So I recently bought an 05 r52 S and have been working through some issues. My next big issue to deal with is the top. Well when I push the buttons for the top I get nothing at all. No clicks not lights no nothing. My scan tool will not connect to the top module either so my theory is I have a wire broken in the main harness between the buttons in the front and the controller in the rear area. So I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions on where to start looking. My current plan is to pull the interior and start my search. Anyone have any guidance or suggestions that may help?

is there any where I can jump power to to see if anything functions or rule out anything?

I also am having issues connecting to the air bag module as well so my hope is that may help narrow down my search.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...connected.html

updates and such

 

I wish I could help but I have not had any top issues and have no idea where to start if I did.
Can you check to see if you have power at the switch?

 

looks like my error now is a "CVM Switch, stowage lock. Left: short circuit to ground. hopefuly I will get to tear in to that in the morning!

 

I found this, http://wtxmc.org/MiniCooperDocs/CONV...ICE%20INFO.pdf

 

Yes Sir I have been in the document a bit already. I am leaning toward a micro switch in the back is not reading correctly as we shall see!

 

I didn't have the little arms down and it would not fold the top down but I could get it to go to the sun roof open position.

 

So the stowage lock anyone ever torn into one of these? I have found relays and such in diagrams but not really found a good diagrham yet that has a switch for this. Granted Ive not pulled my interior apart yet too see what it looks like to see if I see if I can put my eyes on a switch. Just currious if anyone has any ideas before I tear into this.

 

There are 2 switches on the back hatch. One where the arms fold down and the other that turns on the dome light. Do you have an open hatch light on the cluster?

 

no those seem to be functioneg correctly. The open light for the tail gate works if the gate is open and I am currently not getting any flashing red lights at the switch until I turn the car off. I am thinking about i might lift the shelf in the back and then see if i get flashing red after the sun roof opens.

 

So I was goofing around a bit and wanted to see if I could get a flashing red light after the sunroof went back so I lifted the shelf in the back sat in the front seat and pushed the button to look for the red flashing light. Upon pushing the button the front windows dropped a small amount the rear windows rolled all the way down and the pump kicked on releasing the lock clamps and the top went back! I flipped out! Rolled it back up and was like how did that happen! When it got all the way back I did have a flashing red light on my button!

any way long story short with my parcel shelf in place and down as it’s supposed to be my top does not cycle. If I lift the shelf off the contact on the left it will then roll back and cycle but has a flashing red light once it is back that doesn’t seem to ever stop. So I removed my shelf completely and now my top is working? I noticed that on my scanner if I have the shelf in or I hold the contact down it shows closed on my scanner but the top does not move if I remove the shelf it will cycle and the sensor shows open. So any ideas as it was my understanding that the shelf had to be down for the top to cycle at all? So this blows my mind a bit. Being I got the car with the top not working I only assume that the light is not supposed to be flashing red the entire time it is open but for now it’s progress!

open to ideas so toss them my way!

 

my top will not work with parcel shelf removed or not installed properly to push the little button. When my top is working going up or down, I get no red flashing light at the button. (I will have to double check that)

I have read and heard if you leave the shelf out, and lower your top, there's a chance that the rear window will break...just be careful
Are you sure that the wires to both of those micro-switches are not connected to the wrong switch? (just throwing out ideas)

There are actually three switches back there on the R52.....one is the trunk light, operated by the push button switch at the upper left corner of the opening, You should be able to put the top up or down with the trunk boot lid open, I can on mine

The other two switches are: the parcel shelf switch that the one leg pushes on when the left latch is closed, and the other switch is operated by the latch itself inside the plastic cover when you close the latch

One more note....everything I have read says that engine should be running when operating the top...that little hydraulic top motor draws a lot of power

Bryan

 

Well unless someone was in there before I got the car I can only assume the switches are hooked up correctly. I may pull the trim out and see if they can be plugged in a different way. That’s what I figured on the shelf and the flashing but thanks for confirming.

I was also wondering if your pump turns off? So when I push the button to open it I feel like it would keep pumping/running if I kept holding the button down. I naturally let it off once the sound changed as it opened.

so I will check the switches in the back but in all my reading about top issues I have yet to hear about one that only works with the shelf not in the right place! 😂

 

yea...that ain't right

I have never kept pushing the top button after the top is fully open or closed....I really don't want to break anything

 

story of my life!

but at least I know the “function” of the top works. 😂

 

So pulled the trim off to take a look and I can see everything is hooked up and the switch is functing according to the live data on the scanner. So would there be any possibility that at some point that someone would have "recoded" the car to look for that swith to be open not closed? I know I cant find a reason to think that but it appears to be functioning correctly but the top will only work if that microswitch is left open. IDK?

 

I wouldn't think that it could be "coded out".....it's a safety feature to have both switches closed in order for the top to work. Switches are wired in series.

I have been following this thread and still think something else is amiss .......possible bad power top control module?

Did you physically check the micro switches back there with an OHM meter to see if they are open and closed when pushing the button? I'm not sure I would trust the scan data with all the problems and corrosion you have found in the car

Bryan

 

That’s what I thought about them being in series. Also the only corrosion I had was one wire that had some damage so no where as bad as the example pics. Either way I was looking at the live data on the scanner not just a scan. However I agree there must be something else going on as it shouldn’t work the way it does and the blinking red light after it goes back. I do actually have an extra top module so I may go ahead and swap it out to see how it acts.

for now I have a water bottle cap sitting over the shelf microswitch so the shelf is there but not pushing on the switch.

I also was wondering if there should be pressure bleed off if you stop the top like midway? In other words When you stop pressing the button while it is on the way back should the top fall slowly like it has a air leak or something or should it stay exactly where you stop it?

Also does the pump stop if you hold the open button down after it’s all the way back or am I letting off too soon?

 

I have my shelf switch taped down with a piece of aluminum furnace tape.

I'm not sure about your comment about the "blinking red light after it goes back".....do you mean that the red light blinks after the top is fully down? I know mine does not blink when fully open

I think the top will very slowly go down if you stop it halfway for some reason...I seem to remember that happening to mine when I had it all in pieces in the garage during the first year of ownership

I have not tried holding the top button down after the top has opened or completely closed to see if the pump stops or not.....I am not sure I want to if something were to happen

Bryan

 

yes after my top gets all the way back I get a flashing red light. lol I think my top has a mind of its own at this point! I figured that was the case with the bleed off but just wanted to make sure. Yeah I struggle with the holding that button down to see if it stops as well LOL!

 

if you have another convertible top power module, I would probably try that next.....we're kinda running outta ideas here.....it's either gonna fix your problem or not

 

Well and thats kind of my thought but in reality the top works all be it not as designed but functioning in any way is a huge change from what I had when I got the car! In my early trouble shooting i got a module box to test with hopeing that was why my top was dead at the button and I can not remember if I left the new one in it or it is the original so I will pull the interior apart and swap it again to see if it will make a differance. Might get a chance to do that this afternoon so I will update with results. I will also see if I can get a video of my button flash for you all to see as it is a bit strange.

 

I decided to take a big chance today and see what happens when I lower the top on my '06 R52 and once it completely is lowered, keep pressing the button

I was kinda scared to do it because I didn't want anything to go wrong or break

once the top is down, and while still holding the button, the pump motor will stop making noise after a few seconds

Bryan (sweating bullets there for a while)

 

Mine quits pumping a few seconds after holding the button when the top is all the way down.

 

FYI, at some point after the roof is down if you continue to hold the button (if all goes as programmed) the windows should come up...