I have a 2008 sebring hard top convertible. the top is up. but when I try to drop it. the display says top malfunction... what should I look at first? thanks for any advise

 

Make sure the top is not just stuck to the windshield header. Make sure it is properly unlatched. Look for evidence of a hydraulic leak at/under the lift cylinders. Do you hear the pump operating? It's quite a complicated mechanism. If there is nothing simple or obvious, look for a convertible shop manual and learn as much as you can about the operation.

 

I can here the pump when you close it and it will action then say complete. but when I go to open it there is no pump sound and it says convertible top malfunction.

 

So there's an electrical, not a mechanical or hydraulic malfunction. It could be any number of things, from a wiring problem to a computer malfunction. Unless you're really good at troubleshooting electrical/computer systems, you might want to consider getting a pro to look at it.

 

First thing to check is the package tray in the trunk. The tabs must be fully seated to set the switches that allow the top to activate

 

I have a similar problem with my 2007 Sebring hardtop convertible. The hardtop will release and fold into the trunk (rather roughly), but the trunk lid will not lower to its original closed position. The trunk lid is now stuck in the upright condition and will not close (i.e. after hard top is back up in its original "hard top" position)
Anyone have any suggestions?

 

One area to look at is the wiring harness at the base of the right decklid hinge. There is a hard bend in the harness that has been known to break wires. My suspicion is one of the wires to the tonneau cover limit switches

If there is a top malfunction there will be a dtc (diagnostic trouble code) set in the ptcm (power top control module). It would be most helpful if the code could be pulled.

 

1. Right, facing the front or rear of the vehicle? Any idea of wire color or to what the wire goes, like the Hoerbiger HB80009-002 hydraulic pump located inside the trunk, near the spare tire? 2. Is the device that you plug in to get the DTC code commercially available to me (the customer)?

Here are the sequence of events that created my dilemma. Top had not been lowered and raised for about 1 year. It was getting "crancky' as to whether it would go up or come back down so I stopped cylcling the top. Yesterday I tested it to see if it would work and it opened, but when I tried to get it to close, the top returned to the closed position, but the trunk lid will not come down to the closed position. I can hear the pump whine but the actuators attached to each side of the trunk lid do not move. I located the Hoerbigger pump, noted it was low on fluid and added additional power steering fluid until it ran out of the top of the reservoir. Recyled operation but the trunk lid will still not return to closed. Why did I do this? And now? One of my HS girl golfers is a candidate for Homecoming Queen and wants me to drive her and her escort in my convertible at the Homecoming Parade. What a Coach won't do for his State Champion!!!

 

Right as in Passenger Side. Follow harness from rear of trunk forward to where it flexes as it attaches to the fixed body panel. Remove harness from plastic raceway and good chance you will find at least one wire that screeches like taffee because the wire in broken inside the insulation

 

The decklid wiring harness is attached to the right (passenger side) hinge. There are a number of wires in the harness but from some pictures I have seen, the broken wire(s) are apparent.

For about $50 you can get the appcar-diagfca software app and for $50 get an OBD link that plugs into the OBD port by the driver's left knee. The appcar app will pull codes from the ptcm and will allow you to see the status of the various top sensors.switches, The appcar app will also allow you to operate the top step by step.

I have attached a link to a Gen 3 Top Repair guide put together by a number of contributors on the 'sebringclub.net' forum - dedicated to the care and feeding of sebring/200 convertibles. The guide has a detailed step-by-step for operating the top using the appcar app, list of dtc's (trouble codes) and a chart showing the state of each of the micro-switches at each step of the top operation. Note that using the guide will allow you to manually operate (open/close) the top and allow you to complete the top operation.

The top repair is post #10 in this link

https://sebringclub.net/2010-sebring...on-t36318.html