Convertible top motors, How to fix. with pictures! Options

[njccmd2002]

I made my pins out of titanium drill bits, you can cut them with a dremel tool. to get the pins that are stuck use pin pushers. good luck,

[CelicaBuddy]

please sticky this!

x2

x3!

I JUST got my top fixed today after a year of not working...

and yup the pins were exactly what the problem was...

If it wasn't for you posting this I probably would have ended up wasting money on two new motors.

THANK YOU!!!

[MaskedMan]

I'll try to revise this or maybe make a better version with better pictures now that i once again have my Celica and then maybe it will get stickied (sp?) haha. Anyways congrats to all those with working convertible tops again!

[shaunrichard]

Hello. I just recently found this post on a Google search and it has given me reason to hope. I have pulled both motors and found the sheared-off ends of the pins. I now have two questions:

1) How difficult is it to get the pins out - is there any special tool or technique?

and B) I read that some of the posters have used drill bits to replace the pins. What size works best?

I realize that this is an old post; hopefully someone is still paying attention to it and can help steer me in the right direction. Thanks.

[MaskedMan]

Always paying attention to my fellow vert owners . The pins are easy to remove, just take something small like a pick or screw driver and tap the remaining piece out. Use that piece that you knock out to find the correct size drill bit. When I have time, I will post better pictures up.



Wow I realized that my last post said the same thing about me updating it when I have time. I really gotta find time .



This post has been edited by MaskedMan: Mar 13, 2008 - 9:19 PM

[shaunrichard]

Yeah, I find myself saying that a lot. After my post, I realized there was a second page, and right there at the top of the page was the suggestion to use a pin pusher (or punch). I managed to find one at Home Depot, and it just so happens they are sized and the one that got the pins out is a 3/32" so that is the size drill bit I used. I got the motors back together, but I ran out of time (there it is again) last night, so I'll be reinstalling the motors today. Wish me luck.

Oh, and by the way, you should have seen the look on the HD tool guy's face when I told him I wanted to break the bits on purpose. He said he has never heard of anyone trying to break a bit before.

Thanks again for your post.

[shaunrichard]

I just re-installed my motors and they work like a charm. I thought I was just going to have to live with a half-working top, but thanks to your post, as well as follow-up information from the others, I have a fully-working convertible top. Now I am really going to have to hide the keys from my wife...

Thanks for the info.

[MaskedMan]

Glad to hear I could be of help. Thank you for posting the drill bit size as well. Enjoy your full functioning convertible top .

[luisitol]

this info is awesome. Gonna fix my top this weekend after reading this. I was about to purchase two motors as well. Hopefully it works for me too, will update when I fix mine

[D-Man]

I recently did one of theese for a friend. Luckily the quarter glass motors are the exact freakin same (mostly )

I cut allan wrenches to fit into place My drill bits are too precious to me, but i got a sh!t load of extra allens

[MaskedMan]

2 years later and I still haven't updated this thread like I said I would . Oh well, looks like most of you guys have been able to figure it out . Good work.

[njccmd2002]

2 years later and I still haven't updated this thread like I said I would . Oh well, looks like most of you guys have been able to figure it out . Good work.

lets not wait another two years

[luisitol]

I took the motors out and the pins were the problem. Changed them out for some pins I got at autozone. Worked the first two times I put the top up and down but the third time I think I accidently held the the button for a half second too long when opening the top and the pins broke :-(

I am ordering some heavy duty, Stainless Steel 3/32nd roll pins tonight and installing those next week. Hopefully that'll work better

[redhotpepper]

I'm new here and I could kiss your feet. I just bought a '99 convertible about 3 weeks ago and the top quit working on me this week. I also did a google search and came up with this GREAT thread.

It pays to suck up to the craft guys at work because I told them what the problem was and they sent me home with 3 different types of pins to try. I got everything torn apart but could not get what was left of the pin out. I had to wait for my husband to get home from work and he was able to get it out for me. Unfortunately, the 3/32" size was just a tiny bit too small and wouldn't stay in. We ended up cutting an allen wrench and using that. I put everything back together and it works great again!!!

Now, I need to figure out how to fix the door lock. I bought the car knowing there were a few issues with it but nothing huge and the price I paid reflected that. I've always wanted a convertible so I'm having a great time this summer with it. My kids are loving it too. I bought them scarves and sunglasses since it gets pretty windy in the back seat. It does kind of cut down the cool factor though when I have to put their booster seats in!

Annie (yes, a chick and, yes I fixed it myself)

[dgbldr]

Tapping out the pins is not a problem for me, but how do you guys get the retaining washer off the end of the shaft without breaking it?

[kbprice]

Ok so I got everything apart and one side had the snapped pin. No problem, punched it out and put in a new pin. Reassembled everything and the damn motors still don't turn. I'm now thinking the relay has gone bad because I can hear it clicking but the motors aren't turning. I hot wired the motors and they both turn but just not with the relay in place. Anybody have a spare relay?

[njccmd2002]

Ok so I got everything apart and one side had the snapped pin. No problem, punched it out and put in a new pin. Reassembled everything and the damn motors still don't turn. I'm now thinking the relay has gone bad because I can hear it clicking but the motors aren't turning. I hot wired the motors and they both turn but just not with the relay in place. Anybody have a spare relay?

6gcelicas may have one, pm him

[kbprice]

Upon further investigation I think the inertia switch that activates when the car is moving is stuck. Now I just have to figure out where it is. Anybody have any idea before I start tearing the car apart again and tracing wires?

[kbprice]

Last and final update. Ok for all you Celica convertible owners out there that can't figure out why your top won't go up or down even after you pull out and check the motors, check the relay, and inertia switch. OK go into the trunk and pull the little access door off the back of the seat. Inside there is a F**K'N switched marked "MANUAL", flip it up. Now try your top.
At least one good thing came out of this. I fixed the one motor that had a sheared pin in it. Oh, and I found out that there is a freakin switch in the trunk that inactivates the top motors and you can apparently switch it while loading groceries or something into the trunk without realizing it. Thats it. Thanks for watching...

[redhotpepper]

Last and final update. Ok for all you Celica convertible owners out there that can't figure out why your top won't go up or down even after you pull out and check the motors, check the relay, and inertia switch. OK go into the trunk and pull the little access door off the back of the seat. Inside there is a F**K'N switched marked "MANUAL", flip it up. Now try your top.
At least one good thing came out of this. I fixed the one motor that had a sheared pin in it. Oh, and I found out that there is a freakin switch in the trunk that inactivates the top motors and you can apparently switch it while loading groceries or something into the trunk without realizing it. Thats it. Thanks for watching...

Aww man, I hate it when stupid stuff stumps you! Glad you figured it out.

Annie