Hopefully sombody can shed a little light on this one for me. 1995 355 Spider. With the key on engine off..the power seats and the top all operate as they should. As soon as the engine is started all functions stop. The roof will not work and the power seats will not move at all. But shut the engine off and everthing will go back to working normaly. I do not have the car in the shop at the momment but it will be dropped off to me next week. I just want a bit of a heads up before I dive to far into the car. HAs anybody ever encountered this? I have not. Usually the damn set sensor goes..but with this car its not the case because everything works except when the car is running! Tom
Everytime I get one of these in, I have to think about how they work, BUT, I think that your description is the way it should be, no operation with the engine running. Brian, i don't hve one in the shop to double check.
I have a 95' Spider, but from other post of yours I have read I would never want to try to tell you anything about them, you seem to know all about them already!
I think my 95 Spider was the same way - key must be in position 1 to operate the top and the seats and windows that go along with the mechanics... With it started - I do not think they worked. To prove the point - If it is started - can you operate the seats back and forth with the seat controls... If you can - mystery solved... If you can't - you have a bad sensor or what will be a darn tricky electrical puzzle Rich
For what it's worth, I have a 1997 355 Spider and everything functions with the engine running, or just with the ignition 'on'.
The seats will work with the individual seat switches, only with the key on engine off. They do not work with the engine running. I have not yet seen a 355 where you could not control the seat position while the engine is running. I have run into a couple where the roof will not operate with the engine running, but works only with the engine off, as is the case with this one. This one is quite strange.. Thanks for all your help so far..keep it comming!
If the seats do not work with the engine running - you do have a problem (but you knew that already The last part of the puzzle is: With the engine running do the windows operate... If you say no - then it is the main sensor/ECU that controls the entire top function - must be conflicting when the engine is on. If the windows work - probably the individual seat sensors malfunctioning - I have had to re-seed mine a few times in the past when they stopped working... Have they tried to turn the power off on the battery cut off - and recycle the ECU's? Since you know 1000% more than I will about these things - that is all the ideas I have on this one Tom... But do keep us posted - probably will happen again to some unsuspecting 355 owner Rich
In my 98 spider everything works with the motor running. Tom, I would check your voltages on this car. If you have some sort of charging problem [say dead alternator or common missing ground strap problem], it's possible that starting your car would actually significantly DECREASE the voltage in your system because now the battery is running the motor as well as any accessories. In this case, it's possible that the voltage is being dragged down to a point where either the seat or top motors can't run or that the ECU is being confused by signals that are now below their noise thresholds. Shutting the car off may make everything work again because the voltage will actually come UP when the battery is no longer running the ignition, etc. Just a thought...
WE have had 5 cars this month we fixed on this problem. Most dealers will only sell you the seat rails and motor 1300. plus. It probably is an ecu control module. It is a small black plug in type of device that plugs in under the seats. It tells the motor to allow the seats to go back letting the top function like it should. I COULD BE WRONG> BUT CHECK THat first> AND [email protected] knows more about this then me. I am not even sure of i named the part right. He can though. Alot of people have been changing the pumps/top rams and motor (pricey) and did not need to. But a it has also been that problem on the spider as well. Good Luck
