It states in the owners manual that you should NOT operate the top while the engine is running....

Anyone know what the reason for this is?

 

This came up a month or so back. No one came up with any good reason not to operate the roof w/ the engine running. I do it all the time. The collective guess seemed to be that it was just one more piece of insurance against opening or closing it while the car is moving.

Regards
Nick

 

It could only be so as to not draw power off the alternator. I prefer to do it with the engine running so I do draw power from the alternator and not the battery.

 

Thanks for the info guys

As long as it doesn't hurt anything, and I don't see how it would, I am going to start operating it while the car is running.....It's annoying operating the top while the car is off because half the time I start the car without even thinking of putting the top down first.

 

The HMC lawyers may not want to ever be liable for someone running their engine in a garage, either (increased carbon monoxide)

 

I do this for the same reason - No problems here

 

Makes more sense in the mornings to start the engine first. That way the engine can warm up while you put the top down, load your CD, put on your driving glasses, etc. I also close the top before turning off the engine.

 

Same here. I hate drawing current from my battery on the off chance I've run it down and need all the juice I can get to start it. No trouble so far but I imagine the running engine puts out a higher voltage and it is possible the top motor will not last as long.

 

You mean I can open/close my top with engine on??? This whole time I was operating the roof the way manual said.

 

I never even heard of having to operate the top with the engine off. I almost always do it with the power on.