|
In Reply to: 94 325i convetible top want go down HELP posted by fred on June 24, 2001 at 22:53:30:
This is the procedure to reset the E36 convertible top in case you have used the emergency release handle that's located
under the rear seat. This works on my iC. It may also work on other E36
models and years (caveat emptor). The owner's manual says to take the car to a dealer for service, but why do that when
the procedure is so easy?
The owner's manual describes the method for closing the top manually, presumably in case you have a dead battery with
the top down and it starts to rain. The top mechanism is driven by two electric motors that are located in the trunk -- one
for the lid of the storage bin and one for the top itself. Closing the top manually requires (1) releasing the two motors from
their transmission drives (using the afore-mentioned lever, which through a cable release mechanism causes the motors to
pop away from their drives), pulling the top out of its storage bin, and then using an Allen wrench (from the tool kit in the
trunk) to fully close and lock the top to the windshield. The allen wrench gets inserted into a socket that's hidden behind a
plastic cover at the leading edge of the top, and then you turn it many many times to simulate the action of the electric
motor. Note - there are interlocks between the storage bin lid and the trunk that prevent you from opening both at the
same time.
Once the two motors have been disengaged, the top can only be operated manually -- the LED in the control switch
blinks, and the owners manual says you have to take the car to the dealer to reset the correct operation of the top. The
reason is that the two electric motors have to be re-engaged with their drive mechanisms and also re-synchronized with
each other (you wouldn't want the top to crash into the lid of the storage bin).
Never fear, there is a fairly easy way to reset all of this yourself. The following is courtesy of Brett Anderson, who came
to my rescue on this topic. I was having a new subwoofer and amplifier installed in the car, and the installer had the rear
seat out when he decided to pull on the release handle to see what would happen (it has a red tag on it that just seems to
scream "pull me" -- who could resist?).
First, manually open the top, placing it back into its storage bin, and then close the lid of the bin as far as it will go. You
may need to push down on the lid so that it closes far enough to allow you to open the trunk (there's a safety interlock that
prevents the trunk from being opened if the lid is open at the same time). Working inside the trunk, remove the carpet liner
from the left side (driver's side) of the trunk. There are two plastic clips that hold the liner in place -- you can pry them out
with a screwdriver. Behind the liner are the two motors that work the top mechanism -- one drives the top and the other is
for the lid. Each motor is mounted on a spring-loaded pivot mechanism. The gears on the motors normally engage the
gears for their respective transmission mechanisms, but when the release lever is pulled the motors pop away and
disengage. So you have to push the motors back into their original positions so that the gears re-engage. When you do this
the spring-loaded catch mechanism will firmly latch in place. Be sure that the motor is firmly seated into the drive, and not
just partially engaged.
Once both motors are re-engaged, get into the car, and with the ignition key in the off position press and hold the top
control switch in the up (for closing) position. Continuing to hold this switch, turn the key to the "accessory" position
(without starting the car) and hold it there. After about twelve seconds the lid will be sucked down into the locked
position, and then after a few more seconds the top will start its normal closing procedure. The motors are now
re-synched, and should be all set. Work the system a few times to ensure that both motors are properly engaged and all is
well.
© 1997 -
2009
Jump Internet Inc. All rights reserved.
