Soft top only opens up half way then stops working... dead...

Alex Kiesl · 03-20-2013, 08:53 AM

Hi! I was not too active in the past months as I always wanted to wait until my Z is done to finally show some of the work and modifications I did to it... but as we all know... it's never finished. So shame on me for only reading and not posting.

I have quite a big issue with my 370Z Roadster at the moment and I could not really find anything in forums, neither here nor in the german or UK forums. I really hope someone here has an idea of what the cause of my soft top problem could be.

I usually drive top down every day - unless it's raining - and I never had any issues with the top. Even on low temperatures (southern part of Germany does not get tooo cold... maybe around 30°F) the top worked fine all the time. It's always parked in my garage, so there is never the chance it freezes. So all good here.

Now it happened that the soft top will only open half way... then stops working. It does not react to anything anymore... dead. It does not matter whether the engine is running or not, always the same ting.

First the rear part of the top folds up, then the rear part. The top cover folds up afterwards and that's how far it goes. It simply stops...

That's how it looks (not an actual picture of the car, but that's the only pic I have of the top folding up):

The only way to get the soft top back in closing position is to push it gently back, restart the car and press "CLOSE"... then it locks the top again.

Other than that I'm pretty clueless... as well as my Nissan dealer. I tried to get an error code via OBD2, but nothing there. Nissan said they found an error code which is "B177E 5th Bow Latch Close Sensor".

I would greatly appreciate any ideas, anything that may solve the problem or at least hint to a possible source of failure...

Thanks in advance and all the best from Stuttgart, Germany!

Alex

Daveski38 · 03-20-2013, 01:13 PM

Alex,

Had it happen to our first 370. Hydrolic system sprung a leak. Oil was all over the carpet behind the drivers seat.

Entire system had to be replaced.

Alex Kiesl · 03-21-2013, 01:45 PM

UPDATE:
My garage managed to find the main problem. I don't know the details yet, but there have been a couple of cables ripped out of some plugs and two cables were almost "broken", They don't know exactly how this happened but they'll let me know soon. All hydraulic components are fine, no leaks!

So they fixed that and my soft top is working again!

BUT (why must there always be a but...):
It looks like one of the sensors is broken. They told me that once you keep the "OPEN" button pressed, the soft top will unlock and open a bit. Then it stops again. Then you press "OPEN" again and the top will open completely. They did not figure out why it stops the first time.

zakimak · 03-21-2013, 01:50 PM

what year is your car?

Alex Kiesl · 03-21-2013, 02:09 PM

It's 2011.

1st · 03-21-2013, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Kiesl

UPDATE:
BUT They told me that once you keep the "OPEN" button pressed, the soft top will unlock and open a bit. Then it stops again. Then you press "OPEN" again and the top will open completely. They did not figure out why it stops the first time.

I’m guessing this is a safety feature. I’ve had other cars that when you opened the sun/moon roof it opens a little bit then you must push the button again to open all the way as a safety precaution.

zakimak · 03-21-2013, 02:26 PM

It should be minor but the problem is that it needs to be traced. There are numerous sensors that are built into the system for safety and sequencing. Any of those not working will result in the problem you described since the top and everything else works. Have them look at all the sensors (in particular the latching confirmation one)

Alex Kiesl · 03-21-2013, 05:57 PM

Oh for sure they have to check everything until it works the way it used to work. I won't accept anything else than that and I'm sure my Nissan dealer doesn't either. Obviously there is a malfunction in one of the sensors... and they'll find it.

I'm positive it will work flawlessly again soon.

Alex Kiesl · 03-23-2013, 01:35 PM

UPDATE: so I got my 370Z back yesterday. Nissan Europe decided to swap the whole softtop-wiring harness. They hope this will solve the problem. There've been several cables which have been worn out over time and torn apart. It's the first case in Europe...

Wiring harness will be shipped from Japan which will take a couple of weeks. Till then I'll double-tap "OPEN".

Keep you updated.

