Before anyone blasts me, yes I've searched for this particular item and I didn't find anything. Haters, blasters & general wave makers...go away. With that in mind I'd like to hear from those who have cabriolets if they've encountered this problem with the top going down and what they did to solve the problem. I'm looking for a solution and not a bunch of griping, complaining and general negativity.

I have checked, double checked, triple checked and even crawled in, since it's closed, and inspected the latches, levers & sensor switch. I've tried it with the car on, the car off, in gear (but clutch in), out of gear, with the e-brake on and the regular brake on/off, the e-brake off and the regular brake on/off. I've tried with the windows down in many combinations but nothing works. All it does is go back to the sunroof position and stop. The left light (top up switch) doesn't even blink until I release the top down switch and then depress it again.

Hep me. Hep me. I've fallen up and can't get down.

 

Hmm, that's a stumper. The only time that's happened to me is when the storage shelf wasn't properly seated. It came after getting some luggage out of the boot. I panicked at first but got it to work. It was the same situation - I pressed to get the sunroof open and then it just stopped. If I pressed again the light blinked.

Perhaps the sensor is faulty? Have you tried opening the roof with somebody making sure the sensor is being pressed?

Sorry I can't be of more help but I do hope it gets sorted out for you quickly.

 

I'll have to get my wife to get back there and try that. "See that little doo-hicky hon? No, the thing next to that. Right here, see? Now hold it down. No the other way down..." Just couldn't pass that one up. Actually she's awesome with that kind of stuff.

 

the switch is in the trunk on the drivers side, just above where the shelf in the back rests when it's down. i bet that's the issue, too. when we picked up our convertible, the MA warned us about it so haven't had the issue myself...

 

I have a sneaky suspicion that's the problem.

Thanks for trying. I have an appointment to take Icarus in next Tuesday.

I found a couple of threads on NAM that were top problem related. One didn't have anything to do with this:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=49690

and one that is exactly the problem I'm having with no solution:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=50444

Taking it into the dealer for a look seems to be the solution for this problem. I'll be interested to hear what exact problem is and what the fix will be.

 

Have you searched the www.mini2.com forums for this exact problem? Worth a try!

 

We actually had 'the storage shelf problem' happen on our test drive. Our 'watcher' did not know what was wrong, he had to call our MA, who had a convertible, and she told him to check it.

 

I had something similar... the sunroof part would work, but the top wouldn't fold & store. The first time it was the sensor on the storage shelf. The next time, I forgot to lock the rear seats after putting them down. Third time, after checking the other possibilities, I left the key in the ignition in the "on" position for 15-20 minutes, started the car and tried again... BINGO! Top Down and ready to Motor .


I found this in the Mini handbook. Give it a try

 

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

The rear seats have to be locked?!!! That's no where in the manual.

 

I'm not saying a word

 

Oh c'mon Call. You're loving this one. You mean I'm a goom-bah and are having a brain fart?

 

You're right. It's not in the manual. I could be wrong, but that was the only way I was able to bring the top down. I was showing someone there was quite a bit of cargo space if you put the rear seats down . The I was trying to put the top down afterwards and couldn't. The only thing I did was relock the rear seats and the top went down. It doesn't say explicitly to lock... but it does say to "ensure that the catch engages securely". to me that means to relock the seats.

 

Ok, rear seats are locked. No luck.

Top closed. Key in the ignition in the on position. Will wait 20 min and try.

 

Nope. No luck. Looks like it's a visit to the Dr.

Thanks for the ideas though!

 

Good luck with that. Let us know what they say. btw.. nice twisty roads in Alpharetta . Next time I get down there, I'll have to try cruising in a Mini

 

No problem as to the solution.

Let me know the next time you're down here with your MINI and by then I'll have explored about every nook and cranny three counties north of here.

 

Sounds like a plan I'll have to try to rent a MINI though... it's a long drive from Chicago, especially when it's a business trip

 

Woo Hoo! Top goes down! I get to go topless this weekend after all.

It's a temp fix until Icarus goes in the shop but thanks to Steven (my MA) the top is working for the time being.

The fix? One MA business card, several strips of tape & one determined MA. The problem is when the latch on the left side (looking at the boot) locks down the top on that side it is suppose to depress a sensor switch however the switch slides to the side and snaps back into place as if the lever was still unlatched. Grrrr... He took a business card, folded it over several times and taped it to the part of the lever that presses the switch. Viola! Top goes down!

You da man again Steven! Thanks!