I don't think I've ever had such a hard time finding out information on a subject in my life. I'm daily driving the car right now so I at least need to figure out how to raise it manually for now but I can't even find out how to do that

I lowered it for the first time this year because the weather was nice. I got home and just parked it in the garage. The next morning I tried to raise it and nothing, no beep nothing at all.

Things I've tried: E-brake is up, checked fuse under the dash, it's fine. I tried to jump the test wires under the hood (can't remember the colors right now). I can't remember what else I've tried other that do a lot of searching the net.

Where is the ECU for this thing?

Where are the relays?

And how can I manually raise the thing?

I've looked in the manual under body, that was useless.

I'm looking in the electrical part right now but it's downloading so slowly.

Thanks in advance

 

I just remover the outer part of the cluster that has the switch. I tried jumping the wires to see if it would close and it didn't so I guess the switch isn't bad. Just like jumping it under the hood, nothing.

 

I assume it's in neutral?
But either way it would beep....did you test the wires you were jumping?

 

Also hows your battery? I know myn would not go up or beep everything else worked fine but I knew my battery was almost dead had to switch it out anyway an it went right up that could be an isolated case tho.

 

Yes, it's in neutral

Yes, I did find the proper wires in the manual. One was for power (tested 12 volts) and one for open, one for close. I was thrown off at first because it was mirrored in the diagram (for the switch not the connector) but I figured it out and I'm about 98% sure I did it right.

 

It's good, almost new, I tried it while it was running also.

 

Page 3-79 of the Owners Manual.

Remove Spare tire cover

Insert a crosstip screwdriver into the left and right service holes and turn it clock wise until it can no longer turn.

Raise the top by hand and latch.

 

Thanks, I couldn't find it in the manual but this gives me much more to go on. I'll go back and look again. Are the service holes on the sides or on the top? In other words will I be going at this with the screwdriver vertical or horizontally? I think I know what you are talking about though. I remember seeing a screw on top of the motor arm.

 

did you put the Ebrake on?..it has a switch that is on the ebrake to prevent it from being put up when the car is rolling( hence the switch)

 

Yep, e-brake on and the brake light comes on when I pull it.

It doesn't seem to recognize that the open/close switch is being triggered and the switch doesn't appear to be bad because I jumped it at the cluster harness and under the hood.

 

The fuse for that is under the driver's side dash on teh kick panel in the corner.
You can find out exactly which one with the FAQ sticky that will show a LID for the fuse box and the locations of what fuse is where in the box.

 

The convertible top fuse? Yes it's fine, it didn't look blown anyway. I guess it wouldn't hurt to replace it.

I'm starting to lean toward bad harness, ground or relay. Somebody hooked up an aftermarket amp back there next to the left side motor so their wiring might be messing something up.

 

Well no wonder I couldn't find this screw in the manual that lets you rase and lower the top by hand......because it's not in the 1988 manual I opened the 1989 + manual and sure enough it's there.

 

Chapter 15, Body Electrical, of the Factory Service Manual has a good troubleshooting section and details of the location of all the components and controls.

There are several threads on this site about top control problems. Try this as the text for a site specific Google search: convertible top site:rx7club.com

From my limited experience, dirty limit switch contacts at raising / lower arm of the top motors can be a problem. Switch at one side (driver's side, I think) tells the controller to top is all the way up. If this switch is bad, the top motors won't run to raise the top because the controller thinks the top is already up.

 

try a power probe at the motor if it works i would bet you need to adjust your tranny linkage it happened to be what was wrong with mine

 

oh i am parting out a 91 vert too let me know if you need anything

 

Here are some threads you can check out.

1989-vert-top-wont-close

convertible-switch-bypass

1988-5spd-convertible This one started as a For Sale thread. Top stuck down discussion starts at post #45 on page 2

convertable-top-wont-come-down

Good luck!

 

How much for the switch? the wiper part doesn't work anyway.

Thanks

 

Do you have a working driver's side window motor and regulator?