Based upon a couple of other posts I've made on other topics and several related posts on this topic I suspect I'll get a variety of responses heated and otherwise to this question.

I own a 2005 Crossfire Roadster. Purchased in 2011 in great condition with 25,000 miles on it. Now has 90,000 miles on it. Started experiencing problems with convertible top, leaking, H20 in the trunk and where top is stored when down, etc. Eventually gets stuck 1/2 way up / down. My auto top guy who comes highly recommended says I need a new top. $1400. I say OK. After 2 weeks calls and says hydraulic pump needs to be re-built and will cost another $700. As much as I love it I don't have the $$$$ and don't want to spend $2100+ on this car even if I did. I ask if top can be put up and down manually and he says "yes" but rather unconvincingly. I have watched the youtube video of manual operation while the hydraulics are still in place and DO NOT want to go through that every time I want to put top up / down. QUESTIONS: Is 100% manual operation even possible? If so how would it work? Any and all responses appreciated. Thanks.

 

Is's an easy 3 minute process if you have the proper tool and follow the video.

To Release System Pressure:

(A) Turn ignition on – Do not start

(B) Push top down button and hold

(C) Turn ignition off while keeping the top down button suppressed for 5 more seconds.

To Manually put The Top Up:

(A) Use the tonneau cover tool to unlock the cover. COUNTER CLOCKWISE LIFT COVER

(B) Pull top up while holding cover open, including rear bow.

(C) Let tonneau cover close.

(D) Turn cover tool CLOCKWISE, to lock, while holding bow up.

(E) Let rear bow down and push into lock on tonneau cover.

(F) Open trunk, put down divider and use 6 mm allen wrench in brass bolt, in trunk, to lock down the bow. Turn COUNTER CLOCKWISE one click to secure bow in place.

(G) Secure top to windshield and raise windows.

*** Be sure to raise the trunk divider panel before closing the trunk



To Manually Put The Top Down:

(A) Be sure the windows are down.

(B) Unlatch the top from the windshield header.

(C) Unlock the top bow. To do this, lower the trunk divider and use a 6mm allen wrench to unlock the bow from the tonneau cover, turning CLOCKWISE. Raise the trunk divider back in place before closing trunk.

(D) Raise the top bow and while holding it up, unlock the tonneau cover using the tonneau cover tool by turning COUNTER CLOCKWISE . Then pull the tonneau cover up.

(E) Gently lower the top into the trunk area and let the tonneau cover drop down.

(F) Lock the tonneau cover back down by turning the tonneau cover tool CLOCKWISE.

You are done.

 

I can vouch that the manual operation of the top is simple to do. I bought my 2005 Roadster in June 2017 with a top that didn't go up or down. I manually put it up and down pretty frequently for a year. In July 2018, I had TopHydraulics rebuild the two main lifting cylinders. Everything is working fine now. With regards to the manual operation, you might occasionally get out-of-sync with the computer module for the top. But there are procedures here from pizzaguy to get it back in sync.

 

I hope no water made it to the central locking control pump in the "basement" of your trunk.

 

I think H2O did make its way into where it wasn't supposed to go. Anyway got the car back and my autotop guy did a great job. Easy peasy putting top up / down following a slightly modified version of the checklist kindly posted by ZERACER (thanks).