My trunk struts started going out (again) this year and have been planning for several months to replace them. Then in the last month or so, I started having intermittent top problems when attempting to open it. The top would stop about 1/2 way and go no farther but it would always close without any issues. The problem showed up two or three times and then would start working again later. Of course, it didn't act up when I took it to the dealer.


The dealer made a comment that they could be related that they've seen some pretty strange things along those lines. So I started thinking about that. If the trunk struts are going bad, it will not hold up the trunk lid. During the top opening process, the trunk is held open the opposite way (opposite to the way we humans open it, anyway). If the mechanism depends on the trunk struts to hold the lid out of the way (or at least contribute to it), then it is possible that the lid would start to fall during the 20ish second opening process. A sensor would likely notice the sag and consider it hazardous to the process and stop the top from going down any further.

So it is possible that if you have a top opening problem where it stops somewhere midstream, the problem is the trunk struts and not the opening mechanisms. (Where it would stop would depend on just how bad the struts have gotten.)

I have new struts now but have only tried opening the top once since (and it worked).

Something to remember and think about if you run into that scenario.
Happy driving!

 

Harold
if the trunk struts are bad or going bad the top will not work properly.

 

If the top stops half way during opening. The trunk is open from the back side [ the struts are not in use ] The struts come in to play when you physically open it to gain access to the trunk after the top has closed completely or opened completely.

 

Hmm, interesting. Right you are MrBlister, I just went and double checked. At most they are open 3/8". But the interesting point here is that I still haven't experienced any top failures since the struts were replaced. Prior to the strut replacement, the top would stop half way but would still close.

 

Well maybe it is gremlins. I find those from time to time as well. Something starts or stops or acts differently and then you cant reproduce it. I would thank the gods and not worry about it.