88 convertible top won't go down
 

car running, in neutral, windows down, emergency brake up
it goes, beep, beep, beep.... but nothing happens.
Suggestions much appreciated.

I have seen a few posts about bypassing the motors and making the top manual.
I'd consider this, but I'd prefer to keep the car stock and make it work properly.

Ummm, where are the motors located? I have a Haynes manual that has nothing about the verts. I'm not at all impressed with this book...

I have also seen posts here referring to FSM, I assume that is "factory service manual"?
Where can I find/buy one?

Thanks in advance.

FSM = factory service manual. You can find it free all over the internet. Check the FAQ at the top of this section if you need a link.

The only time my car has done this is with the e-brake down. It's possible the contacts on the related switch are dirty.

To get to the motors, remove the carpeted panel from behinds the seats, then remove the plastic along the sides. The motors will be under there. Run a search of the 2nd gen tech section and you'll find threads on converting the top for manual use.

thanks, I did finally find the FSM links.

How would I go about cleaning the switch contacts?

I searched several hours last night trying to find info on this before I even posted.
The best I found was a few mentions of having bypassed the motors.

Any suggestions on what key words to search to get better results?

ok, I found the motors and turned the screws, and the top still won't budge!
It moves maybe 1/4", the whole car starts to move.
It can't be THAT hard to put this thing down manually.
Could the linkage be frozen up or something?

Man, it's 68° and sunny! :o(

Thats odd, if you turned those screws properly the top will disengage from the motor, making it free to move back and forth....

The standard mazda rx7 manual in your glove box shows you what to do also...

still no luck.
did find it in the owner's manual too,
turned those screws ALL the way as much as I could till they are all the way bottomed out and still the thing won't budge.
I even had someone bigger and stronger than me try.
I don't want to break anything trying to force it either.
But, man I really want to drop the top before it's too blasted hot to drive with it down!

This might sound dumb, but have you tried turning the left motor screw one way, and the right, the opposite way. Then if that doesn't work, do the opposite for both sides. Then same direction on both sides, then the reverse????

I really forgot which direction they should be turned. Do a search like RR88 stated if you are still stuck. That top MUST disengage from the motors, which sounds like it isn't right now.

Thanks for the suggestion, I will try every possible combination.

The owner's manual says "clockwise".
I tried it with both all the way clockwise, and both all the way counterclockwise.

I'll try mixing the directions and see what happens.

My only other thought is that the linkage is seized up. I bought the car in February and I don't think the top has been down since last summer.

Well, I still cannot get the motors to disengage.

I have checked fuses....

I have noticed that the [BRAKE] light on the dash does not light up when the brake is pulled up.

Any suggestions for future action??

Did the brake light work before? That just makes the idea of a bad/dirty switch more likely. I've never gone looking for the switch, but I'd assume it's near the e-brake somewhere. From under the car I haven't spotted any switches along the cable linkage, so the interior would be the place to start. Try the FSM for some info on it.

I've never noticed that it ever worked (I've had the car since February).
I will check the FSM, for the e-brake switch.
Then I'm taking it to a mechanic! I will go crazy if I can't get the top working.
:o)
Thanks.

I'm having sim. Issues with my 88 vert.
Ebrake is up.light comes on.cars in neutral and I turn the bottom on dash down and top doesn't budge.. I get no sounds no beeps no nothing.. when I raised it last I left the Targa top hanging when I raised the top.AAnd after that I've never been able to lower the top. I have no manual for the car. Plz help. Thanks..

my 88 convertible top won't go down no beeping, works going up, last time this happened yrs ago a new switch fixed it. Switch is no longer available
anyone know how to bypass wiring for a remote switch.