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convertible top switch issue


Guest lovePackards

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Guest Packardguy

on my 54 convertible the top goes down just fine but I get no response at all when I push in the switch to put it up. I am going to get into it tonight, give me opnions on what you would look for first. All hydraulics are newly rebuilt. Thanks! also should I unhook the battery before working on it just to be safe?

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Guest imported_49packard

Get an electrical schematic off of packardclub.org. If it is hydraulic-I would start with the switch-then pump. Also check schematic to see if there is a safety switch that must be made before the thing will operate

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Guest Randy Berger

Hmm? I looked for that wiring schematic on the PAC website but could not find it.

The only reference I have is the 1948 convertible and that wiring digram shows all

the window and seat hydraulics and wiring but not the convertible top?? I guess it

was meant to be a secret. Can anyone else help out the gentleman?

<img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

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The top control is a combination hyd valve & electric switch. Sounds like the switch contact in the "up" position is dirty or broken. In an emergency, you can "hotwire" the hyd pump motor and then put the top control in the up position and the top should go up (be careful not to go beyond the limit). The fact that the pump works in the "down" position indicates that the pump & cyls are okay, just not getting juice to the up contact.

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Guest Randy Berger

What if the valve isn't functioning properly? Would that give the same result?

Is that valve used for controlling power windows also? I don't have a 54 shop

manual and the 22nd-23rd leaves a lot to be desired for information.

Could he wire a test light on the output side of the top switch and see if he

is getting juice out of the up position of the switch? That would tell him

quick if the switch were at fault.

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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What if the valve isn't functioning properly? Would that give the same result?

Is that valve used for controlling power windows also? I don't have a 54 shop

manual and the 22nd-23rd leaves a lot to be desired for information.

Could he wire a test light on the output side of the top switch and see if he

is getting juice out of the up position of the switch? That would tell him

quick if the switch were at fault. </div></div>

Hi Randy,

I no longer have the 54 ragtop, but from memory the top control when pushed ?in? performs two functions. It turns the hyd pump on via a switch and a valve directs the fluid to the bottom orifice of the double-action top mechanism rams causing them to extend and the top to raise.

His post said ?no response? so I?m guessing the pump motor isn?t running when the control is pushed ?in?, but does when pulled ?out?. To me this narrows it down to the electrical contact in the top control that turns the pump on. If the hyd valve or rams were bad the motor would run but the top wouldn?t move (and the rear floor would be full of red fluid!)

<img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

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Guest Randy Berger

Thanks John for clearing that up. It looked like that from the 48-50 hydraulic

lines, but the wiring for the top cylinders isn't shown. I think you've given

him enough information to start on anyway. A combination electrical and hydraulic

problem can be tough. Electric problems can be bad enough, but adding the

complexity of that hyd. valve sure does tax the gray matter <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

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Guest Packardguy

Thanks guys for the info and advice. The man I originally bought it from told me he thinks it is just low on fluid and to check the reservior (spelling?) near the driver's side firewall. All the hydraulics are newly rebuilt and he didn't think it was electrical. I haven't yet been able to start on it but I will get into it tomorrow. Any other thoughts?

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Guest Packardguy

Got the top to go back up just fine. It was not a fluid problem but an electrical one. There are 2 wires that connect to the top switch. A green one that connects to lower and a red one that connects to raise. The red one was sort of contorted and not in a good position so I just kind of held it a different way and pushed the switch in and up came the top. I guess I should replace that wire or at least disconnect and reconnect a more secure way.

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