Can convertible top be moved manually?

[Dwayne1m]

I'm buying a 2006 Beetle at a really good price. Only issue is the top won't open or close with the switch. Can the top be opened or closed by hand?

[TDCTDI]

Yes, but you will be pushing it against the hydraulics. Just gently push against the top & it will slowly bleed off fluid, but it will take a few minutes.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[73sports]

There is a valve that can be opened on the pump, so you won't be fighting it, when operating manually. There should be instructions in the manual for emergency operation.
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I will never lie, but sometimes the truth changes.

Central Jersey VW Society

[Butcher]

This ^

There is no good deal on a convertible Beetle, they are all terrible when it comes to the top operation. Wait till the windows stop working.

You heard it here first.

[Dwayne1m]

And what is the problem that the windows stop working?

[Butcher]

Most of the operating gear of the Beetle convertible is not reliable. The window regulators are cheap and break. From my understanding with my contacts, they are not cheap to replace. The last time I saw an estimate to replace them was $1000.

[TDCTDI]

If you think a Bentley manual is expensive, wait until you have to start repairing this beast. If the safety switches for the top go bad (or get misaligned), you can't start the car. I hope you haven't bought it yet.

Here's what you have to replace if the rear regulator goes bad

They make a repair kit to replace just the cable, but if either of those little white rollers is broken, you have to buy the whole $630 part.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Dwayne1m]

So is it mostly the cable that is breaking?

[73sports]

Let's not spread rumors now. There is nothing that electrically connects starting the car and the top! Of all the switches on the top, I have only ever seen the one in the header that tells the car the top is locked closed, and the one on the right side ram go bad. Of course as the cars get older other things can go. I have repaired plenty rear window regulators, but have not seen the rollers broken. Before the repair kit was available, the only option was the whole assembly.
_________________
I will never lie, but sometimes the truth changes.

Central Jersey VW Society

[TDCTDI]

[crsmp5]

i know a guy who shorted a brake light bulb holder harness.. it breaks its wires at the trunk hinge... poof comfort control modual now fried.. just from opening the trunk to replace a tail light bulb... was a $1k+ wtf...

ive done a rear regulator.. 1st and last...
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[ach60]

The owners manual it tell you how to put the top down without power.
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Good Luck
Al