03-20-2013, 08:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Alex Kiesl Base Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stuttgart / Germany Posts: 18 Drives: Nissan 370Z Roadster Rep Power: 14	Soft top only opens up half way then stops working... dead... Hi! I was not too active in the past months as I always wanted to wait until my Z is done to finally show some of the work and modifications I did to it... but as we all know... it's never finished. So shame on me for only reading and not posting. I have quite a big issue with my 370Z Roadster at the moment and I could not really find anything in forums, neither here nor in the german or UK forums. I really hope someone here has an idea of what the cause of my soft top problem could be. I usually drive top down every day - unless it's raining - and I never had any issues with the top. Even on low temperatures (southern part of Germany does not get tooo cold... maybe around 30°F) the top worked fine all the time. It's always parked in my garage, so there is never the chance it freezes. So all good here. Now it happened that the soft top will only open half way... then stops working. It does not react to anything anymore... dead. It does not matter whether the engine is running or not, always the same ting. First the rear part of the top folds up, then the rear part. The top cover folds up afterwards and that's how far it goes. It simply stops... That's how it looks (not an actual picture of the car, but that's the only pic I have of the top folding up): The only way to get the soft top back in closing position is to push it gently back, restart the car and press "CLOSE"... then it locks the top again. Other than that I'm pretty clueless... as well as my Nissan dealer. I tried to get an error code via OBD2, but nothing there. Nissan said they found an error code which is "B177E 5th Bow Latch Close Sensor". I would greatly appreciate any ideas, anything that may solve the problem or at least hint to a possible source of failure... Thanks in advance and all the best from Stuttgart, Germany! Alex Last edited by Alex Kiesl; 03-20-2013 at 09:04 AM.

03-21-2013, 01:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
zakimak 6/2/80 - 9/29/14 - RIP Lukas Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 450 Drives: ZR; Q45; VTR1K, GT65 Rep Power: 17	what year is your car? __________________ What doesn't kill you might make you a cripple so chose wisely. Free Stuff for Premium Members - Yeah Really

03-21-2013, 02:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
zakimak 6/2/80 - 9/29/14 - RIP Lukas Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 450 Drives: ZR; Q45; VTR1K, GT65 Rep Power: 17	It should be minor but the problem is that it needs to be traced. There are numerous sensors that are built into the system for safety and sequencing. Any of those not working will result in the problem you described since the top and everything else works. Have them look at all the sensors (in particular the latching confirmation one) __________________ What doesn't kill you might make you a cripple so chose wisely. Free Stuff for Premium Members - Yeah Really

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03-20-2013, 01:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
Daveski38 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: South of Houston Posts: 114 Drives: 10 BC A/T T Roadster Rep Power: 15	Alex, Had it happen to our first 370. Hydrolic system sprung a leak. Oil was all over the carpet behind the drivers seat. Entire system had to be replaced.

03-21-2013, 01:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Alex Kiesl Base Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stuttgart / Germany Posts: 18 Drives: Nissan 370Z Roadster Rep Power: 14	UPDATE: My garage managed to find the main problem. I don't know the details yet, but there have been a couple of cables ripped out of some plugs and two cables were almost "broken", They don't know exactly how this happened but they'll let me know soon. All hydraulic components are fine, no leaks! So they fixed that and my soft top is working again! BUT (why must there always be a but...): It looks like one of the sensors is broken. They told me that once you keep the "OPEN" button pressed, the soft top will unlock and open a bit. Then it stops again. Then you press "OPEN" again and the top will open completely. They did not figure out why it stops the first time.

03-21-2013, 02:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Alex Kiesl Base Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stuttgart / Germany Posts: 18 Drives: Nissan 370Z Roadster Rep Power: 14	It's 2011.

03-21-2013, 05:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
Alex Kiesl Base Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stuttgart / Germany Posts: 18 Drives: Nissan 370Z Roadster Rep Power: 14	Oh for sure they have to check everything until it works the way it used to work. I won't accept anything else than that and I'm sure my Nissan dealer doesn't either. Obviously there is a malfunction in one of the sensors... and they'll find it. I'm positive it will work flawlessly again soon.

03-23-2013, 01:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
Alex Kiesl Base Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stuttgart / Germany Posts: 18 Drives: Nissan 370Z Roadster Rep Power: 14	UPDATE: so I got my 370Z back yesterday. Nissan Europe decided to swap the whole softtop-wiring harness. They hope this will solve the problem. There've been several cables which have been worn out over time and torn apart. It's the first case in Europe... Wiring harness will be shipped from Japan which will take a couple of weeks. Till then I'll double-tap "OPEN". Keep you updated.