F355 Soft Top Problem

Hello:

Thank you to all of you that helped in getting my soft top closed during the recent Los Angeles rains. I was able to top off the hyraulic fluid, replace a blown fuse, and repair a severed electrical line...

Now that the weather has improved I tried to open the top - Top was released, windows went down, seats moved foward, and the top started to fold down - About half way down the cycle stops - The top will close and the seats will return if the switch is used for closing. Tried using the manual switch - It won't close the top completely (need to use the console switch) and will not open the top any further than the console switch.

Any insight will be greatly appreciated!

 

Did ya give it a little help by hand - many times the top will "stick" about half way to the completed cycle - a little helpful hand/push will kick it past the sticking point and move it to it's final position...

PS. Welcome to the 355 Spider top problem - I have never had mine work right from the beginning - and after around 4 repairs and about 2K in service. I disconnected all the Seat and Window Sensors - and do everything manual but the switch and the top - but I always have to help it a little (and my motor was fine...)

If you do a seach on 355 Top's you will find a number of threads of many spider owners

 

If the motor is fine, it could be one of your rams is failing...I noticed in the records with my car, that the previous owner let the fluid get too low, and it apparently damaged one of the rams (are there four?).

 

Edward Aram has that move down.....

DL

 

Thanks!

The first time I put the top down there were no problems - only when I tried to put the top back up and it would not close did I notice that the fluid level was below the minimum mark before I filled it. I may have damaged one of the "rams."

How much manual effort should I use?

 

I would say if you are helping it down or subsequently up (which it will "stick" in roughly the same position... You need to get it going past that stick point - so I would say about 10lbs of force would do it... Or about like the amount of energy to pick up 2 gallons of milk with one hand.. Really I don't think it is much - just help it until it goes... Trust me - you won't hurt it anymore than it already is - and I will tell you once they go - you will have it fixed and it will be less than 6 months - and it will go again. So getting used to helping it - is the way to go - you don't have to get it fixed

 

Tried working on it last night - It now gets stuck when closing where the "forks" are touching the metal plates with the indents behind the seats and adjacent the doors. A new development - The top when almost closed will no longer allow the console switch to complete closing the top. It is amazing - I have a Mercedes SL which is 10 years old, works flawlessly everytime, and has never been repaired (I assume they service the top with every major service).

Any suggestions?

 

I have been there - looks like your top motor is probably on it's last leg... I think I had mine (stupidly replace 2 times). I believe it is around 1500 for parts and labor if you go OEM and not a rebuild - 2nd time I did a rebuild and it was around 800 for parts and labor.

Couple of things I would throw out there for consideration:

Conservative Approach:

1.) Have the motor replaced or rebuilt - once you do - always give it a hand when opening or closing - I know it "should" work - but really this is the first automatic top - which shouldn't have been done in the first place - they didn't put a lot of thought into it. By giving it a little help on the up and downswing - you can help save the stupid little motor they use - and prolong the life - after my 2nd rebuild - mine was still working fine after 2 years - (I have since sold it and move to a new Lambo).

Aggressive Approach:

2.) This is something that many of us 355 spider owners were kicking around - and I think a few have done this - check the threads from about 1 year ago.

I swore that if mine went out again - I would remove the motor (since I had already disconnected the sensors which also fail frequently for windows and seats) and make it a manual top. If you think about it - you cannot put the top up or down when driving. And if you are more than 5' 10" - you really can't be sitting (in the drivers position) and move the seat up to put the top up or down. Since I would always be parked - with both doors open - seats all the way up - kindof side saddled putting the top up or down. Why not be manual - and litterally in 3 seconds could have the top up or down (minus putting on or taking off the Teneau cover). This would not be a hard surgery to perform yourself in about 2 hours - and you will save - and I promise a ton of money and a lot of time.

In total I have had 5 top problems with my previous 355 - (Sensors and Motor inclusive). I spent about 2500 in repairs in total for trying to get the top "perfectly" working. It wasn't until I talked to other Spider owners that also had frequent problems - did I finally just submit and start doing it my way to make it work the best I could.

Some may think that it may hurt resale if you make it manual... I really don't think so - Since this is not a fully automatic/hideaway convertible like the 360 spider - and you are instructed to put on the Teneau cover before driving - I don't think you would take a hit on making it manual. Or you could easily point the potential buyer to the mirade of sites that discuss the 355 spider top issue.

Ferrari - should have keep it manual like the 348 spider - would have made me a lot happier - of the years I owned my 355 - the only single issue I had - with an otherwise perfect car - was that darn top. And I think it never broke again - cause I swore to that top - that I would rip it out - if it did

Hope that helps,
Rich

 

Other solution: trade in for a GTS.
95% of the open top pleasure, 1% of the hassles.

 

Us Spider owners like challenges and periodic boughts of frustration

 

i do have an extra motor and 2 of the 4 rams left if you find no other solution.
I could sell em for 1/2 of what they are new. just be sure to narrow it down to what the problem is. It is a common 355 spider problem as the cats,gooey vents,bubbling a/c controls cracked manifolds ect ect.. ya get the point. It is off a front damaged spider we got for parts salvaged out.. Either way good luck and at least you live in southern california.(weather)

 

Thank You!

I'll keep that in mind - Send me a PM of how to get in touch, when I bought the car it was also missing a few non-essential trim pieces which I need.

 

Just in case this is related. I had lots of problems with mine (sticking half way, slow operation, noisy etc) until I simply got the system bled for a minimal cost. After this was done I had no issues for a whole year so far (fingers crossed).
Good Luck
Ade

 

I have a soft top problem as most of you other have had...

However the top works fine using the "emergency" switch...

But when I hit the console switch I get a "beep" sound from somewhere under the dash board...

Any Ideas on what it could be..?

I did read that there are some kind of window sensors and seat sensors... I dont have a repair manual so an idea on where these sensors are at and whats needed to bypass them..? If the beep means a bad sensor...

Thanx in advance!

 

For these reasons I thanked my lucky stars for the manual top on my 348 Spider. I am all for keeping the 355 automatic too regardless of cost. It's just one of the things that makes the car what it is.

 

I would think that the "emergency switch" just bypasses the seat sensors, so I'd look there first for a problem/solution.

 

I'm pretty sure you're right. Is DANNiE missing a penny?