Roof opening problem
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AudiWorld Newcomer
Joined: May 2013
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Roof opening problem
The top on my 94 cabriolet retracts half way and stops. The boot doesn't open and it appears to be locked for some reason.The windows go down when I release and turn the latch.Is there anything I can do so I can determine what seems to be the problem? 
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 541
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From: Charlotte, NC
Welcome to the forum. Your issues are typical. What you can do. First, you can search the forum for the many, many responses to problems involving the top and educate yourself as much as possible as to how the top functions. There is no silver bullet for this, but generally it is a wiring problem. Second, after you have made some progress in the knowledge department, let us know again what you are experiencing. However, here goes. Car is stopped, ignition is on, (car running is best), parking brake on, turn t-handle. Top unlocks and windows come down approx 15 cm. Front window bow raises, the rear bow starts to raise and the trunk (boot for you Euro guys) locks. The conv top compartment cover locks are hydraulically unlocked and the compartment cover raises. That's where you are at in the sequence. Here's the deal. The system requires all steps to be met or it shuts down. Your trunk locked - Good, but maybe the wire telling the convertible top control module (CTCM) that the trunk IS locked is broken - so the CTCM thinks the trunk is NOT locked and shuts the system down. Split the trunk wiring bundles open near the hinge flex points and look for broken/cracked wiring and fix it. QED
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 541
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From: Charlotte, NC
Look at the trunk hinges. Wire bundles run through that area. When the trunk opens and closes, the bundle flexes and that is where the breaks usually occur. A bundle (loom) is black and is basically a group of wires wrapped in the black covering. I'm not sure what you mean by "regular colored wires." Once you split open the bundle, they will not all be the same color, if that is what you are asking. They are all different, as in, "green with a yellow stripe", or "light blue with a red stripe." With the appropriate wiring diagram for your year, you can discern which wire goes where and how it is colored. Really, search the forum and use the advanced feature. This problem is not something where you just replace a light bulb and it's fixed. You are going to have to do some research. I'm going on vacation and will not check this site for a week. Somebody else step in here.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Apr 2004
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The rubber insulation around the wires cracks and pulls apart where the wires bend and unbend at the hinge. I've experienced this on 2 different cars and I've owned 2. So, that is a 100% failure rate for me. One of the cars the insulation cracked and shorted across the wires and the other the wires themselves broke trough. Very noticeable problem once the harness was cut open.
One car I just had to tape the wires up and the other I have to cut the wires out and solder in new ones. Both repair weren't very hard. Get a circuit tester to check the continuity of the wires that don't have visible problems, they could be broke inside.
One car I just had to tape the wires up and the other I have to cut the wires out and solder in new ones. Both repair weren't very hard. Get a circuit tester to check the continuity of the wires that don't have visible problems, they could be broke inside.
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