I have intermittent operation of the top. I mainly occuvs in the up cycle. The dealer
has reloaded the software twice. I works perfectly at time then acts up again
in mid operation. If I let the care sit for over 10 minutes it will often work correclty

Any sugestions for a intermittent operations problems.

thanks for your help.

I have intermittent operation of the top. I mainly occuvs in the up cycle. The dealer
has reloaded the software twice. I works perfectly at time then acts up again
in mid operation. If I let the care sit for over 10 minutes it will often work correclty

Any sugestions for a intermittent operations problems.

thanks for your help.
I am hoping you have read all of the postings on this subject on this site.

You may need another reload AND some new sensor switches. The newer ones seem to perform much better than the ones origionally installed in the earlier models.

I am nearly positive that there is a bulletin on this issue. So go back to the dealer and have them escalate the issue. It can be fixed!!!

Sorry for your problems.

Because there are 23 steps that have to happen for the top to cycle, it is the most advanced and yes at times can be furtrating if one of those steps don't go in sequence.

What you describe is usually a Pententiometer (switch located on the driver side deck lid lift) issue, most of the time they are simply adjusted and a relearning of the system takes care of the issue. Your XLR dealer has the tools to determine the readings on this system.

www.Cadillac-XLR.com (http://www.Cadillac-XLR.com)

Thanks
Allen

Top operation isn't all that complex or mysterious. Actually, its rather simple.

The top is installed as a seperate sub-system of the vehicle. The main parts consist of the top mechanism itself, (the structural parts, mechanical linkages and glass) a Top Control Module that oversees top operation, and a set of switches, (also called potentiometers) placed at specfic points along the top's travel, a hydraualic pump/manifold, (located in the left well of the trunk) hydraulic lines to move fluid in or out of actuating cylinders on the top's mechanical linkages, and a switch on the console.

The top moves in the direction of the switch you press, position sensors track the top movement, report back to the computer, and the hydraulic manifold sends fluid through a (plastic) pipe to actuate the proper hydraulic cylinder in the top at the appropriate time in the up/down cycle by activating one of six valves next to the pump. The top merely follows it's linkages. That's it.

Sometimes the linkages bind --you can see (or hear!) excessive wear from them scrapping. That's an alignment issue.

If the top moves, but stops at a regular point in the cycle, (as it sounds like yours is doing) the main culprit is almost always a switch (or potentiometer, which is a 50-cent word for a variable resistor. --Pot in geekspeak) The Top Control Module (or tech's scan tool) sees the change in resistance as a voltage level. If the voltage level reported by a pot doesn't fall within a specified range, a fault code is generated, and the pot goes on the Ten Most Wanted list. The Top Control Module then issues an ALL STOP command to the pump and the cycle stops. You get a DIC message, and begin cursing.

This is bad at a stoplight, but good for the top, since it's trying to protect itself.

This is the reason when manually operating the top, (see owner's manual) you open the hydraulic bypass valve first. It equalizes the supply and return sides of the hydraulic system so you can push the top without fighting the pressure in the lines.

Besides being adjusted as Allen says, some of the pots need to be bonded in place to ensure accurate positioning under load. If any of the pots are failing, the scan tool should pick up their fault code. Hopefully, yours is just an switch/alignment issue and not a failing o-ring in the hydraulic pump, which requires complete replacement. (Very expensive o-rings, eh?!) An experienced tech ought to have the problem diagnosed in an hour or so. (Unless you have an intermittent electrical connection mimicking a bad part, which can take longer to locate!) Good luck!!

CC :cheers