I just scanned the group and didn't see anything in this....

I have a 2001 325Cic with the power convertible roof. Here in he NE US, it
hasn't been used in 6 months or so. Today I noticed the light by the power
up/down buttons was flashing (like it does when you don't completely raise
or lower the roof), but I hadn't touched any of the buttons.

I tried to lower the roof, and the windows went down, and the passenger
corner unlocked, and that's it. Nothing else has been happening with up or
down buttons. I even tried the door key switch

The light blinks all the time, there's an air leak now (since I tried to
lower). The light even blinks when the key is out of the ignition.

Anybody run into this before? Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Jerry wrote:
Is the top storage box in the trunk fully down and locked in position?

If so - you're looking at a trip to the dealer to get the error code
read out.

Thanks - yes, the storage is locked and down

I'll do a quick fuse check, but I fear you are right about a trip to the
dealer...

Thanks!


"admin" <admin (AT) 192 (DOT) 168.0.2> wrote

It sounds to me like you have trouble with the left side latch at the top of
the windshield. You said the right side latch makes noise, I assume the
noise is the sound of the solenoid firing that releases the catch on that
side. You also said that YOU did not push any of the buttons, but is there
any chance that somebody/something else pressed a button?

I do not know what the linkage looks like in your car, or exactly how it
works, but it should be pretty close to that which is on my car -- a big
difference being that mine is manually latched and unlatched, where yours is
automatic.

When you operate the top, the car checks to be sure the trunk is closed
completely because the storage cover and the trunk lid will collide if the
trunk is not closed. I forget exactly but I'm pretty sure the windows will
not drop if the trunk lid is not closed. Since your windows are working, I
assume the trunk is in good shape.

Another check is for the latches at the top of the windshield to be
released. My car makes this check first because there is no point in
attempting anything else if I haven't operated the latches. My guess is that
your car will make this check second, right afgter looking at the trunk lid
status. My assumption here is that the latches at the top of the windshield
do not need to fire if the trunk isn't closed. You've said that you can hear
one of the latches try to fire, so I think the system is good here, but one
of the latches has bound up. I think this is precisely where you need to
focus your attention.

I'd be getting a helper that can operate the button for you while you try to
prod the roof latch into submission. I'd be pushing the roof down tighter to
the windshield to see if I could create less tension on the latch. I'd also
be looking to see if the roof is properly aligned to the top of the
windshield, and push the roof one way or the other to get the alignment back
if it looks a bit askew.

Once you get the latch freed, then you can check the linkage and latch
mechanism for various maladies -- burrs, proper adjustment, that sort of
thing. I'd not suspect an adjustment issue quite yet, and look specifically
for burrs and other kinds of things along that line.

The blinking light is telling you that the roof has not properly closed or
opened -- and closed would be my first guess.








"Jerry" <jlieberm (AT) frontiernet (DOT) net> wrote

Thanks Jeff, this was very thorough. Unfortunately, I fear a trip to the
dealer is next

I checked all the fuses, no problem there

I'm fairly sure the guy at the car wash probably bumped the button, and I
didn't see it because of some stuff blocking the lights.

I read in the owners manual to find the release (between 2 rear seats) and
took the key to loosen and then tighten the 2 front latches. In all cases,
the power function doesn't work at all - no noise, no window change,
nothing...

Thanks for the help, I'll start saving up for the trip to the dealer - OUCH!

Jerry

"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr (AT) verizon (DOT) net> wrote

I'd be concerned that the blinking light is telling you the roof is not
latched.

I wish I could give you more stuff to look at, but my car has manually
activated latches where your car has electrically operated latches. Are you
sure the roof is securely latched to the windshield header?

I don't think you have anything seriously wrong, my instinct is that the
mechanism is out of time and/or bound up.

My car ('94 E36 convertible) has two actuators on the edge of the trunk lid
that get pushed when the lid is securely closed. On cars that are NOT
convertibles, these actuators are really just bump-stops, and they are
adjusted up or down to align the trunk lid to the fenders. On the
convertibles, these bump stops have plungers in the middle that actuate
linkages that operate switches that tell the roof that the trunk is closed.
If the plungers are maladjusted, it is possible that the trunk is reporting
that it is still open, and this would disable the roof. Your car might be
having an adjustment problem in this area. Using a friend to operate the
button, hold the actuators fully activated and see if the roof switch works.
(Be sure to IMMEDIATELY halt operation of the roof if it begins to move --
the roof and the trunk lid will collide and do damage to one or the other or
both.) I'm not sure about your car, but on my car I can operate the roof in
the trunk if the roof is either fully open or fully closed, but if I operate
the roof or the trunk in mid cycle of the other then serious damage will
occur. Either way, if you hold the trunk fully open, you will have plenty of
time/space to be sure there is no collision of the panels, or scream loudly
if a collision is emminent. If the roof works when you hold the plungers
(both of them), then you've found the problem.








"Jerry" <jlieberm (AT) frontiernet (DOT) net> wrote