Hey guys. I am having a werid issue with my vert. I went to put the top down today and it didn't budge. But when I push the handle foreward the motors kick in and push foreward (to close) but when I pull it backwards to open, nothing happens. Now at first I thought it was the switch but I hear the relay working when I try and open the top. But the motors don't do anything. I don't think both motors are bad since a week ago it was working fine going up and down. But I don't know if its the relay since I hear it clicking. Any advise would be great since I am not sure where all the stuff is for the top. Any help would be great. Thanks guys!


Edit: forgot to get the responses emailed to me lol


Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Monday, June 13, 2011 2:29 PM

Probably a bad relay. I had that before, it wouldn't close. Changed out the relay and it was minty all over again.

Mr. Lenko, thank u sir. I figured that but it threw me off when I hear it clicking. But ill try that. Any ideas tho, where I can get the relay from??? I looked in my napa computer and it doesn't have a listing for it. Thanks again!

Update:

Lenko, you are the man, and thank you for confirming what I was thinking. I swapped the relay out, and boom, fixed. Also for anyone who needs it, I had to do some looking really hard for our relay, since my Napa computer didnt list one for the 00 verts. So, I looked up a 97, and found it. Also come to find out that its the EXACT same relay as the power lock relay. So anyone looking for the Convertible Top Relay, just ask for the Power Lock Relay and thats the one. Goodluck to everyone else, hopefully it helps.

Thanks for coming back and posting an update. Neither of my 1996 Cavalier convertibles have had this problem yet, but I'm sure they will sometime, so I've bookmarked this in my Cavalier repair file. Would you pleaselet us know where the relay is located?

Razz, the relay is located on the passenger side of the trunk, between the body and the arm for the trunk. You will have to pull away the carpet away and you will see it connected to the arm itself, with a plastic clip. Good luck.

good to know mine is starting to act up. this is not aided by the pass side scaffolding starting to get weak. good news is it shouldn't be a problem much longer since I got my 3m glue to fix the top finally.

Thanks Sneezy!

Mike Demo: I'm not sure what you mean by the scaffolding starting to get weak. Just in case this help... There are two motors that power the roof-- one on each side. If one of them starts to fail, the roof will move unevenly, which could probably be mistaken for a scaffolding failure on one side. Not sure if that's your situation, but I just thought I'd toss it out there for you.

How to diagnose & replace convertible top motor 1995-2000 Cavalier-Sunfire.

Also, just in case you haven't read my how to on gluing the rear convertible window...

How to repair, reattach convertible rear window.

Good luck!

Razz, no problem bud. Glad I could help. And I think Mike means the actual metal assembly that holds the top and allows it to fold and close. I tbink what he means when he says is getting weak is that its binding up, creaking and such. I would check the screws that actually hold the scaffolding together for wear, as any play in those joints will cause it to have a hard time going up and down. Worse case senario, you can always go the junk yard and pull a complete top with a good rear window and scaffolding and just install it to your car. Its actually very easy, as I have done it myself. As oppose to pulling the top material off and then reinstalling it which is hard as hell. Dooable but hard.

Mike let me know how the 3m glue works out. The outter lower flap of my rear window is starting to come up and I know its just time before the inner one comes up too. I need to get that fixed asap so it doesn't pull the inner off as well.

if the top goes down unevenly but the motor still runs all you need to do is replace the roll pin in the gear. make sure you get hardened one however. Ive had to do this a few times.

So what if the motors on the convertible top are not working at all out of the blue. I have had such a hard time with this top!

If the motors stopped out of the blue, check the simple things, fuses, relays , and such. If u can move it one way but not the other then good chance ur realy is bad. Try replacing the relay and such. Can't hurt. Then after u do that, if they still don't work check to see ur getting power at the motors. Granted it is rare for both the motors to go out at the same time. Don't give up the tops, a lot of people are scared of them but they really aren't that bad. Even if u have to replace the motor there not too bad to replace. Hardest part is just getting to them, after that its simple. Goodluck!

I replaced the whole top assembly with another one. Still no power. where is the fuse or the relay? I am stumped

Do you know where i can get the clips for my windows? the clips that attach to the window, so it rides in the front track right? I cannot find these buggers anywhere

The fuse is either under the hood or on the right side of ur dash board. The relay is in the trunk on the right side of the car to the right of the trunk arm. U will need to pull away the carpet in the trunk on the right side and look in there and see it mounted to the trunk arm mount itself. If u go to the parts store ask them for a power window relay as its the same relay. I know for my car they didn't have it listed so I did some digging and found it was the exact same relay as the power door lock relay. But first you need to see if ur getting power to the relay itself. If u can hdar it click, it should be working but don't let that fool u since mine was doing that too and the relay was bad itself. So even its clicking don't mean its good. It just means your getting power to the relay, swap out the relay and see what happens. Check the fuse and swap the relay out. If nothing then pull the panels off and check for power at the motors. If u got power there, then motors are bad.

As far as the plastic retainers, you may find them from napa, if not gm would be the best bet. I know napa sells some goofy stuff sometimes.

Alright sneezy, I have checked the relays. swapped out the power window relay with the top relay, and relay is good. Checked the fuse, which is the same as the power window 30 amp, and all is well there also. I have two tops, and it seems funny that neither work. I have the tops plugged in, and I am thinking that the lever is the culprit. I need a new bow seal, so I guess I will find a top lever-hint, hint, and where is a good place to get all my top seals? Looking to replace all seals. Funny thing is, I sold a top lever on here to a guy in Hawaii, and now need one! No good deed goes unpunished right? So is there any other thing that could be wrong? like miss-alignment of the top, or a bad emergency switch? I hooked up a meter to the top motor plug, and tried the lever, and nothing, then had switched the emergency switch and saw movement on my multimeter. STUMPED. Any advice would be great! I appreciate your time!

Is there voltage going to the motors?