Electrical and tech diagram for Convertible top

[jsoderbe]

Hi again guys,

I got excellent advice in my last post, so I thought I could try it again!

I have a -86 911 Carrera Cabriolet. I have no clue how the top works, since I don't have a manual and my Haynes tech book doesn't cover the convertible.

I think it is a fully automatic top. At least the locks to the windshield frame is electric, and I think there are wires going into the transmission. My problem is that nothing works! I can manually open the locks and lover the top, but that needs a power tool and some patience.

So, my questions:

- Is there only one button to push to raise/fold the top? located under the oil temp/pressure gauge?
- Why doesn't anything at all happen when I push the button? Shouldn't at least one electric motor of 3 make some kind of noise?
- Any ideas how to check if the control box is broken?
- Some wires are torn. How do I know which are to the convertible top?

I would be very thankful if anyone could point me to a parts diagram and an electric diagram.

Any other ideas would be very appreciated!


Thanks,

Johan Soderberg

[kidrock]

I am not an expert, but I have done some minor electrical repairs to my cab top. I do not have any mechanical or electrical diagrams, but to be honest, I haven't looked very hard.

The switch you are referring to should operate your top, it is located next to the switch that operates your electric mirrors. To operate your top, your motor must be off and the ignition switch must be turned to the first click ONLY. Your switch will not work if it is turned beyond the first click.

When activated, your switch should engage the 2 motors located in the headliner. Once those motors have completed their operation (disconnecting the top from the headliner), another motor completes the operation by pulling the top back behind the back seat area.

If your switch is not working correctly, check to see if you have a bad fuse. If the fuse is good, test the wiring that goes to the 2 motors in the headliner. It sounds like your "torn wires" may be the problem.

In the meantime, you can disconnect the cables on your top and lower your top manually until you figure out your electrical issues.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

[jsoderbe]

Thanks, that was very good advice. I followed your instructions, and found disconnected wires near the folding mechanism. The downside is that I think I know why they are disconnected: My control box is missing! If it is located behind the passenger foot rest, since I found a lot of disconnected wires there. There are no honest car sellers anymore....

The seller guaranteed me that one of the headliner motors was broken, and that the system was disconnected for that reason. Idiot like I am I trusted his word, even though I said I wouldn't by it without seeing the top folded down.

Well, I guess it's not a very big problem, I just have to convert the headliner motors to manual operation.

Any ideas what a new control box would cost me?


Thanks,

Johan Soderberg

[kidrock]

you might have to do a thorough search to find that. Good luck, glad I could help a little bit.