So the hits just keep on coming.

Many of you have contributed to the forum on engine stalling which has helped me and my tech team tremendously but a new problem as popped up that I need your expertise on.

Thankfully we have a roadster, so accessing the fuel cell is easy... RIGHT???

Not if you love the top down and cant get it back up.

Please give your thoughts on fixing the automatic top system. I have done some searching and have come up light on resources. Thank you in advance.

 

Anyone have any advice on where I can get some help?

I am striking out on google.

 

Need more of a description of the problem. Is it throwing an error? Does it start to work and then stop? Have you used the manual release to put the top up? Is it stuck?

 

The car is only driven about every three months. Only a few times when it gets driven.

We put the top down about two weeks ago and have not raised it since. Now that we have this gas tank issue and stalling problem, we need to raise the top to fix the issue.

We hit the button with no action from the top. I dont believe there was any noise made but could not tell. We tried about five times with no result. Next stop, we read the manual and put the top up manually.

My thoughts are instantly the Hydraulics or electrical. The top did seems slow the last time it went through an up/down cycle.

 

Try to reprogram the windows. If the car does not now where the windows are it wont move the top.
To reprogram windows, roll window up then hold the switch in the up position until a click is heard or about 5 seconds. Then roll the window down and hold down the switch in the down position until a click is heard or seconds. Repeat for the other window. Other things that can stop the top are if the trunk lid is open. Did you get any warning messages?

 

So, after speaking with the service rep, it seems the motor is running when the button is engaged but nothing is happening.

 

My top got stuck once half way up, luckily after a few tries I was able to close it. I have an 08 roadster too and read a few threads about a module going bad and needing replacement. Hopefully you get this sorted out quickly. On another note when you do get it fixed do not let the top down for extended period of times it might create folding marks and creases on the fabric. Good luck.

 

AMFIXER, can you shed some light on this? Can you tell me what the module is called and what the price may be?

 

The module goes bad and corrupts the CAN Bus network..this will stop top to work and cancle out the msg center in the dash..a long with put on some nice lights in the dash...but I don't think this is your case for you stated the top motor is working..

Does the tonneau cover open?? If not, sounds like the cables have come off the tonneau cover latches(common)...or the system has sprung a leak and there is no more fluid in the pump, not common but known to happen.

 

The top is now up. The top was manually raised and locked into position several times. When the top is lowered, it seems to act naturally. The cover opens and the windows do their deal.

It is when the top is activated from the down position that the cover opens but does NOT seem to release the top from his locked position. There is a motor on the right side of the vehicle that controls those latches but according to our service tech, it doesnt seem to have any place to fill or check fluid levels or any other signs of needing to be replaced.

Thoughts?

 

Do you get any error messages? So let me get this right......when the top is opened and you are trying to close it, the tonneau lid (cover) opens but the top will not lift out of the back to start closing...right?

 

Yes. It seems to get to a certain point and get stuck.

 

Ok I hate to say this but a dealer visit might be needed. Need to check the codes and see what's faulting. You can check the fluid level by accessing the pump in the left rear fender well. Is the car outside or inside? If outside is it Hot outside? I'm guessing that
A: there is a fluid leak, but that's rare.
B: one of the hydraulic ram sensors are faulty. These tell the module where the top is.
C: the module has a internal fault. Have seen this when there hot.

 

Yep, like AMFixer stated, dealer visit would be better to diagnose this faster for we can scan for faults and datalog the hall sensors to see what is going on..if the top is fully open and stored away under the tonneau cover, when you close the top, does the tonneau cover unlock and open up..or does it just unlock and not move?

I have had a few roadsters that pinch the hydraulic harness in the top linkages from the rams to the pump valve block, this pumps out the fluid into the tonneau area and the fluid sits under the top..repair would be to replace the lines from the rams to the pump valve block

 

A dealer is now suggesting that there is a known faulty left latch.

The cover does open but the latching mechanism seems to not be strong enough to release or pull the top up. We are looking into prices now but best bet we are going to take the vehicle to the Marin County AM dealer.