Convertible top on my 87 Avanti won't go up

[billmdonn]

Had my 87 Avanti out today for a little test run before Lancaster. Got home and the top won't go up. I am hoping it is only a fuse. I got my owner's manual out and for a change it had the information I thought I needed. It clearly stated that the top was controled by a 30 amp fuse in slot number 14. I went out immediately, crawled under the car cover, pulled the fuse from slot 14. It was certainly the largest fuse in the panel, it is not a amber or red color like the other fuses, instead it is in a metal casing. Inscribe on the fuse is GTE 20A-12V. So now what do I do. Do a get a 30 amp fuse as the owners manual calls for, or do a get a fuse exactly like the one I removed. Furthermore, it might not even be the fuse. It could be the switch, it could be the pump. For now I am hoping it is the fuse. But which one should I go with???? I posted this on the AOAI forum, I figured I would cover all the bases.

[studegary]

First determine if the 20 amp fuse that you took out is good or bad. Was the top working with this fuse in place before? If so and the fuse is now bad, I would try another 20 amp fuse. If the fuse is good, look for some other problem area, such as bypassing the switch.

I had a contract to buy a new 1987 Avanti convertible. When I went to pick it up, I discovered that the dealership sold it out from under me/my contract. That was VIN ---0027. Out of curiosity, what VIN is yours?

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[Warren Webb]

One thing about modern fuses is you dont have to take them out to test them, just use a test light to the ends of the spades that are exposed on the face of the fuse. Your saying its in a metal case makes me think that its a circuit breaker instead of a fuse & why was it in place? How long have you had the car?

60 Lark convertible
61 Champ
62 Daytona convertible
63 G.T. R-2,4 speed
63 Avanti (2)
66 Daytona Sport Sedan

[billmdonn]

The vin number of my car is 12AAV222OH1000071 I purchased it out from Lance Motors out of NJ in 2004. The original owner was George Lanscraft from Connecticut. There are many mysteries about these cars, some originating at the factory, and some introduced by folks working on them.

[studegary]

quote:Originally posted by billmdonn

The vin number of my car is 12AAV222OH1000071 I purchased it out from Lance Motors out of NJ in 2004. The original owner was George Lanscraft from Connecticut. There are many mysteries about these cars, some originating at the factory, and some introduced by folks working on them.

Thanks for the number (VIN). That was almost half way through the 1987 model year.

I was the original owner of ---006. It (---006) , ---027 and ---(don't remember) were new from a dealer in Newton, NJ.

Many of the "mysteries" originated from the factory.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[S2DSteve]

I think that can is actually a ciruit breaker. In any event the convertible pump motor takes a lot of juice, and a regular fuse, even 20 amp, will tend to blow periodically. I bet you'll be fine if you just replace that breaker.


Steve Hudson
The Dalles, Oregon
1949 "GMOBaker" 1-T Dually (workhorse)
1953 Commander Convertible (show & go)
1953 Champion Starliner (custom/rod project)
1954 Champion Coupe (daily driver)
1960 Hawk (future project?)

[billmdonn]

Well I replaced the 20amp fuse/circuit breaker with a 30 amp fuse/circuit breaker. Top still doesn't work. It beyond my limited capabilities, so I took it to my mechanic. I guess it is either the switch, or the electric motor.

[billmdonn]

The brushes in the motor were bad, had the motor rebuilt seems to work fine.