Had my new silver/black '02 for about five days now...

Managed to squeeze in at least a few minutes with the 2002 Owners Manual. I was a bit surprised to see the following notice:

"Do not raise or lower the top while the engine is running."

Of course, I had already done this once, but with no apparent negative consequences. I don't recall seeing anything posted on this, nor did a search reveal anything.

Does anybody know what this is all about???

 

I don't think there are any "negative consequences" if you raise or lower the top while the engine is running as long as your parking break is fully locked. I've done it a ton of times while the engine was running (of course the car was NOT moving).

I don't see any reason why it would be a bad thing to do.

????

 

I always raise or lower the top with the engine running.

I wouldn't think it would affect anything.

 

I'm willing to bet its another "protect the stupid" rule - kinda like "in case of severe thirst, do not drink the washer fluid..."
Similiar to why our visors have to have idiotic stickers on them!

Let's stop protecting stupid people!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by s2kskibum
[B]I'm willing to bet its another "protect the stupid" rule - kinda like "in case of severe thirst, do not drink the washer fluid..."

 

Lots of moving parts and shiny things to point at... "Ohhh, look at how fats that thingy is spinning!"

 

Well, I thought hard about this, and can't for the life of me figure out how any harm could come to the car by lowering the top while running. Maybe an outside chance of damaging the alternator, but I'm talking outside>>>>

And why put the strain on the battery opening the top with just the battery? If anything this would be worse..

are you sure you didn't read to not open or close the top while MOVING? While this can't be done, I think I noticed a warnig to such in the manual somwhere.

 

Page 70 of the 2002 Operating Manual: Notice: "Do not lower or raise the top while the engine is running."

The electronic convertible top will not operate unless the parking brake is fully engaged, so that would make it all but impossible to raise or lower top while moving. No dire warning need there.

What are we missing here??

 

on top of that there's a speed lockout. i've put on my ebrake just enough to start the top then started moving the car...at like 3mph or so it cuts off power to the roof motor.

 

Replace the word "engine" with "car". Then everything makes sense.