Car stalls with convertible top operation

cbrennanmx · 09-16-2025, 08:57 PM

Very weird one.. hang in there with me while I explain. lol

Driving a few days ago down the road and decide to open top, operates as normal. Few moments later, car feels like engine stumbles. Eventually, the car stalls and all of the lights go on the dash. Car restarts normally, thought it was weird but whatever. I go to dinner, come back out and start car. The car starts, but the yellow oil light comes on- than stalls shortly after. This is with the top up after we put it up before dinner. Repeat this several times, the car eventually works as normal. Think it was a bad battery, so replaced it. Alternator tested fine. The odd thing was, when the car stalled and all, the engine started normally and was fine, so I figured the battery wasn't that low.

Drive car as normal for a few days, no issues. Thought battery fixed it- but did not operate the top at all.

Fast forward to today, run errands and decide to open top, works as normal, but instantly the engine surges again and stalls, I throw the top up and I pull over and same thing with the yellow oil light and the car stalling. Eventually it starts again and this time, it kept stalling every block or so for a few minutes, eventually I got home and it was fine for the hour drive.

I get home and want to troubleshoot so I try to take the top down to see. Now, the top motor just seems to click and move VERY slowly, to the point where it did not have enough power to take the top down. Odd. I know this motor has given me issues, so I was planning on replacing it.

I conclude that this is related to the top. But others suggested it's possibly a bad ground. Such a weird issue. Any help please? I am going to dig into and look at the motor and all.

Colemme · 10-12-2025, 10:28 PM

The car could stall during convertible top operation due to bad ground, as you suggested. Also, a bad alternator or faulty wiring, or hydraulic problems, like low fluid or a failing pump, could cause binding on the top operation that overloads the motor. This can also cause the engine to stall or trigger the thermal protection switch. Thoughts?

09-16-2025, 08:57 PM	#1
cbrennanmx Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2005 Z4 Join Date: Sep 2025 Location: Woodstock,GA iTrader: (0)	Car stalls with convertible top operation Very weird one.. hang in there with me while I explain. lol Driving a few days ago down the road and decide to open top, operates as normal. Few moments later, car feels like engine stumbles. Eventually, the car stalls and all of the lights go on the dash. Car restarts normally, thought it was weird but whatever. I go to dinner, come back out and start car. The car starts, but the yellow oil light comes on- than stalls shortly after. This is with the top up after we put it up before dinner. Repeat this several times, the car eventually works as normal. Think it was a bad battery, so replaced it. Alternator tested fine. The odd thing was, when the car stalled and all, the engine started normally and was fine, so I figured the battery wasn't that low. Drive car as normal for a few days, no issues. Thought battery fixed it- but did not operate the top at all. Fast forward to today, run errands and decide to open top, works as normal, but instantly the engine surges again and stalls, I throw the top up and I pull over and same thing with the yellow oil light and the car stalling. Eventually it starts again and this time, it kept stalling every block or so for a few minutes, eventually I got home and it was fine for the hour drive. I get home and want to troubleshoot so I try to take the top down to see. Now, the top motor just seems to click and move VERY slowly, to the point where it did not have enough power to take the top down. Odd. I know this motor has given me issues, so I was planning on replacing it. I conclude that this is related to the top. But others suggested it's possibly a bad ground. Such a weird issue. Any help please? I am going to dig into and look at the motor and all.
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10-12-2025, 10:28 PM	#2
Colemme Heliophile 36 Rep 32 Posts Drives: MRoadster Join Date: May 2019 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	The car could stall during convertible top operation due to bad ground, as you suggested. Also, a bad alternator or faulty wiring, or hydraulic problems, like low fluid or a failing pump, could cause binding on the top operation that overloads the motor. This can also cause the engine to stall or trigger the thermal protection switch. Thoughts?
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