The top was stuck in the closed position, you press the button and hear the motors in back running but nothing happening.

It appeared as though you need to have it partially open to even access any of the motors to check them so I went to try to open it using the manual method using the two tools and the reverse of the manual closing method in the owners manual. However, all that happened was the body painted piece that runs around the outer edge of the base of the top started lifting on the drivers side only using the smaller tool, and then with a pop it stopped. The passenger side never started to lift. Now the little tool just spins freely in the hole no matter which direction you try to turn it.

Right from the start the bigger tool does nothing but make a clicking sound in the motor you insert it into, sounds like that motor is stripped or something and doesn't move anything.

Now after using the smaller tool the corner of that piece is still lifted up 3" on the drivers side. I can shine a light inside and see cables in there, a piece that I don't know what it is looks broken off, but nothing I can reach. Looks like the top has to be in the partially open position to reach anything in there but you can't put it in that position. It wont budge and I'm afraid to just pull on anything. The only thing I can make happen is I can use the smaller tool to unlock the front latches and lift the front of the top back a bit, then it stops.

Any suggestions?

Is there a way to force it open (or closed) without breaking anything?

 

This is the position the top is in that I need help getting it either down flat, or up where I can work on it.


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...0&l=c471f8a0d9

 

Honestly, there isn't much you're going to be able to do. Sounds like the cables are stripped. I've had this happen before, but luckily the top was down so I could pry the cover up enough to unbolt the latches to open it. I had to replace one of the motors and the cables. Anything requiring work on the top is pretty much impossible to fix without a Volvo Scan Tool.

 

Can you lift the back of the top up if it's down? Is it somehow latched with something that needs to be retracted first?

 

It's been a while since I've messed with one in manual mode. There are two latches that hold the top down in the back. They latch and then pull it down when closing the top. I'm not sure which of the holes in the back runs these manually, but if they are stripped, they probably won't work anyway.

 

Side question, how many miles are these cars good for before the engine/tranny/etc usually needs to be rebuilt?

Trying to decide if it's worth fixing what seems like a complicated issue, for she should just offer it up for sale for $3000
It has 131k miles on it.

 

Really depends on how well its maintained. I've seen them with over 300k. I've also seen negligent owners trash them in 30k.