madmaxroi

Sir, is this what you are talking about? http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic/6360-how-do-you-straighten-a-bent-clamshell/?p=31769&hl=%20clamshell%20&fromsearch=1#entry31769

Actually no. It is not an alignment issue. I attempted to put the top up not knowing I had an issue with only one side being raised. Unfortunately, it went up high enough where the top on one side has a stress dent on the side that went up leaving me to assume that whatever hardware is on the underside caused the dent.

Sorry I meant it could also be a snapped cable. When I get off work I can find this link how they were able to bend it back. Got a picture of the damage? The cables snapped can snap due to bad motor cause only one is pulling out of two. So it pulls unevenly with lots of load on one cable.

I will get a picture of the damage next time I go to storage. So a bad motor might also be a part of this. I assume the motor not only raises the clamshell, but also the top itself.

Too bad there isn't some kind of relay that recognizes the clamshell is not being raised evenly and just stops the process. At least that would prevent the resultant torquing of the clamshell that occurs.

A new clamshell part runs about a grand. This 1998 only has about 25,000 miles on it so we shall see. The wife says she would leave the dent as is. The link would be great.

+1 Broken cable from the transmission back to the motor. Easy to fix. Also check all parts on both sides for broken parts or missing clips and also check lining for tears and future leaks.

Sometimes the transmission cable will fail because it's trying to turn broken or stuck or frozen levers.

Thanks. I like the easy to fix part. Any good source on the steps to do? Any issues with timing the transmission after cable replacement? I should just replace both cables while I am at it.

The transmission motor for the convertible top I believe. It a snapped cable.

I had the same thing happen to me. Not to scare you, but I took it to a dealership and ouch, 3k. 700 for the motor, 1k for the body work since the motor bent the internal frame it was on, then the rest was for labor. My clamshell was bent as well.

Didn't have much a choice :/ I hope you faired better than I did.

Good luck and keep us updated sir.

Thanks. We're they able to fix the bent clamshell/stowable compartment? If it was a snapped cable, why was the dealer wanting to replace the motor?

Any idea what part failure would cause only one side the the stowable top cover to raise and not the other.

Unfortunately, the stowable top now has a dimple dent from the bracket underneath. Bummer.