Convertible Top Microswitch

[elav01]

Hello! I was hoping this was going to be a quick and painless update - but I ended up breaking more than I fixed.  I have a '98 Boxster and the original top has a plastic rear window that is fogged and cracked.  My "quick fix" was to buy a used top/frame assembly with a decent plastic rear window and swap them.  My top has the 3 fasteners per side plus a Philips screw per side.  I was able to remove the rear defroster plug so I could slide back the frame to remove it.  I wasn't aware that there is also a microswitch attached to the frame on the driver's side (left-hand drive car) and when I went to remove the frame, the microswitch wiring moved and I didn't see how it was routed previously.  Other than that, removal was pretty easy.

 

When I went to install the new-to-me top/frame, the frame accidentally pivoted while I was sliding it and I broke the mounting point for the rear defroster plug.  I routed the microswitch wiring where I thought it went and once the top was installed I was testing the top.  It closed beautifully, but when I went to fold it down, the frame caught the wiring for the microswitch and I'm assuming it broke the wires (need to confirm this).  I wasn't thinking and continued to put the top down.  Without the microswitch working, the top kept on going beyond where it should ever go - and the motor stopped working.  In order to get back in there to put the top up (as it was about to rain) I had to do the "emergency" procedure to put the top in manual mode to be able to close it.  I bent both arms on the convertible top transmissions and I'm pretty sure I broke the gears in the transmissions.  I need to dig into this to figure out what I need to repair this but I have the following questions...

 

1. Should I bent back the transmission arms or is it better to purchase used arms?
2. When I try to activate the convertible top motor, I can hear a click but no motor running.  Do people feel this is because I broke and jammed the gears in the transmissions?
3. Does anyone know how the convertible top microswitch wiring is run?  I broke the plastic clip that holds this wire in place, but can't find a part number.  Anyone know what this part number is?
4. It looks like the mount for the rear defrost plug is part of the rear corner panel that is carpeted - is this correct and I need to buy a new one of these?

 

Thanks for any help and also if anyone has any spare parts (rear corner panel in gray carpet, convertible top frame microswitch, transmission arms) let me know.

[Loren]

The exact model and year of your car is always helpful;.

[elav01]

It is a '98 986 Base model - I put this in the 2nd sentence but should have started off with this info.  Thanks!