I think many of us are familiar with the F171 switch problem on the roof of Cabriolet beetles, and the VCDS video is a fabulous resource.
For background the F171 is clipped on to the hydraulic ram on the RH side of car, and it is actually 2 x micro switches on one assembly one switch sends a roof open signal, the other (the rearmost) is responsible for sending the roof closed signal, this one seizes, and constantly transmits a roof closed signal.
This results in the F171 switch sending both open and closed signals at the same time, and the roof just stops dead!
Recently I was working on this, and decided rather than fit a new switch (1Y0 959 985A £42) which is known to cause the problem, and will undoubtedly do so again in the future I utilised the existing one and installed a push button latching switch into the wire carrying the (permanent) roof closed signal.
So now, when the roof is half way open, simply press the button, this stops the "roof closed" signal from the F171 dead in it's tracks. Then, when closing the roof and it's half way closed, hit the button again which re-instates the "roof closed signal."
I know it's a workaround, but to my mind it's easier to throw a switch and definitely remove the roof closed signal than jiggle the rear of the roof up and down in the hope that it trips the micro switch.
It works for me, and I dare say it could possible be done with a changeover relay being operated by the "roof open" part of the F171 switch, thus removing the influence of the stuck "roof closed" part of the switch.
The wire carrying the closed signal is the one with the darker green trace.
As I said I know it's a workaround, and some may groan at it, but it works!
For background the F171 is clipped on to the hydraulic ram on the RH side of car, and it is actually 2 x micro switches on one assembly one switch sends a roof open signal, the other (the rearmost) is responsible for sending the roof closed signal, this one seizes, and constantly transmits a roof closed signal.
This results in the F171 switch sending both open and closed signals at the same time, and the roof just stops dead!
Recently I was working on this, and decided rather than fit a new switch (1Y0 959 985A £42) which is known to cause the problem, and will undoubtedly do so again in the future I utilised the existing one and installed a push button latching switch into the wire carrying the (permanent) roof closed signal.
So now, when the roof is half way open, simply press the button, this stops the "roof closed" signal from the F171 dead in it's tracks. Then, when closing the roof and it's half way closed, hit the button again which re-instates the "roof closed signal."
I know it's a workaround, but to my mind it's easier to throw a switch and definitely remove the roof closed signal than jiggle the rear of the roof up and down in the hope that it trips the micro switch.
It works for me, and I dare say it could possible be done with a changeover relay being operated by the "roof open" part of the F171 switch, thus removing the influence of the stuck "roof closed" part of the switch.
The wire carrying the closed signal is the one with the darker green trace.
As I said I know it's a workaround, and some may groan at it, but it works!