Convertible Guys, how about this?

[94DanStang]

Ok - so I was walking to my car one day after bowling, and I hit the auto trunk button and the trunk opened. I hit the unlock button and the door unlocks. What I couldn't find was the auto top button. Does anyone know of a kit that will let us automatically pop the top on our verts without being in the car? Maybe it would use something like those auto door poppers the hot rodders use...I don't know, I just thought it would be cool. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks!

 

[Go HoTO!]

Hey, anything is possible. You would need to unlatch the top, though, besides just running the motor. Moving the top up and down with a remote would be simple.

 

[04DarkShadowGT]

i dont have a vert but arent there latches you have to unlock before hitting the button? I think that would be the only obstacle because I know people have alarms and stuff that lower windows/moonroofs/etc.

 

[damacman]

I have exactly what you're looking for. Basically, it's a Twindows universal window roll-up module that was designed to interface with one power window. It raised it when you armed your alarm and could lower it when you activated an auxiliary channel of your alarm. [Took two for a pair of windows.] An accessory for this module was the HCA-1 High Current Adapter that was designed to raise / lower the rear glass of the old K-5 blazers, Toyota 4-runners, etc. as they drew substantially more current than a power window motor. It also worked with convertible tops. I had this module on my 1988 Mustang GT convertible and it worked fine. You'll need someway to trigger it, so you're more than likely have to invest in an aftermarket alarm.

What will you trade me for it?

 

[tacswa3]

That is cool but I think the latches will be a problem. Anything is possible though.

 

[94DanStang]

Yeah - that is the stumbling block, how to unlatch the top. I figured it would be easy to start the car and power the top down. Just those darn latches.

 

[damacman]

btw, I have both the module and the HCA-1 High Current Adapter -- you'd never find one otherwise . . .

 

[damacman]

guess Dan lost interest in this . . .

 

[AJ99MustangGT]

I dont think he lost interest... im interested too, but your module isnt any good if we cant figure out a way to pop the latches located above the sun viosrs on the drivers and passengers side. Those things require a decent amount of force to pull oven, so some sort of mechanical device will need to be developed to force it open.

 

[damacman]

I typically left the top of my '88 unlatched so that I could open / close it from the remote control. I also had Clifford SmartWindows II modules on both the front and rear windows. The whole system was pretty slick -- arm the alarm and the front windows closed, then the rear windows closed, finally the top closed. Since this took about 20 seconds to complete, the system would also bypass all of the sensors to eliminate the top triggering the alarm. Disarm, and within 10 seconds press the aux channel and the front windows lowered, then the rear windows lowered, then the top. If you're worried about making it easier for a thief to get in your car, then just realize that they'll cut the top before they try the door handle. I installed some micro magnetic reed switches on both sides of the top part of the windshield frame that would trigger the alarm if the top was pulled back.

If you were REALLY ambitious, then you could set up some pneumatic solenoids to open / close the latches. In my opinion, this would certainly not be worth the effort. btw . . . I still have a pair of SmartWindows II modules with harnesses too . . .