My convertible top motors are going out and instead of replacing them I'm thinking about removing them all together to save weight and having the top open and close by hand instead of electronically. Something like a miata, but I'm not sure if there is a way I can do this with all of the latches that need to be open and closed electronically. Think it can be done or is this a lost cause?

 

no one knows? i guess i'll just take it out all together and get a smoothline top...

 

I haven't tried it so can't answer specifically, but ... instructions for manual opening and closing are in the owner's manual. It does NOT look easy and the manual says it takes 2 people.

Here's an excerpt for you:

 

ill have to take a look in my owners manual. I figured since the motors will be out it wont be as hard to get up. Ill try to get it up manually myself tomorrow to see what its like.

thanks for the info blooster!

 

No prob maybe you could post up again afterwards, to say how that went?

 

it was difficult to say the least. you do need two people, but it can be done. you cannot open the top though. as it says in the manual.

I want to try to get rid of the motors and see if it gets easier if i do that

 

Hey I know this is like a decade later but did this work? I want to remove the motors on mine too.

 

I've never heard of this being successful, you can remove the 10mm bolts from the struts to move the canvas but you can't drive at speed without it stowed under the tonneau.
If the motors are removed how do you latch the tonneau cover?

 

I think I would keep only the latch and have it operated separate from all of the buttons in the car. These covers are too complicated for me and I bet if I take it somewhere they will charge me over a grand to fix it mine is messed up in every way lol.

 

I attached the procedure for you. It involves removing the entire top in order to access the drive units. Good luck.

 

Thanks for that, I will try this over the summer if the top is beyond fixing and I will let everyone know. But one more thing, I know the passenger seat shares a motor with the top in someplace but which motor is it?

 

I would also get that weight reduction

 

It would seem a simpler solution would be to have an upholstery shop fab a canvas or vinyl cover to secure the top with snap-buttons on TOP of the tonneau like a boat cover. Pitch the motors, find a way to manually latch/unlatch the tonneau. Like a Miata style setup.

 

That could work, just wondering if that would be more or less expensive than the hardtop that smoothline already makes.

 

Good luck finding one of those.