1997 GT Convertible - manual control???

[Fenix50]

My little brother is having issues with the top on his 1997 convertible GT. Being 19 and broke, he was looking into disconnecting the motor for to be able to manually raise and lower the top the old fashioned way, by hand.

Questions:
Can this be done easily?
Will this screw up anything in the future if decides to fix the actual problem? (I think it is the motor since the fuses are good and i hear a relay clicking)
Is this NOT a good idea for any particular reason?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[mustang_montana]

in my fox convertible, it is a hydraulic system that raises and lowers the top. make sure the motor is still working, and if it is id check for a pinched/broken line. the motors were cheap for the fox, the lines you can make your own using hardware store supplies.

 

[joshjwc9]

If he doesn't want to spend the $200 online for a motor, have him go to a junkyard, and I believe that auto parts stores can order you one with a lifetime warranty in some places.

 

[96SCstang]

to answer your question...yes it can be done easily. you just have to drain the oil out of the hydraulic system. when i bought my car the top was lifted up and down by hand because the hydraulic shocks were blown out. it doesn't hurt anything at all. when i fixed the shocks i simply filled the system up and ran the pump to get the air out.