trouble with conv top

[arthurfleming]

I have a 66 tbird & I'm having a problem that I could use some help with. It started with no power to open the deck. I lost power as the flip lid was half woy up. I had to remove the flip lid so I could get the car out of the weather. I had to replace the connector to the relay & put the lid back on & jumped the relays to close the deack & top. Now the deck opens & flip lid goes up & the top starts to retract but the deck with the flip lid up starts to retract at the same time. At this point I must jump the relays to close eveything again. I have been told I may have a bad deck solenid, all steps work when I jump the relays. Any help would be great Thanks

[Ken in MN]

Arthur,
Troubleshooting those convertible tops can be daunting, to say the least. It's not a Rube Goldberg setup but it's close.


I temporarily solved my problem by wiring a set of four double-pole-double-throw switches to the relays. I also wired a master power switch that energizes the switches so that I don't accidentally throw a switch when I put something or someone in the back seat. I have to be careful to throw the switches in the correct order. It's not elegant and it's only semi-automatic, but it works every time.