useless. Without spending the $1000+ dealer wanted for a new BCM I spoke to my brother who mentioned we bypass the BCM entirely and that is what we did. Ran power to the button and tonneau once again started working like it should. Although the BCM no longer controls its ability to open close if certain conditions are met, the top works great.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,222
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Good for you, having the will and the knowledge to fix this your self.
More and more, integrated electronics are controlling everything. That's fine when they work, but can be a real pain in the but when they don't.
Thanks for the update.
More and more, integrated electronics are controlling everything. That's fine when they work, but can be a real pain in the but when they don't.
Thanks for the update.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,861
Likes: 4,665
Too many electrical engineers playing/competing against each other as they try to 'one up' the brand X guys. We all pay for it, especially when something fails to operate as it should........