Finally received my ‘05 roadster after the dealer spent a month trying to get the top to work -with no avail. I have gone thru the entire procedure as outlined by Pizzaguy here, with the following results:
1. When I depress the top down control the windows go down and there is a constant beeping, but nothing happens.
2. When I put the top down manually the top raises correctly when I press the button.
3. I have manually cycled the top up and down several times with no success.
4. I have pulled the no. 25 fuse for a few seconds with no success.

To me it appears that the problem is with either the Top Open Switch in the top of the windscreen, or the Cargo Divider Switch. The cargo switch seems to be working okay as it clicks but I cannot get access to the top open switch. Since I believe that these two switches are wired in series how do I troubleshoot to find which is bad? Then if it is the Top Open Switch how do I access it to repair/replace it?
Thank you for any help.

 

WRONG. The switch in the windscreen frame is the 'latch retainer switch'. It is directly wired to the TCM.

The two switches in series are the divider switch and top open switch. The top open switch is in the top frame over the passenger's head.
If the top goes UP but not DOWN, it is one of these two switches. This is because these two switches are not interrogated by the TCM when putting the top UP only when putting the top DOWN.

 

Now, as to finding out which is bad, USUALLY a visual inspection of the top open switch will reveal it's condition - they tend to 'fall apart' physically when they fail.

Another way, is to temporarily cut the wires to the divider switch and tie them together, bypassing that switch. If the top then works, you know it was the divider switch, if it still won't work, it's the top open switch.

 

Thank you for getting back to me, and I visually inspected the top open switch and all seemed fine with the protrusion tripping the white switch like it’s supposed to. I then bypassed the cargo divider switch and with the engine running I unfastened the Roof latch at the windscreen and the windows both went down. Then when I pushed the top lowering switch the light came on but nothing happened.
i manually lowered the roof, started the engine, and pressed the top up switch and the top came up fine. Once the top was almost vertical it started beeping but continued to close as it should.
It appears that it has to be the Top Open Switch which looks okay and seems to operate like it should. Could it be a break in the wire? How can I check it with a voltmeter?
This novice appreciates your help.

 

In reading thru your posts again, could the problem be in the Electric Trunk Lock rather than the Top Open Switch? When I push the Top open switch I get an immediate beeping. Is this normal or does it indicate a problem. Should I just remove the cam from the Elect. Trunk Lock just to eliminate this as a possible problem?

 

As the top comes up, once you get past a certain point, the top module checks those two switches, if they are not both indicating closed, the beep sounds - but the top keeps moving anyway.
This makes it clear the top open switch OR trunk divider switch is open (or 'off') when it should be closed (or 'on').

Modding the trunk lock is something we recommend anyway. But you are convincing me that it's one of the two switched described above - "top open" or "divider".

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me and for all of the details you provided on the operation of the top. After having my car for two weeks now it is once again a roadster! The problem was with the Top Open Switch and after blowing it out with compressed air and cycling it countless times, it is now working like day 1.
Now for a nice sunny day in Florida.

 

Thanks for the follow up solution.