Hi everyone, new to the board, having an issue with my 2005 limited edition roadster. About 20k miles. I've owned the car for about 2 years now.

About a week or so ago I went to take my car out since we finally got some nice weather in IL and I noticed that the switch that puts the top down is blinking red. When I unlatch the top the windows go down just fine, however the top will not go back. I took it to the local dealership and they told me it was due to bad circuits being out of sync. Basically, they explained it to me that 2 of the circuits think the top is up while 1 of them thinks its down. They are going to charge me 1600-3000 dollars to repair the damage.

I don't know a lot about cars, but I am trying to educate myself which is why I came here in hopes someone can either confirm or debunk what the dealership is telling me. I am a little upset because I was talked into buying an extended warranty about 2 years ago from the same dealership only to find out it won't cover this issue. Now, I realize that is my fault for not clearly understand the terms, but I can't help but feel like I may be being taken advantage of here. I've been "creeping" through this board for about 45 minutes and although I've seen quite a few posts regarding top issues none of them mentioned this as a fix so it also has raised a bit of a flag.

When I mentioned to the dealership that I may not have it fixed right away (being still winter and all, and on the verge of purchasing a new house) and instead fix around may/june, they were very upset and told me that if I drive around with a known electrical issue, it would void the rest of the warranty and if anything else would go wrong in that period I would be held responsible.

So, my questions are, is this a common issue with the roadsters that I am just not uncovering? Am I being overcharged? Should I take to a couple other dealerships and get estimates/assessments done since this isn't covered by the extended warranty?

Any and all advice regarding this issue would be greatly appreciated as I am just heartsick over the idea of paying so much but more heartsick over the idea of not being able to use my baby come summertime.

 

WHEN is the light in the switch blinking? If, for instance, I go out in my garage and fold the divider in the trunk down (so as to make the entire trunk open for luggage) and then I unlatch the top from the frame - the windows do down.

Now, I press the button to lower the top - the light blinks at me, indicating I have an error - the error is that I do'nt have the divider deployed.

Sounds to me like the divider in the trunk is not deployed, or the sensor is bad. OR, the trunk lid is not closed all the way (or, again, said sensor is defective).

The fact that the windows go down and the light comes on when you unlatch is an indication that the sensor in the frame is ok.

Basically, they explained it to me that 2 of the circuits think the top is up while 1 of them thinks its down. They are going to charge me 1600-3000 dollars to repair the damage.

Damage from what? Sounds asinine to me.

When I mentioned to the dealership that I may not have it fixed right away (being still winter and all, and on the verge of purchasing a new house) and instead fix around may/june, they were very upset and told me that if I drive around with a known electrical issue, it would void the rest of the warranty and if anything else would go wrong in that period I would be held responsible.

So by not fixing something that is not under warranty the warranty is void? Sounds asinine to me.

So, my questions are, is this a common issue with the roadsters that I am just not uncovering? Am I being overcharged? Should I take to a couple other dealerships and get estimates/assessments done since this isn't covered by the extended warranty?

Yes, it is a common symptom, the "my light comes on, my windows go down - then nothing" is a complaint we hear around here a LOT. It is very often the little sensor on the driver's side in the trunk that determines if the divider is deployed. Yes you are being overcharged. You might try other dealerships, but dealerships don't seem to be very good with these cars.

Again, exactly WHEN does the light blink? I"m headed to bed, I'll try to check the thread in the morning!

 

Go to page 60 in the owners manual, It will describe why the light flashes. Different speed of flash different reason. If you do not have manual go to this link and download it.
Good luck.



https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...ollection.html

 

Oh, and your dealership is full of it... crooked and deceitful.

Tell us who it is so none of us ever go there!


NOW I'm going to bed...

 

LOL

You Go Now!

 

Got to love the "pizza guy". He's our own super hero.

76.....read the manuel my friend....these cars have all KINDS of sensors for just about everything....and that latch sensor is a bugger for sure...divider has be up perfectly...and they do go bad...

 

The light blinks all the time, from the moment I start the car till I turn it off - even if I don't attempt to put the roof down.

Thanks for the tips! I will grab the manual today and look into it.

 

Seventysix ..... check this out on eBay .... its the driver side left hand cargo bracket with sensor switch .... ebay item # 300468166860 Total price will be $12.74 plus $5.15 to ship. Pretty straight forward replacement. check it out ..... good luck
Havin a spare at this price never hurts ...

 

Ok, now that's a new one on me. Perhaps their diagnosis isn't that far off. But I STILL say it's worth a try to use the "emergency" procedure in the manual to try to put the top down manually. See what how it acts then. If it refuses to move, put the top UP manually and THEN see if the problem is cleared.

I still say there is a sensor bad somewhere - maybe even a "Limit" switch on one of the hydraulic cylinders.

 

Do you have a maxicare warranty? I would think the convertible top would be covered under the warranty.

 

It's called the gold extended warranty. Thanks again for the tips everyone, as soon as I get my car back on Monday I'll check some of the sensors and try the manual up/down. I'll post back as soon as I have something...

 

In my discussions with Chrysler on the MaxCare, all mechanicals, interlocks and limit switches are covered. I will be reviewing all this and more, IN WRITING, in the spring. I do not believe the fabric top is covered.

 

DID you get it fixed??? my light was blinking slow at first then started blinking fast its been doing it for a yr now. turn the car off and raise/lower roof like you would normally with the car running. that was my fix since i couldnt find any information about how to fix it, until i read this post. i haven't checked the manual that was posted on here to look into it further but since its getting nice out im going to try to fix it. It's not a big deal since i can still use the roof with the engine off.

 

Sounds like the CPU thinks the car is moving too fast to allow the top to operate.