cu++er

I said more than I should have and that is why it is not clear.  I wanted people to know that you cannot use the cables for the 2000-2003 on a 1997-1999 as they are different as to how they attach to the transmissions.

For a 1997-1999 you  have 2 choices.  Replace the original smooth cables with the reinforced cables that just came out for 1997-1999 using the 2 part numbers I listed, but you have to remove the transmissions to do this.  You cannot even buy the smooth cables anymore even if you wanted them for some reason.

Second, if you do not want to spend any money or do not want to take out the transmissions, then shorten the plastic housing of your original smooth cables a bit so that 3/4" of the square inner drive sticks out past the metal ferrule that goes into the top motor.  Remove the brass clip that holds the cable to the motor, pull the cable out, and see if the square end is sticking out 3/4".  Repeat on the other side.  Do not operate the top while you are doing this.  If not enough is not sticking out then remove the silver metal ferrule, cut a bit off the end of the plastic housing so that when you put the ferrule back on 3/4" sticks out.  Put the cable and clip back into the motor.  You can see why a dealer does not want to do this.  They want to replace everything with new parts.

Have searched the web, looking for 1997 993 Cabriolet cables. Want to get the reinforced ones you mentioned. Had my car only 2 months before the cable(s) snapped & stranded me! Cable or cable(s) still broken, & top only capable of manual operation. Didn't want to pull the back apart until I had the replacement part(s). I cannot see either cable. Does that mean both mine are broken?

Can you recommend where I can find the reinforced cables?

Thanks for going to all the trouble of referencing all this. Maybe I can return the favor someday.