A couple problems....Cant raise top manually

[ChescoS6]

Hello, I'm new to the cabriolet but have owned a bunch of Audi's and do most work myself. I recently purchased an 07' A4 Cabriolet. Everything has been great and the top was functioning perfectly. Tonight my wife came home and said the top wouldn't go up. Sure enough I checked it and when I press the button the cover panel raises about an inch and then stops. I used the key and manually released the cover panel. Here are the two problems I have:

Once I raised the cover the owner manual says to lift the top out and that two people may be required. Well, exactly how heavy is it? Because my wife and I cannot get it to lift out and I don't want to force it. IS there anything that is actually holding it in there that needs to be released? I've watched videos and it seems like it should easily lift out. But looking at it there is a lot of material and framing that make it seem like it could be that heavy. Since I couldn't get it to lift up I figured I would just take it to the dealer which led to my second problem.......

when I raised the panel cover fully on the hydraulic arms it seemed to "click" when fully extended and then hold there. Now I can't get it to close. IS there some kind of release on those hydraulic arms? or is some force required to close the lid?

Thanks for any assistance, I was really frustrated with it and then had to come into work for a midnight shift. It's killing me that I can't figure it out.

[dasHotrod]

Did you fix this? I haven't had problems as you described, but mine, once in a while, will stall just when it releases from the top of the windshield. I give it a push with my hand while holding the button and then it continues to retract. If you hold the button and try to lift it, wonder if that would work? Also, you can open/close the top with your key in the door. I think it's two turns to the left to close and hold it to the left with the 2nd turn - at least for my '05 anyway.


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[tlcaudi]

I would imagine by now you have this fixed, but just in case anyone happens to wander in here with the same issue, I may be able to provide a solution, as my power completely went for an entire summer and I lifted up the manual top many times. I'll spare the infuriating two stage key, but once you get the rear cover panel to pop open, you can move this by yourself. I am a 175 pound male with average strength. Easiest way I found was to open the cover as high as it goes, and you will then see the top. Stand in the back seat so you can grab both sides of the top and just manually lift it up, its heavy but not dreadful. Once you get it up, it will rest in the position you usually see it in right before it goes under the lid. You will have to grab the back portion, and lift up like an accordion and then the top that latches to the windshield will be free to guide towards said windshield. Once there, latch that down. Close the rear deck lid, then lower the rear of the top. Latch from inside and you should be good to go. This should also manually reset the switch.....good luck.

[eMacPaul]

I've been having to manually raise/lower occasionally also, and it seems like the hydraulic system can still be pressurized for a while if you were operating it under power. But if you wait, it will get much easier.

[ChescoS6]

Wow, I apologize I totally forgot to come back to this thread. I was able to get the top up, just wasn't pulling hard enough for fear of breaking or bending something. It ended up being a bad motor. I sent it away to a top notch repair shop in the UK called Autoelectron and had it rebuilt. I was completely satisfied by the outcome. E-mail communication was excellent and the turnaround time and shipping were extremely fast. I sent it on August 30th and had it back September 12th! The convertible top works like a champ now and if I remember right it's a lifetime warranty. I paid 85.95 GBP which I think was around $110 USD back in September. The guy's name I dealt with was Merv.

[B6_Dolphin]

If you have trouble raising/lowering the top, the G356 potentiometer can also be faulty. It caused the top of my RS4 Cab to not raise.

Incidentally, if you have VAG-COM, you can scan the Power Top Module for fault codes, which may help isolate the fault.

[sparcbox]

When I had a bad pump motor I had to go through the manual steps a few times. I found that I had to remove the fuse for the system and do the manual unlock and then it was easily a one person job. Surprisingly easy to move when not under pressure.