Convertible Top

97 Mitsubishi Spyder GS: Ok, I just bought my Spyder a couple of days ago and now, last night (while trying to show off, mind you) I went to lower the top and it won't go! Earlier that morning when I tried to CLOSE the top, it seemed that the right side wasn't pushing up at all and I had to hand-guide it back into place. Now, the top won't move and there are no sounds coming from the motors. So a few specific questions. I found how to switch the top from auto to manual, but what does that switch actually control? Does it just interrupt power to the motor? Or does it disengage the motor mechanically? Also, has anyone encountered this problem before and then maybe have an idea of why the top won't move? Thanks a lot.

open your trunk, and go into your driver side taillamp compartment. On the end towards the corner, you should see a black switch that says manual on the bottem of it. Switch it into manual and now you are able to hand guide your top open and closed. If you have any trouble finding it, let me know in your next post and i'll take a few pics and post 'em to show you.

Thanks, I got that =) I got the engine out and it's completely shot on the right side. I called a pick-n-pull and they want $350 for it. The guy down the street will rebuild it for $70...hmmm wonder which one I should go with haha

mine auto top took a crap on me recently and i think that it is quicker and easier to do it by hand. just unlock and toss that shit back. the button will still drop all the windows with 'manual' engaged [love that feature].

mine auto top took a crap on me recently and i think that it is quicker and easier to do it by hand. just unlock and toss that shit back. the button will still drop all the windows with 'manual' engaged [love that feature].

lol, i know exactly what you mean. It's so easy and just plain awesome to start the car, through it in drive, and press the button, and let all 4 windows automatically drop!

if the thread starter would PM me about who is going to rebuild their motors for $70, please do. I really need to get mine rebuilt. Thanks a lot,

Craig

I have the same problem with my spyder 96.
My top does not move at all now. by reading this thread i just found that i could actually do it manually , im going to look into that tomorrow. but what might be the problem. why arent my motors moving? id rather have the electronic way than the manual. is there anyway i could fix it?. i checked the OPEN and CLOSE switch. there is current there. but the wires connected to the motors , there is no current , even when i press up or down
please help if you can. thanks alot.

i didn't even bother to try to get the motors to start working again. it takes me 2 secods to pop the locks and toss it back and putting it back up is about 5 seconds [gotta stand up for a 3 seconds to grab it]. this is far simpler than waiting for it to move on it's own. also when i stop for a second to grab smokes or whatever i can get out and grab it and put it up fairly simple.

now if you still want to open up everything i believe that another guy on here took his motors to a lawnmower shop for repair/rebuild[think electric lawn mowers]

i just went outside and put the switch to manual.. i tried to get the top to go down , it wouldnt go down, i didnt push TOO hard , i didnt wanna bend the metals and all.. but the top wasnt going down. even my gf tried to push it back from the passenger side while i was doing it from the drivers side, it wasnt going down.. need help..?

so it is locked in place?

i got the motors to work somehow ,dont ask me how, cos i dont know haha .. anyways . now the problem is that my LINKS were bent, the stables to the floating rib were not connected and the elastic does not have alot of tension left in it
any suggestions where i can get these things from , i cant afford to goto a dealer