I took my console apart (2006 AP2) , as I've done many times, and when I was done (fixing my seat heater), and reassembled the car, the top would no longer operate. No click, nothing. I looked at a couple of fuses under the driver's dash that I thought were top-related per my repair manual. They looked good. So, I've done nothing for about three weeks trying to figure out what to do now.

BUT, last night, I noticed something that might be related. In trying to turn on my rear defroster, I noticed that it wasn't lighting up to show that it was on, as it normally would. So the switch right next to the top switch is also not working.

I'm trying to understand this. Can anyone shed light on what might be wrong? Do they share a power supply? Or a ground? Or are they connected or related in some way? Or did both go bad at the same time? Understanding the electrical systems aren't my top thing, especially this stupid top.

Help!

 

The defroster plug and top switch plug are the same shape, and can easily be mixed up and plugged into the wrong switch.

While they are color coded, those colors aren't keyed to the switch they plug into. The way the wires on these plugs are routed also makes it easy to mix them up. So the whole thing is a recipe for getting them backwards.

You just need to pop the cover back up, reach in there and swap them. No need to remove shift knob or fully remove cover.

Next time just test the switches before you button it all up to make sure they are in the right place.

 

Hopefully this was all it was. Since you do this routinely grab a sharpie and mark them.

-- Chuck

 

Car Analogy, you were right! I didn't know that they were interchangeable, and I've removed them many times. Now, the top pops open a few inches, but won't go down. Wish me luck on tracking this down. I might be back. Thanks for the advice very much!

 

Well, guess how I found out they were interchangeable!

 

What happens if you "help" it along? Eventually you will need to replace the elastic straps. An excellent replacement is Modfry.

 

The straps are good. The top pops away from the header, but the next step doesn't happen. Where the motors kick on and drop the top. When I checked the switches and found them switched, I did it when on the road, so half-assed. I just opened everything up again and one of the pins on the top switch connector was bent and I'm sure made contact with the adjoining pin. Perhaps it shorted. Fuses check is next.

 

Normally you cannot activate the top if the vehicle is in motion and/or the parking brake is not set. It must have been modified for it to work at all under those conditions missing.

I don't see that as a real limitation. It takes about 6 seconds to make the magic happen. I have done it at a stop sign and at traffic lights. It is one of the great things about the car.

You may want to reconnect things to see if that might be the problem.

 

The limitation that incented me to make the mod to allow operating top while moving was a sudden downpour. Driving on hwy, sudden downpour that overwhelmed airflow.

Pull over, and you can't operate top until 100% stop. If you hit switch too early, even once you are stopped you have to release switch and hit it again. As you slow down, airflow decreases and you get wetter and wetter. So FULL stop, operate switch, and get dumped on for 6 seconds.

With the mod, I find myself driving away while top folds. And closing while parking. A bit of a juggle, but not a big deal.

Obviously you have to be smart enough not to operate it while at actual speed. Below like 12 mph is fine. I've done it at 15 or so. That you still have to use ebrake helps, at least one notch.