The key is to then remember to flip the switch before you hand the keys to someone else. In all my years with my other car, I have yet to remember to flip the "valet" switch for the security system before giving my keys to the valet.

 

Dante, someone talked about doing that, but making it into a garage door opener. The concensus was that it would be a PITA as you would have to dismantle the entire switch assy.

 

Ok -- inside the dash, to the right of the convertible top module, there is a large bundle of wires that runs across the front of the dash (below the passenger's air vent). Part of this bundle splits off behind the passenger-side kick panel and routes through a rubber grommit into the passenger's door. In that bundle is a red/white-stripe wire that runs back to the 'master switch' in the driver's door. THIS IS NOT THE RED/WHITE-STRIPE WIRE THAT CONNECTS TO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP MODULE!!!! The wire should carry 12v when the switch on the driver's door is 'on' and the ignition key is 'on'. It should not have any voltage when either switch is 'off'. Thinking out loud here -- a relay that taps the 'switch' pole to the red/white-stripe, the 'hot' pole to the VSS wire, the 'output' pole to the convertible top module's VSS pin, and the 'ground' pin to ground... That *SHOULD* give you a bypassed VSS when the master window switch is off, and let you retain the VSS to the convertible top by switching the master window switch on. It also shouldn't impact your window controls. I'll try to veryify this tomorrow, but that's the way it looks. Any thoughts from the electronics gurus?

 

If you do this, I'd probably get a second relay to do the same thing with the e-brake wire. That way, the window switch would act as your safety, and it would keep you from leaving the window switch always off (which will eventually piss off passengers!). Or, you could get a normally closed relay so that when the window switch is on, you bypass the speed sensor, and when the switch is off, you gotta be stopped.

 

FYI

The new Saab 9-3 convertible has a top that operates below 20 mph / 30 km/h. It totally rocks!


Siepel

 

Definitely a cool feature, but it's still a $40,000, 3200lb FWD boat!

 

It's official: My very next mod will be passing-by the speed sensor!!

(I wanna be just as cool as 'the boat'... )

Thanks everyone for posting in this great thread!!



Siepel

 

Oooohhh.... here's an idea: What if the speed lockout could be changed from 3 mph to, say -- 30 mph. Modifry has already built something to decipher the VSS signal -- it's part of the radio DCI module that adjust the volume based on vehicle speed. What if that could be incorporated into a new device to surpress the VSS signal from 0-30mph, but let it through above 30? Then, as long as you're going <30 mph, you can do the 'one click' on the e-brake trick.

 

Not a bad idea. And I like the idea for the window lockout switch being 'on' to disable the VSS or praking brake. Another key here would be something that is easily taken back to stock form. Like if you ever did have an issue with the top(even if it's unrelated) you could take everything back to stock so your dealer doesn't have a hissy.
Highlander...I may volunteer my car for this stuff when we do the other stuff, if you are interested. Of course, knowing you, you'll have it all figured out this afternoon!

 

I'm going to stop by Rat Shack during lunch and see if I can find suitable relays to do the window switch based bypass. I've sent Modifry a PM to ask if his speed-sensor bits from the DCI could be re-factored into a VSS bypass module. I just had another freakishly simple thought on how to fool the top module, but I need to confirm it by looking at some diagrams and stuff when I get home. Stay tuned.