My 07 cabriolet's top has decided to quit working. I hit the switch and the windows roll down as they are supposed to but stops there. It should unclip itself from the top of the windshield next but doesn't. I recently replaced the hydraulic motor when it crapped out but at that time it would release from the top of the windshield but the hydraulic motor would not kick in. Today I tricked it by manually unclipping from the windshield and the hydraulics kicked in and folded the top most of the way but would not finish the operation. I manually put it through the entire operation in hopes that it would reset itself but no luck. IDK. Any ideas? What really stinks is that I just shelled out a pile of cash for a new top that should be here in a few days.

 

Would a Vag-com diagnostic tool show me errors that are going on here? Are these available at auto parts places? I assume these are different than the OBD2 scanners. I haven't seen these before but see them mentioned on the forums. I hate to have to go to the dealer for this cause I'm all about DIY.

 

This is tricky system to diagnose... So i have developed a rule thumb. If the top pops the lock and stops..... replace the pump. If nothing happens or the top gets stuck halfway in operation replace the position switch

 

I looked through the parts diagrams and found 3 switches for the top. One is a potentiometer and if the diagram is correct, is mounted on the right side of the car by where the C pillar would be. It's 100.44 and in stock. We sell on average 5 a year. Another was a microswitch around that same area, 81.10 but no sales history on it. Lastly a microswitch by the top latch for 107.28 and also in stock with sales at about 3-8 a year for the last 5 years. The poteniometer is probably what Audi tek is talking about.

 

Yep, right side by c pillar area.

 

Thanks for the info. Could I get the part numbers for these items?

 

Here they are, potentiometer is 8H0-959-613-A, the microswitch next to that is 8H0-959-722-A and the microswitch that is by the top latch is 8H0959985.

 

Thanks Jeff. I placed an order for the potentiometer. Figured I would start there and see if that fixes it.

 

Well that wasn't it. It still will not unlock from the windshield.

Jeff, I was thinking about the microswitch that is by the top latch is 8H0959985 that you recommended but I do not see that listed for my 07 on the AudiUSAparts website. Can you confirm that this is for my car?

Also, could it be the controller module part #8H0959255B?

I swapped the potentiometer and manually put it through the process to see if it would reset but no luck. Jeff, thanks for the good pricing on the potentiometer. I called my local Audi dealer here in Orlando and they tried to hose me on the part. They wanted $206 for the part which was double what I ended up paying at AudiUSAparts. Just wish it had fixed the problem. I hope I don't end up having to take it to them to fix it.

 

I did confirm that in our parts program. I didn't find a picture on our audiusaparts.com website so here is one from our more detailed Etka diagram. It's #11 in the diagram below and looks more like a washer but in the text does describe it as a microswitch. On the cpu 8H0-959-255-B that retails for 410.00, and is 305.04 your price. Sales in the last 3 years average 1-2 per year. Sorry for the delay getting back to the forum. I hope this helps you out.