Fixing My Cont Top

[Alienz]

Hi I'm new to this forum. Tool Pants recommended it. I'm trying to fix my top by myself after the $2k estimate by the dealer. All the parts needed for fixing my top will be here this week (rods, transmossions,etc). All the parts cost me about $450. I will update this thread as I go along. But I have a couple questions: my Top Compartment/Cover is a little bit misaligned:

It should look like this:

[Alienz]

This is how the driver side looks like...

[Alienz]

I tried loosening up the cover and moving it to the left but that did little. The end of the cover is touching the top. I noticed that when I move the cover up and down, it moves correctly except when it almost reachs the down position, it moves to the right a bit.

One more thing, is the gasket at the lower top look like this?

I ordered a new one anyway just in case:

[Alienz]

Here are the parts I got just after posting this thread..

[Alienz]

And the rest...

[Tool Pants]

This is the car we want to film for a DVD.

What is the history/story to date. I see what looks like old parts already out of the car - then a bag of new parts. All I know is that you bought a used 1997. The picture with the 2 transmissions and motor on the floor - are those the orignials which have been removed?

Have to wake up Mark for this one. :o

[Alienz]

Actually the old looking parts are the "new" ones. They came off a 1998. They work fine according to the seller. One of my motors is broken, when I move the V-lever it is loose. It looks like the gears are stripped or something. I might as well replace both motors anyway but I'll see. I got a good deal on both transmissions and the motor ($250). I will start working on it tomorrow. I was looking at the motor today just to get a rough idea on how to remove it. I removed the plastic bolts, but it was still kind of stuck in there. Are there any other bolts?

You are right Tool Pants, I'm going to do a Top hip transplant :). I will take as many pictures as possible.

[mark in sunnyvale]

Hey TP,

Sorry, been busy. I was out of town last weekend so I wasn't able to work on cars.

Is Alienz local? If he is, tell me when you want to film the process.

So Alienz.. what did you buy? 450 sounds a littlesteep. The parts when I did mine cost $150. But if you bought a transmission($400 each) and a motor($150), $450 is a really good price!

Make sure that the black joint is snapped firmly in place, this might be causing your alignment issue. Also check the red joint.

So, when do we work on cars?

[Alienz]

The used transmissions and motor I bought for $250, the other new parts cost me $127. So cost me about $377 not $450 actually. It's going to be a pain in the *** I can tell. But I love working on the car.

[Tool Pants]

This is going to be hard to fix over the internet.

There are 2 transmissions and 1 electric motor that operates the transmissions via cables. Other than the fact the clam shell is off-centered what is in your car now. Lift up the calm shell cover and show us some decent pictures.

Your "motor" is apparently a transmission. Do not understand a "loose V-lever." It might have just run off the gear. Why are you replacing the transmissions?

Why is the top not working to begin with?

I can't help just by showing me 2 pictures of top parts. You need to detail what you have. Why it does not work, or what oem parts do or do not work. Does your oem top motor make a noise when you push the button with your brake lever up and the key on - brake warning light on when the car is running?

[golfhom]

I'm new registerant Golfhom. I live in Burlingame, CA. I have a 1998 Boxster in a San Francisco shop name Aldo's Performance for an estimate to fix my top. I was lowering it as normally, the clamshell liftup, the top won't go down. Yes I've released the catches. I kept pressing the switch but the clamshell went back down and nothing happens. I did not hear any loud noises. Further attemp I just hear the motor noise. The windows use to drop half way when top was working. Not now. From the posting it seems complicated. I might try it when I was younger, now as a senior, don't like to work in tight places.

Any advice would be appreciated. :rolleyes:

[Tool Pants]

Bring your car to one of our work on cars days in San Jose when Mark is around and we will take a look at it for you if you do not have the shop fix it. The Boxster top is simple compared to a 996 top.

[Alienz]

Here are more pics of how my top looks like now...

[Alienz]

...

[Tool Pants]

You have a problem child. I can tell you manually raise and lower your top from the last 2 pictures. Everything has been disconnected. You do not break the V lever unless someone has pried against it to pop off the ball joint for the black push rod that goes to the clamshell.

Start driving out the West since it looks like we may see and film a top fix on golfhom car.

Do not know why you bought used 1998 transmissions or a top motor. They are the same for 1997-1999. What do you think is broken? Does the top electric motor work? You need to address the cables. What is wrong with your top transmissions?

[mark in sunnyvale]

Hi Everyone,

I'm free the 4th of April and the 17th or 18th. I'd love to look at Golfhom's car. Although his problem sounds like a different problem since he mentioned that the windows will not lower now. I guess we'll find out when we see it.

TP, Let me know if any of these dates will work for you.

-Mark

[Tool Pants]

See you at the Harley place. But on April 3rd.

The lack of a window drop is usually this switch. Could also be a relay/control unit so I will bring my spare.

[Alienz]

After 6 hours of installing the newer transmissions and motor (from a 1998) and timing it, I finally got my to fixed! The timing was the hardest part. I don't know how to do it but my friend has mastered it, he can do it in less than 5 mins. BUt there is one problem (I'm not sure if it's even a promlem). When I put the top, every thing works perfect. But when I go up I hear some weird noises, sometimes 3 pops others are 2. I put the top in service position and observed the transmissions on their way down, after they reach the end they go further streching the strut. But then after about an inch of streching, the RV lever snaps back a tooth (on both sides one after another) then the mechanism stops.

I figure this can damage the teeth in the transmissions on the long run. Any ideas why this is happening? Is it not timed right?

[Tool Pants]

I cannot think of anything off the top of my head other than the gear inside the transmission. Maybe Mark has an idea.

Did you inspect the 1998 transmissions for damage before you put them in?

[Alienz]

I didn't inspect them but they look fine to me. When I put the top down, the transmissions strech the strutsand seal the top compartment properly. But when I put the top back up, the trans' try to pull the struts down to seal the compartment but then I hear this pop and the V-lever snapping back once or twice, sometimes three times before the cycle ends. We think that there are no enough teeth at the end of the cycle which can explain why it snaps back. How do I give it more teeth?