Expert: Brad Sears - 11/20/2007

Question
QUESTION: I guess I wasn't responding correctly since I didn't hear from you. My son and I were able to get the dash lights to work by grounding a light socket to bare metal. They did not work when the socket was reinserted into the hole. We now have a problem with the top. The top worked perfectly before. The motor in the windshield header is not operating and therefore not releasing the top from the header. Can you suggest anything to check under the dash?
Thanks,
Vic Persico

ANSWER: Please send me a little more information:
Has the car been restored?
Does the trunk lift when you try to activate the top?
Is there anything else not working on the car?
This is the first that I have heard from you, you were not being ignored. I will be waiting for your reply.
Brad


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We spoke last month about the dash lights and I'm just getting around to working on them.We determined that the switch might not be the correct one, however grounding the light socket did light the dash. As for the top. The trunk does lift and the screws in the c pillars unscrew. They are not operating in the header. Everything else works.

Answer
Either the motor has failed, a problem with one of the relays mounted in the back, a bad ground (and as the dash lights appear to have lost their ground this is the most logical), a switch problem, or wiring. I will need to do a little research on this one and get back to you.
Brad