I just downloaded the service manual (2004 book and my car is a 2005, hope that is no trouble)

When I put the top down it goes about 90% of the way with no problems, but then, just before the folded top is about to disappear into the cavity, it stops. If I get a helper to push down on the passenger side of the folded assembly while I am pushing the OPEN button then there is an audible clunk, and the top goes the rest of the way down and the cover closes.

That was fine, but the other day I tried to put it down and I think something got confused. It made it to the 90% open position and stopped, as usual. I got my helper to push down on the passenger side... and when I hit the OPEN button the top started closing. It completely closed... only the boot cover thing stayed wide open. So now my top is completely closed, the boot cover is straight up (open) and neither OPEN nor CLOSE will move the top. Ugh.

Before I start messing with stuff (since it is raining in Portland and I can't really drive the car with the boot cover wide open) I figured I would ask for advice here first. Anyone?

 

OK, after rebuilding the 5th-bow motor I discovered a bent switch on the driver's side that I think senses when the 5th-bow section is partway down. (not full up, not full down). I removed and repaired the switch and that solved my hard cover issue.



By the way, I think that the 5th-bow motor had been replaced before because I found drilled out rivets and a broken drill bit next to the motor. The motor itself looked nearly new.

I'm still having problems getting the top to retract completely so the hard cover will close. Here is video of my top going down. I'm not sure if the 5th-bow is performing its operation correctly. Can someone compare this to the way their car works?

(video removed)

 

Darren it’s hard to tell from the video, (need to look from inside the car). However, it appears that the second bow, it’s the free-floating one, is not sliding backwards enough to allow the top to fold sufficiently to keep from jamming. Check that the two elastic straps connecting the second bow to the third bow are in place and are in good shape. Also lube the 2nd bow pivots.

 

I will check out the 2nd bow, but I have a gut feeling that this is a problem with a switch. When the top is about 80% open the power just stops, but I can push down on the top assembly manually and it isn't really jammed or anything. After I push it down to 95% open and hit the OPEN button again then it will fully retract and close the hard cover.

I'll try your advice first and we'll see if that helps. Thanks!

 

That was it! I moved it around a little, lubed it and now the top works perfectly. Thanks Jennifer_2!

 

OP, I am having the same problem, the top will fold into its "cavity" and then stop as if it is catching on something, if I hold the button for a couple of seconds I hear an audible pop and it goes down, and then the hard cover lowers. I took it to a dealer and the guy there(not a mechanic) looked at it, moved a wiring harness and it started coming down ok. Opened and closed it fife or so times there and the dealer said that thats all he could do then. Next day same issue. It closes fine though. I'm probably going to take it in again in a bit so if I find something out, I'll let you know.

 

My 05 just started doing the same thing, ie when I go to lower the top it sticks part way into the cavity and stops. Will close back up OK. Am I stuck on something or does something need to be replaced? Thanx

 

Elastic bands needs to be replaced.