2007 430 Spider Top stuck

I made the mistake of trying to put my top up while pulling into my garage (slowly). Before you tell me I told you so, I had a BMW M6 Convertible for a long time that allowed you to put the top up or down at any reasonable speed. The manual says it works below 3mph, I guess I was going 4.

Anyway, it only got as far as the back lid moving back and up and then everything stopped. I have not been able to get it to do anything other than when the key is turned off the pressue is released on the lid and it settles back down. When I try again, the lid lifts, but that is all.

If anyone has any ideas, I would appreciate it.

 

I am afraid I dont have any brilliant ides, but the old "disconnect battery in the trunk, wait for an hour and reconnect" is worth a try. Hopefully others that are more knowledgeable will chime in.

 

When you say that you try again, and the lid lifts, but that's all, are you doing this with the engine running? If not, then please try with the engine running.

 

I disconnected it but not for an hour. I will give that a try. Thanks

 

Yes I had the engine running. Thanks.

 

And have you done as Big_Guy suggested and tried killing power via the master disconnect for an hour or so, and then reconnecting and trying the roof again?

 

Read the image below, it describes your issue, the top computer does not know where the top is, so you can manually close it to get it to a known point.

Have you tried to use the manual close procedure? Try and manually close the top then try again. Section N 1.08 in workshop manual (page 999 in pdf). *Please have a friend help it will be easier and less dangerous to your top.

As always check your fluid level.

If needed we can get into the nit picky details of the microswitch logic if you are handy with a meter. There is a nice thread on that.\: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=335288&page=1

I know its a LONG read, but lots of meat in that hamburger, including all microswitch logic.

Image 1: Page 978 (pdf page numbers) from Workshop Manual F430 Spider.pdf (downloadable from http://www.ferraridatabase.com/The_Downloads/Manuals_Workshop.htm)
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Yes, that did not work. I have been on the phone with Ferrari of Denver and tried a couple of things like checking to see if the tab on the tonneau cover micro sensor was in the proper position. The car is acting like the ECU thinks it is in open mode even though the top is all the way open in the bay, but the tonneau cover opens up, instead of closes.

 

It appears after reviewing the soft top emergency procedures that if I go through that process I would have to detach the cables from the motor that controls the side flaps. It says I would need to then have the dealer reattach and synchronized. I am not sure if that is something I can do.

The top is fully open and down in the back bay. However, the tonneau cover doesn't close, but just settles down when the engine is turned off and key is in off position and the hydraulic pressue bleeds off. When in this position and I try to close the top, the tonneau cover comes up but the top is pulled down about 1/4 inch and then releases back to its open position. I do not own a meter unfortunately. It seems one of the sensors is not recongnizing the top is all the way open and the tonneau cover needs to close. That seems to make sense since the system was interruped when I was closing the top as I was rolling into the garage. The tonneau cover had opened but the top had not started coming up before the interrupt.

 

It does not adress your problem but a friend of mine put that in its f430 spyder and is very happy with it.
http://www.mods4cars.com/sms/shop/index.php?p=b3JnYT1zbWFydHRvcCZncm91cD0yJmxhbmc9MiZjdXJyPTI=&action=products&cat=8&mode=view&id=63

he can even open with a remote control.

 

I was able to manually close the top without disengaging the side doors motor because they were already down. I got it all buttoned up in hopes that the top would recognize where it was. I tried it and got nothing, the hyd. motor made no noise at all. I turned off the battery power for over an hour and still nothing. I have noticed that my driver window is not working either, the passenger is. I checked the fuses, all good.

Looks like it might be time to head to the dealer.......

 

Driver window could be related to the issue because the top ECU has to interrupt and control the windows.

The chance of a microswitch failure is minimal considering the circumstances, but plausible.

You might try to manually open the top partially or completely then manually close it. Checking periodically if the hydraulic motor will activate.

Yes I agree it may be time for a trip to the dealer because they have a handy $3k box that manually opens and closes the top thus saving a lot of time and its a bit safer/easier.

Please post the result when you get to the bottom of it.

 

Thanks, I did try it in several different postions to no avail. It is in Denver as we speak and I will let you know what they tell me. Thanks for the information!

 

I know I am a bit late because its at the dealer. But it just occurred to me you may have an electrical issue. It could be coincidence or something, but did you check the fuses/relays for the top?

None of this really makes sense. I am very curious to hear the result. Make sure you chat with the tech and find out exactly what the issue was. The service manager usually operates about a mile too high to get good quality info.

 

First, thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it. They replaced the drivers side window regulator and once that was functioning the top worked fine. I really find it hard to believe that as I was pulling in the garage that the window regulator went out as I was putting the top up, but..... replaced it and everything is working. I will take it. Still convertible weather in Missouri!