Driver side latch on 1988 cab top

[slawday]

I have lost the latch/motor on the driver side of a 1988 cab electrical top. I'm unable to raise or lower the top. The passenger side latch continues to operate

Is the driver side separately fused or have a separate relay from the passenger side?

I haven't done a lot of research (okay none), so I thought I'd try here first.

Any suggestions?

[fat cab]

same fuse for both motors/latch.Is the top up or down? if you can get it down take apart the head liner and switch the motors around to see if its the motor or wiring. i had the same problem but my latch worked 50% of the time.good luck.

[911boost]

You can also manually operate the latches. Do you have the tool? If not, a screwdriver can be used.

Make sure you don't have a problem with the motors in the back, if one is workin gand the other isn't, the top will open crooked, and you do not want to snap one of the bows.

Good luck, there isn't a lot of information out there about the verts.

Bill

[Cattler]

I had the same problem with my 87 and worked the latches with a screwdriver for a while. Its much easier to remove the interior trim panel to get at the end of the motors than going through the Porsche-designed hole in the panel. My issue was electrical--the microswitches had been "re-wired" by the PO.

In the end, I converted to a manual latch assembly and haven't looked back. Works great and I don't have to worry about the fit or the time spent working the motors with a screwdriver. If you decide not to do this and don't fix the electrical components, I recommend you get a cordless power screwdriver and keep it in the car.

David

[kidrock]

I have an '88 cab, but I am no expert by any means. But I've recently been successful with a couple of electrical repairs to the top.

Fat cab is correct, the left and right motors are operated by the same fuse. It sounds as if either your motor is shot, or you have some type of electrical issue with the wiring to the motor.

You may want to use a ammeter to gauge whether you are getting power to the unit. Take off the headliner covering the access to all the cabriolet goodies. I think it's 3 screws and a couple of push-type upholstery buttons...it's pretty easy to remove. Test the wires as close to the motor as possible. If you're getting power to it and it's not working, you've found the problem. If it's not getting power, check power to and from your microswitch (little black box held in by 2 screws). Could be your microswitch? At $100 each, they ain't cheap.

[Casket]

Originally Posted by Cattler

In the end, I converted to a manual latch assembly and haven't looked back.

David, how exactly did you accomplish the conversion?

[Cattler]

I bought a kit from dC Auto (in North Carolina)--www.dcauto.com. The kit contained two Targa top latches, two top release handles, and the striker plates and bolts. You remove the top motors, put the latches in their place, and swap out the striker plates. Its pretty simple. The kit was reasonable (~$400) and it stopped me being frustrated that I couldn't quickly open and close the top.

I also bought some rosettes--these plastic pieces go in the interior trim piece to "edge" the holes for the handles. You have to cut two holes in the trim piece for the handles.

It latches tightly and it takes about two seconds to secure.

The top latch motors were the only part of my power top working when I bought the car. So, it was pretty much manual from the time I bought it. We figured out that the microswitches had been hot-wired (poorly) and I don't have the skill to fix all of that on my own and couldn't see paying for a private mechanic to sort it out.

David

[fat cab]

thats a good idea with the targa latch,the PO also hodge podge my top wiring,i never knew that it went up and down under its own power for years untill someone asked about it on here..

[Casket]

Thanks!

[LjH]

Don't want to hijack the thread but I have a quick question. My 86 latches stopped working. Anybody know where the fuse is located?

Thanks
LjH

[krd]

i made mine manual with electric latches