The lowdown on vert top motors

Black Stampede

Founding Member

Sep 3, 2002

1,811

2

39

Grand Rapids, MI

Jun 18, 2006

#1

• Jun 18, 2006

• #1

Hey guys, last night when I took my car out it was a real nice night so I decided to drop the top. I pull the e-brake press the button and nothing. Makes no sounds at all. The car has 88K on it and the top has always worked great. What kind of mileage approximately is normal for top motors to go out? Or is it likely that theres a short somewhere or something else possibly? I'm pissed cause if I remember correctly those motors cost a lot.

Thanks for any help/advise.

 

95strokerPSU

Member

Jul 29, 2004

986

1

19

Sacramento from Philly

Jun 18, 2006

#2

• Jun 18, 2006

• #2

I believe mine is the original motor which would put it at 130,000+. Is the ebrake light illuminated on the dash when you pull the ebrake?

 

Georgia50

New Member

Jan 16, 2006

22

0

0

utha but from geogia

Jun 18, 2006

#3

• Jun 18, 2006

• #3

Sounds to me like it’s a short or something when my motor went out it still made a noise.

But just incase you do need a new motor
Hers the site; http://www.mpsautosalvage.com/products/index.cfm
TOP MOTOR 1994-1998 U '94-'98, USED, CONVERTIBLE.
$100.00
Yea it’s used but the pries is right. Mine went out at 103k
Look under convertible top motors and lifts .

 

Black Stampede

Founding Member

Sep 3, 2002

1,811

2

39

Grand Rapids, MI

Jun 18, 2006

#4

• Jun 18, 2006

• #4

95strokerPSU said:

I believe mine is the original motor which would put it at 130,000+. Is the ebrake light illuminated on the dash when you pull the ebrake?

Click to expand...

Yep, I checked for that when I first tried it and it didnt work. I was hoping that was it but sure enough it was lit up.

I just wouldnt think it would go out this soon. How should I go about searching for the problem to see if its not the motor going bad?

Thanks guys.

 

tmoss

Gettin Wired

Founding Member

Jun 28, 2001

7,153

32

128

Saint Louis, MO

Jun 19, 2006

#5

• Jun 19, 2006

• #5

The top motor is run from relays - you might need to replace them or a bad switch - there are wiring diagrams at

www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine

Check for where your loosing the power........

 

L

Leezure

New Member

May 10, 2005

104

0

0

Jun 20, 2006

#6

• Jun 20, 2006

• #6

You're going to have to test every part of the electrical system piece by piece. I found everything to be in order but the motor would not turn when power was applied. This was frustrating because it did not fail every time. I just about ordered a new motor (big $$$) when I decided to open it up. The brushes fell out into my hand. $10.00 worth of brushes and I haven't had another problem.

I wish I had started with the motor but with electrical problems you have to start somewhere and work your way all the way through.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

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129

Jun 20, 2006

#7

• Jun 20, 2006

• #7

Tom and Leezure are right on. Assume nada and spend a few minutes testing.

Good luck.

 

smitty_64

New Member

May 27, 2006

75

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0

Jun 20, 2006

#8

• Jun 20, 2006

• #8

I know this sounds silly, but, being an electronics guy, I say fuses/circuit breakers first, switches second, wiring third (if nothing has been messed with), and finally the motor. No need in spending lots of money for a motor that still won't turn. It sounds like your ebrake switch is working, but is that signal making it to your motor. Real easy to figure out with a multimeter.

 

E

extremetrek

New Member

Mar 30, 2005

106

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Prescott, AZ (66.6%) Central Point, OR (33.4%)

Jun 20, 2006

#9

• Jun 20, 2006

• #9

I too doubt this is the result of a bad motor. This happened to me as well. Apparantly the top switch in the center console is two pieces, on my car those two pieces simply seperated...I am not electronically inclined so I opted to simply buy a replacement, but I would definitely say check the switch first. If it is the switch I have seen them from $25-$40 and they are super easy to change. Good luck!

 

mo_dingo

20+ Year Stangneter

Aug 26, 2003

3,031

2

58

Tucson, AZ

Jun 20, 2006

#10

• Jun 20, 2006

• #10

yeah, unless the system has a atf leak, and ran low/dry for an extended period of time, then the motor is the last place to look.
Scott

 

Black Stampede

Founding Member

Sep 3, 2002

1,811

2

39

Grand Rapids, MI

Jun 21, 2006

#11

• Jun 21, 2006

• #11

Thanks alot guys. Yeah, I too am not very electronically inclined so most of what you suggested doesnt make much sense. What brushes fell out and from where?

 

L

Leezure

New Member

May 10, 2005

104

0

0

Jun 21, 2006

#12

• Jun 21, 2006

• #12

The brushes are in the electric motor. They are designed, as most electric motor brushes, to wear down over time. Electric motors are pretty basic and have very few moving parts. Changing the brushes is an easy fix.

This is most likely not your problem as there are more vulnerable parts likely to fail (the switch is located underneath your cup holder begging for condensation or a spill) but before committing to purchasing a new motor I would certainly take a look inside.

 

Black Stampede

Founding Member

Sep 3, 2002

1,811

2

39

Grand Rapids, MI

Jun 21, 2006

#13

• Jun 21, 2006

• #13

Leezure said:

The brushes are in the electric motor. They are designed, as most electric motor brushes, to wear down over time. Electric motors are pretty basic and have very few moving parts. Changing the brushes is an easy fix.

This is most likely not your problem as there are more vulnerable parts likely to fail (the switch is located underneath your cup holder begging for condensation or a spill) but before committing to purchasing a new motor I would certainly take a look inside.

Click to expand...

How can I tell if the switch is bad?

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

33

129

Jun 21, 2006

#14

• Jun 21, 2006

• #14

Black Stampede said:

How can I tell if the switch is bad?

Click to expand...

Dynamically: check that you have power to the switch. Then close the switch and check output (for the appropriate switch-position). Check that both the up and down position of the switch has output.

Good luck.

 

Black Stampede

Founding Member

Sep 3, 2002

1,811

2

39

Grand Rapids, MI

Jun 23, 2006

#15

• Jun 23, 2006

• #15

It was in fact the switch. Thanks for the help guys.