i installed the kit correctly however there is no power

the fuse is fine

maybe it's unplugged somewhere? how do i trace the wiring, where does it lead to?

Just trace the wire you installed when you installed the kit...

I wouldn't know where it leads to myself as mine was factory fitted.

the kit installed plugged into the lower part of the reat seats

from there, i have no clue where the wires lead
since i have no power, it must be uplugged further up i'm guessing? or cut or something

Before i installed the hard top,i checked the plugs to see if they had power,just get a test light,turn on your head lights, and the passenger side plug should have power. turn on your defrost and your driver side plug should have power.if it doesnt light up,recheck your fuses or u have broken wire there. well good luck.

The lights and defroster on my hardtop don't usually start working until I've had the top on for a day or two... Don't know why, but thats how it's been since day 1!

The lights and defroster work from the moment I put the top on. I agree with checking the contacts in the socket for power as mentioned above - if that is good you are looking at a problem in the hard top itself. No way you could have installed the hard top kit contacts backward? They are labeled but I don't know whether they can be fastened onto the wrong side.

Peter

The lights and defroster work from the moment I put the top on. I agree with checking the contacts in the socket for power as mentioned above - if that is good you are looking at a problem in the hard top itself. No way you could have installed the hard top kit contacts backward? They are labeled but I don't know whether they can be fastened onto the wrong side.

Peter

on that note, might want to pull off the C-pillar panels and be sure the electrical connections in there are okay.

The lights and defroster on my hardtop don't usually start working until I've had the top on for a day or two... Don't know why, but thats how it's been since day 1!

That's not okay at all!

There's power (should be) on these mounting points from the moment you unlock the car, so it should not take a da before the top has power.

ok i just installed mine also..i had a problem when i pushed the defrost button the interior lights would come on lol...the black square power terminals have a letter R and L ...also have an arrow on them..the drivers side i have the arrow pointing to the rear of the car...on the pass side i have the arrow point towards the front...never both in same direction the electrical circut is joined together with a common ground...hope this helps

i went and got a multimeter

not sure if i even used it correctly

the driver side said 0.3
the passenger side said 0 and a negative sign was flashing

ok so which number should be on which side and which side should the arrow point for either?

pm'd

ok i just installed mine also..i had a problem when i pushed the defrost button the interior lights would come on lol.....

LOL, common mistake.

i just re-read the instructions and check my car

bracket L is on my driver side
bracket R is on my passenger side

both connector 1's are facing forward
it must be something else

i just re-read the instructions and check my car

bracket L is on my driver side
bracket R is on my passenger side

both connector 1's are facing forward
it must be something else

Well 1st thing to do is turn on the car, turn on rear defroster and hardtop lights (with it off) and measure if you have +12v on both terminals.

If not, search further, if yes, you know the problem is inside the hardtop. Could be as simple as a wire not connected.

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/2834/hardtoptk1.jpg

the problem is in my car, not the top

the car it came off of, the lights worked

the problem is in my car, not the top

the car it came off of, the lights worked

I see.

Then I would just follow the wires to whatever they go too.

just had a thought
my domelight unit is gone
i have an alpine processor up there

could this be the reason? or does that have no bearing at all

just had a thought
my domelight unit is gone
i have an alpine processor up there

could this be the reason? or does that have no bearing at all

UMM yeah that could totally be the reason. The Dome light switch controls the lights on the top... As for the defroster, that I couldnt tell you. I guess hit the defrost button, if the vent at the back is putting out air, then the connection is bad, if there is no air coming out the back, then it is working.

100% correct if the dome does not work the rear hardtop lights wont work i didn't even think to ask...

ok
so i will test the defroster to see if that works
i hope it doesn't blow air

as far as the dome lights, i have no clue
my audio guy will have to come up w/something for that
maybe extend the wires and hide the unit under the dash or something

100% correct if the dome does not work the rear hardtop lights wont work i didn't even think to ask...

Well you couldn't have guessed he had an Alpine processor up there (any pics of that Kosta).

And yes, with no domelight, no hardtop light. Could even use the same earth as the defroster. I think it's related.

You could just take the original wires for the domelight and just connect em permanently behind the processor.

i'd rather live w/o lights

too much of a biatch to take it all apart

old pic i'll try to take a new one

That looks cool. Must be very nice in the dark when lit up. Like the e30 had the OBC there.

