Hi Guys, summer weather has finally arrived here in Scotland and i thought why not get the spider out for its first drive of the year. - easy!!, well not really! Please bear with me and i'll try to explain my roof problem below. 1. went through normal sequence to lower roof and it went half way then stuck. 2. followed the sequence a few times, still same, 3. went out of car, checked all roof trim was intact etc. 4. followed sequence again, and success, roof went down all way. - switched off car and went get cup of tea to congratulate meself. 5. finished tea, started up ignition on car and heard the roof motor whirr into action and roof suddenly starting to close itself. 6. roof went all way up to normal closing position. 7. i tried to close it again. - it went back most of way but as soon as i released the roof button it started to close by itself again. - however this time i heard a metallic twang from the passenger side of the roof. 8. closed roof totally. 9. switched on ignition and all i can hear when handbrake on is the whirr of the roof motor. - -tried to open roof again, but driver seat wont move this time. 10. everytime i swich on ignition now with handbrake on i get the non stop whirr of the roof motor. HELP PLEASE!! p.s. fluid reservoir is full - topped up in the winter and checked again before the above. Cheers Doug
Man you must realy be desperate to post twice.. I own a 348 spider which by the way does not have a power top... (just a shot to the Fratellis) The first time I tried to lower my top it would get stuck half way due to the center bar located just above your head, I have to push it up but this is not written anywhere in the manual. I know that the 355 top is only partial power and you still have to undo the top and slide it back before engaging the power option, my question to you is, are you making sure that the center bar is pushed up? If not this would bind up the motor.
Have you tried turning of the battery to re-set the ECUs? This might clear the problem. Also after that if its still doing it, try using the emergency switch and see if it cycles full open and closed.
There's quite a few threads about the 355 roof - isn't one of the popular problems related to the microswitch for the seat going out of adjustment ?
Sorry the specific is beyond my knowledge - try a search here on '355 seat switch' - there should be some useful threads
Your top button is jammed down, perhaps. Your top will keep trying to open/close until the button is no longer stuck down?
Potentiometers are located under the seats - they check the seats have moved the required distance forward, and are a known weakness - mainly becuase if anything has fallen/got lodged under or by the side of the seats they ca be dislodges and/or the wiring can be ripped out. Have a good look under your seats
Thanks Everyone, the plot thickens though..............., 1. no longer gettign the motor whirr form the roof motor all the time. 2. drivers seat definitely not moving now when trying to open/close roof - but will move wyhen roof closed. 3. tried the emergency switch and it seems to work ok for opening/closing roof guess two options here 1. try and find the cause of the problem - perhaps the seat potentiometer as suggested - will investigate further. 2. open/close roof all the time with emergency switch. - any issues with using this method all the time?? cheers Doug
