I broke my NB on the first day

[Tracys3sons]

Typical me really. I was putting the top up and I heard a breaking noise but couldn't see what was broken. Later I noticed the flap on the drivers side panel didn't go back down. I broke two pieces inside. My top still goes up and down, that flap just doesn't move. What is the point of the flap, and until I get it fixed, am I doing any damage to the top?? My husband went to the dealership but they were less than helpful. I'll try to find the part numbers myself and find the replacement parts.

[miffmole]

pencilneck is the NBC top specialist, and I'll defer to his opinion, but...the flaps have no use that I know of, other than looking curious as they go up and down.

The Beetle Convertibles 2005-2010 don't even have the flaps. Just an empty space (see photo below). This is a 2009 model pictured.

Aesthetically, how does yours look without the flap. At least one Org member had his flaps removed when they started acting up.

[dnyed]

You must have an 03, or early 04?

Those flaps were removed in later years, due to numerous problems. If they don't work, just remove them. Good luck!

[Tracys3sons]

Oh yes, sorry, I have a 2003 GLX. Thanks so much for the quick replies. I guess I won't worry about spending 200.00 for parts quite yet.

[pencilneck]

Depending on the damage, you may be able to swap out some parts in a few minutes time to repair them.

2003 New Beetle Cabrio VW Replacement Parts

If item #3 is broken (part number 1Y0 871 349 B), then it can be swapped out without taking the rear quarter trim panel out. Also look and see if the connecting rod (1Y0 871 301) is broken, the ball sockets on them can get broken off.

The painted trim piece is just snapped into the "flap element". I would pull the old ones out, put it on some shop rags and break the retaining tabs with a hammer and chissel and then remove the painted piece and snap it onto the new flap element.

The flap element is held in place by two 5mm cap screws. Just loosen them several turns and then the flap element will pull right out.

On the flap element itself, there are 3 "arms" that the flap flips up on. Sometimes the middle arm pops loose from a round bracket and just needs to be snapped back into place. Other times though I've seen the arm break. Take a close look at your flap element and get some photos up. I may be able to pin point the issue.

[Tracys3sons]

Well, it completely broke off today AND the other side broke off as well. While it's not as pretty with them missing, my top goes up and down nicely.

[Tracys3sons]

Now my top doesn't go down at all. I unhook it and the windows down correctly, like they're supposed to. But I hit the button for the top and nothing happens. No noise or anything. Could the flaps have anything to do with this?? I tried the window reset and it didn't work. hubby is going to look at fuses but I'm doubting that's it. Hoping the missing flaps and broken pieces aren't the cause.....

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

pencilneck's your man! The vert top man.

[pencilneck]

The painted trim pieces that flip up and down are there to look pretty.

They are operated by a servomotor:

VAG Catalog

Item number 14, part number 1Y0 959 311 A. There are left and right side servomotors. These servomotors has simple sensors in them that let the Roof Electronics know if they are in an "up" or "down" position. It is assumed that if the servomotors are in the "up" position, then the flaps are up and out of the way. Now if the connecting rod (item number 2, part number 1Y0 871 301) fails, the servomotor will do it's thing and move to the "up" position, but the flap won't move.

Moving on... if the Roof Electronics doesn't see an "up" signal from both of the servomotors, then it will not operate the top pump. So, my guess is the top is getting some sort of implausible signal from one of the servomotors, so the Roof Electronics Module is doing isn't job of NOT operating the top pump.

You can have the actual painted flap pieces out of the car, but you must have those servomotors plugged up.

When VW first removed the flap panels, they still used the same Roof Electronics Module, so there was still a need for the servomotors. VW just mounted them to brackets behind the trunk trim panels. The servomotors do NOTHING other than report "up" or "down", they do not mechanically operate anything. It causes some confusion with customers because when they go to close the roof, they don't see anything happening for the first 4 or 5 seconds, so they flip the switch the other way... to which nothing happens as well. There is nothing to clue them in that something is happening since there are no flaps flipping up.

I hope this proves useful.