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The car: a 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Cabrio. The Problem: The top doesn't close all the way in the front causing leaks when it rains. Further Problem: Before the car was sold to my mother the used car dealer (my nephew) had someone do something to close the top so it would not open. Whatever this fellow did he charged my nephew 400 bucks to do it and told him it would cost 2400 dollars to fix it proper. That's more than she paid for the car. We were told Not to try to open the soft top although I suspect the fellow may have disconnected the switch to prevent it from accidentally coming open.
I'm interested because she plans to sell me the car when she gets her Mercedes AMG out of the shop. I love the car since I've been working on it for her, it makes me feel young again. (She's 93 and I'm 53 LOL) I'd love to have the convertible function because having one and not being able to use it Sucks.
Here is The Rub. Obviously I cannot afford 2400 dollars to have someone fix it. I know the motor works. I've seen several videos of people working on it and it's got all kinds of parts and pieces that have to all work just right which means it's going to be a Pain to troubleshoot especially since I don't have a Haynes type manual for the complete step by step breakdown and rebuild.
I think it would be Way Easier if I could forego the electric and simply be able to open and close it by hand sliding it along the rails from front to back and vice versa. I wouldn't mind that, if it would help keep the cost down, I've owned a manual convertible top before on a Suzuki Samurai. I don't even know if that's possible with the Smart Fortwo but at least that would keep me from having to deal with linkage and tiny parts that are designed for electric controls that keep the sliding even on both sides.
If that's possible, the large problem will be to find out how the fellow attached the top at the front so it would not leak, free the top so I can manipulate it and then be able to fully open then close it manually. How does the top attach at the front normally when closed? If I knew that, it may help. I just wanna pick you guys brains on these ideas. Thank you!
I'm interested because she plans to sell me the car when she gets her Mercedes AMG out of the shop. I love the car since I've been working on it for her, it makes me feel young again. (She's 93 and I'm 53 LOL) I'd love to have the convertible function because having one and not being able to use it Sucks.
Here is The Rub. Obviously I cannot afford 2400 dollars to have someone fix it. I know the motor works. I've seen several videos of people working on it and it's got all kinds of parts and pieces that have to all work just right which means it's going to be a Pain to troubleshoot especially since I don't have a Haynes type manual for the complete step by step breakdown and rebuild.
I think it would be Way Easier if I could forego the electric and simply be able to open and close it by hand sliding it along the rails from front to back and vice versa. I wouldn't mind that, if it would help keep the cost down, I've owned a manual convertible top before on a Suzuki Samurai. I don't even know if that's possible with the Smart Fortwo but at least that would keep me from having to deal with linkage and tiny parts that are designed for electric controls that keep the sliding even on both sides.
If that's possible, the large problem will be to find out how the fellow attached the top at the front so it would not leak, free the top so I can manipulate it and then be able to fully open then close it manually. How does the top attach at the front normally when closed? If I knew that, it may help. I just wanna pick you guys brains on these ideas. Thank you!