Do the buttons on the wheel work?

my audio guy spent a lot of time with the buttons .. trying to make them function w/a unit from peripheral, but he was not successful

i know it has been done before
just some someone's expertise who has done it

just turned the car on, the defroster fan came on

does it get disconnected once the hardtop goes on automatically through the wiring kit?

this may be too much to ask but could someone disconnect their dome light and see what happens?

for me to take my custom a pillar off and the top bar would be a lot of work as the wiring behind is all stuffed in there

another pic

another pic

WOW, you never cease to amaze me!

By the way, I'd help you out, but my hard top's over on the stand, and it's just me here, so it's not really feasible to get my top on...

yes if you disconect dome light rear lights go out

does the defroster default to the blower motor as well?

not sure

this may be too much to ask but could someone disconnect their dome light and see what happens?

for me to take my custom a pillar off and the top bar would be a lot of work as the wiring behind is all stuffed in there

That will render the hardtop lights useless.

Not sure about the defroster.

I can give you a certain answer as mine domelight will come out tomorrow to fix one moodlight led connection.

Nice pic BTW of the alpine thingy. Now I'd like to see a nightshot (with the whole dash visible).

Like the M3 mirror. Could get one myself, but while it looks nice, the oval shape has las surface area.

Btw did you somehow hook up the clownnose led underneath the mirror? Since that in principle doesn't work with the e36 alarm (radio vs infrared).

just turned the car on, the defroster fan came on

does it get disconnected once the hardtop goes on automatically through the wiring kit?

Yes. The rear blower motor (which will never defrost the plastic window!) doesn't work any longer when the hardtop is on.

thanks for your help
let me know tomorrow for sure

so if the dome light is removed and then the blower motor comes back on

then i will have to take the a pillars apart and reiwre the domelight in there

the clown nose works, there's a positive and negative lead on there
i just connected it to the alarm, it's not a factory alarm but i'm sure it's not an issue

i'll take a lit up pic tonight for you but my triple gauge have been removed, i'm re-working them

thanks for your help
let me know tomorrow for sure

so if the dome light is removed and then the blower motor comes back on

then i will have to take the a pillars apart and reiwre the domelight in there

the clown nose works, there's a positive and negative lead on there
i just connected it to the alarm, it's not a factory alarm but i'm sure it's not an issue

i'll take a lit up pic tonight for you but my triple gauge have been removed, i'm re-working them

Interesting. I could simply hook up the led in the mirror of the feeds on the "official" led I have above the gearstick.

If I ever fit an M3 mirror would be pure for looks as (as I said) total glass surface is less.

Was it hard to fit or isn't it so hard to take the mirror off? (always afraid to break the glass).

the mirror twists off at the base
it's very easy

the hard part is running and connecting all the wires ( for the led, dimmer etc)
well not hard, just time consuming

it does have less visibility, but it is more modern looking than the e36 mirror

the mirror twists off at the base
it's very easy

the hard part is running and connecting all the wires ( for the led, dimmer etc)
well not hard, just time consuming

it does have less visibility, but it is more modern looking than the e36 mirror

Well wouldn't call the trapezoid e36 one dated really :)

Mine's already the auto dimm version, so I already have the +12v/-12v wiring up there.
I would only need to wire the led up. But these mirrors aren't cheap.

let me know how it goes after you test it for me

thanks

... i had a problem when i pushed the defrost button the interior lights would come on lol...the black square power terminals have a letter R and L ...also have an arrow on them..the drivers side i have the arrow pointing to the rear of the car...on the pass side i have the arrow point towards the front...never both in same direction the electrical circut is joined together with a common ground...hope this helps

I have this problem on my hard top. I just bought the car. I believe the top was factory installed.

What did you do to fix the problem?

Kent

i broke down today and tore it apart
wasnt as bad as i expected

anyway the lights now work

but as far as the defoster, it blows hot air and the real defroster works as well

is my car messed up?

i broke down today and tore it apart
wasnt as bad as i expected

anyway the lights now work

but as far as the defoster, it blows hot air and the real defroster works as well

is my car messed up?

Don't know what you did, but it's kinda cool the defroster and rear blower work at the same time. :D