1964 Convertible Top Problem

[Classiccannuk]

Just took my car out of winter slumber, tried to get the top down over the wknd....trunk lid opens, flap extends and that's it, I closed and opened the trunk lid several times but I don't hear the top unlocking from the windshield header. read through numerous postings and the service manual, trouble shooting electrical issues not one of my strong areas, where do I look to solve this issue?

[JAB]

Your most likely culprit is the upper back panel limit switch adjustment. The outer ring (drivers side half of switch) controls the top unlock action. The upper back panel limit switch could have gone bad, or you could have a problem with the top unlock limit switch or top unlock relay. Less likely issues would be a bad top lock motor or an issue in the top wire harness.

Give me a call and we can go over it on the phone.

John Brewer
Brewer Classic Lincoln
Lincoln Convertible Top Specialist
303 562-8368

[Classiccannuk]

thank you John! I'll try reaching out to you over the wknd.

[Classiccannuk]

Your most likely culprit is the upper back panel limit switch adjustment. The outer ring (drivers side half of switch) controls the top unlock action. The upper back panel limit switch could have gone bad, or you could have a problem with the top unlock limit switch or top unlock relay. Less likely issues would be a bad top lock motor or an issue in the top wire harness.

Give me a call and we can go over it on the phone.

John Brewer
Brewer Classic Lincoln
Lincoln Convertible Top Specialist
303 562-8368

Thanks for taking the time to talk to me yesterday, I played around with the upper back panel limit switch adjustment as per our conversation, I hear/feel clicking from the upper back panel erect relay as the outer ring on the upper back panel limit switch is turned in and out of adjustment while holding the top control switch, still no top down on to the top unlock limit switch (where do I find that?)

[Classiccannuk]

Purchased a new relay today, hope that will fix it.

[John Cashman]

Don’t forget to pull every relay plug off the relay, trim the rubber away from each and every connector by at least a quarter of an inch, bite them together with a pair of pliers and make sure they’re getting a good,solid connection. Many top failure has been these relay plugs making a poor or nonexistent connection.

[Classiccannuk]

Thank you John! good tip, I'll be back under the trunk lid over the wknd.

[Classiccannuk]

Purchased a new relay today, hope that will fix it.

Well...that didn't fix the problem

[Classiccannuk]

Worked on the car again tonight, after much diagnostics and testing, I think I've narrowed it down to the top unlock limit switch, I was able to pull wiring harness out and use a test light to determine things are working to that point. I'm now trying to figure out how access the switch to try to adjust/replace/fix, any insight on this would be much appreciated.

[JAB]

It is unclear if your top lock is unlocking or not. Accordingly, you could have a problem in the top unlock circuit, or (if it is unlocking) in the top down circuit.
The switches implicated in these two sequences are the top unlock limit switch and upper back panel limit switch (for top unlock sequence) and top down limit switch/top unlock limit switch for top down sequence.

If you sit in the drivers seat and push up on the number 1 bow of the top frame (directly adjacent to the windshield when the top is up), you will either be able to push the top frame up and away from the windshield (unlocked) or you won't.
If not, you will need to jumper the top unlock relay plug to manually unlock the top. Once that is done, you should be able to push the top control switch in the top down direction and raise the top away from the windshield.
Once this is done, you will need to unscrew the 8 or so Phillips screws holding the header cover in place over the top lock mechanism. Half the screws are visible along the front face of the #1 bow and the other half are between the top cloth and the #1 bow. You will need a shorty Phillips screwdriver for this.
Once you have this off, you can access the top unlock limit switch. Test that it has proper 0 /1 continuity as you press the button in and out.
The plug is located inside a hole in the corner of the top frame. Feed the plug out and unplug it. Test it. If it is bad, you can send it to me for rebuild.
Keep in mind that the upper back panel limit switch or top down switch could also be the problem.

Call if you have questions.
John Brewer
303 562-8368

[Classiccannuk]

It is unclear if your top lock is unlocking or not. Accordingly, you could have a problem in the top unlock circuit, or (if it is unlocking) in the top down circuit.
The switches implicated in these two sequences are the top unlock limit switch and upper back panel limit switch (for top unlock sequence) and top down limit switch/top unlock limit switch for top down sequence.

If you sit in the drivers seat and push up on the number 1 bow of the top frame (directly adjacent to the windshield when the top is up), you will either be able to push the top frame up and away from the windshield (unlocked) or you won't.
If not, you will need to jumper the top unlock relay plug to manually unlock the top. Once that is done, you should be able to push the top control switch in the top down direction and raise the top away from the windshield.
Once this is done, you will need to unscrew the 8 or so Phillips screws holding the header cover in place over the top lock mechanism. Half the screws are visible along the front face of the #1 bow and the other half are between the top cloth and the #1 bow. You will need a shorty Phillips screwdriver for this.
Once you have this off, you can access the top unlock limit switch. Test that it has proper 0 /1 continuity as you press the button in and out.
The plug is located inside a hole in the corner of the top frame. Feed the plug out and unplug it. Test it. If it is bad, you can send it to me for rebuild.
Keep in mind that the upper back panel limit switch or top down switch could also be the problem.

Call if you have questions.
John Brewer
303 562-8368

The top is definitely locked down to the window frame, going to attempt to jumper the top unlock relay, what color plug/wires should I be looking for?

[JAB]

The relay you need to jumper is the one in the UPPER row of relays, at the end of the row closest to the FRONT of the car.
Jumper from the female insert on the plug in the CENTER of the relay to the female insert on the wide end of the relay (on the side of that relay which is closest to the REAR of the car).

John

[Classiccannuk]

The relay you need to jumper is the one in the UPPER row of relays, at the end of the row closest to the FRONT of the car.
Jumper from the female insert on the plug in the CENTER of the relay to the female insert on the wide end of the relay (on the side of that relay which is closest to the REAR of the car).

John

I replaced that relay with a new one, I'm assuming that one is working there is a clicking coming from there, I'm now thinking its the limit switch inside the header (top unlock limit switch).

[JAB]

We are jumping that relay at the plug in order to unlock the top.
The point of this is that the relay is not being activated to unlock the top. This signal is coming through the upper back panel limit switch and the top unlock limit switch.
one of those devices is probably non functional. In order to access the top unlock limit switch for assessment, you have to get the top from off the windshield header.
Once the top is unlocked, you can probably activate the top control switch to take the top off the header.

John

[Classiccannuk]

We are jumping that relay at the plug in order to unlock the top.
The point of this is that the relay is not being activated to unlock the top. This signal is coming through the upper back panel limit switch and the top unlock limit switch.
one of those devices is probably non functional. In order to access the top unlock limit switch for assessment, you have to get the top from off the windshield header.
Once the top is unlocked, you can probably activate the top control switch to take the top off the header.

John

Thanks John, exactly right.