Matthew, you are a legend! 10 years on and this is still helping people. My wife still loves her A4 Convertible and i'm back in her good books now that the roof is working again! I read most of the comments below but just to confirm for others, keys are out of the ignition and make sure all windows are down before you start. Many thanks Phil

over 7yrs and 300k views and still helping people...thank you for your post...love the red interior

Bro, i saw your video may be 5 months ago, and i really like, yesterday i open my car in small parking and i got same probem, i looked for ur video and following your kind explanation i fixed,,, i just want to say thank you, people like u make the difference in this selfish world... GOD BLESS U

I had a stuck A4 Audi top stuck half way. I could drive the car, so, I watched this video and fixed the top in the correct position. I am 77 years old. If I can fix it , anyone can fix the top . Many Thanks. for your patience, God Bless you.

Videos like this make youtube great for advice and information

God bless you, Matthew! My son bought a used audi yesterday and the roof got stuck today! your youtube video saved the day!!! may good karma flow your way :)

Excellent explanations of probable causes of defaults and details of the fix. SUCCESS on our first time resetting the drop top with your video. The sensor needed reset when my son began putting the top down and I wasn't aware that he was starting the process and I opened the passenger door to get out. Little things like that can mess us the sensors. When it only lifted 2 inches and quit working, initially I thought the top was broken. I took it to Firestone Auto's foreign car SO CALLED "expert". He wanted $500 for a new motor and for a second opinion I took it to a local foreign car mechanic who diagnosed the problem as being a faulty hydraulic pump. Since I'm cheap and have no faith in mechanics... I researched youtube fixes... and I had my drop top fixed in 10 minutes with the instructions on this video FOR FREE!!! Thank you so much

You just saved me ( a 19 year old) from alot of yelling by my dad! Thanks so much lol!!!! It actually worked!

Thanks so much Matthew, my car had the key missing and I had to trawl ebay for a replacement ..eventually got one for an extortionate $40. Luckily I had a roof cover to tide me through as it rained continuously after my roof got stuck ! Once again thanks for a great informative video !

Matthew, today I used your video to reset the top of my 2008 A4. I found your video much easier to follow than the user manual. Thanks so much for posting. I'm sure you have saved me and other owners a good deal of money.

Thank you so much for this! My top motor would only raise the lid a few inches and then stop. I could only put it back down and not up at all. Following this video I had it manually put back up in no time. You're a rock star!

13 years old video saved me almost $1000 today. Thanks buddy 😄

May 28, 2015 -- Matthew, its almost exactly 5 years after you posted your video and I used it to fix my car's top! A couple of things to emphasize that I learned: 1. open (unscrew) the key before inserting it in the front or back lock mechanism. 2. Turn the key until you feel it 'seat' into the opening. 3. Close the key (screw it together) to 'close' the key BEFORE using the key to lock or unlock the top. As mentioned in the video, you'll need to lock the top in the open position first and then also lock it into the closed position before the system will reset. It worked for me, so if the process doesn't work for you the first time, try it again and be sure to fully lock the mechanism in both the open and closed positions. Best of luck! Steve

Thanks for the video Matthew, it worked first time! Well worth watching when my local Audi dealer wanted £78 just to inspect the matter to access what's wrong and reckoned it would probably be about £200 to reset the sensors! Don't you love them! I've sent them a link to your video!

Thanks very much--from here in Australia--this video was such a lifesaver today. I don't think I would have been able have got it done (winding it back down and then closing up manually to reset the sensors) without your clear descriptions. A lot of the steps required a lot of force, so it was vital to know I was making the right move so that I had the confidence to give it the necessary grunt--otherwise I would have been unable to get the mechanisms to move for fear of breaking something. Thanks again. (There is also a really useful video from a channel called "Vagpro cabriolet specialist" that really focusses on closeups and descriptions of how to use that tool.)

Great information!! The exact same thing happened to my audi and thanks to your information now my hood is working perfectly!!! Thank you coming from the UK!!

Thank you so much!!! I thought I had a $5000 problem (after just spending $2400 on two plastic heat exchangers - bad timing). Your method totally worked and I was back in business in less than 15 minutes! I totally appreciate that you posted your video. Very Helpful!!!

Hi Matthew I don't have words to say you THANK YOU. I had the same problem and my Audi A4 2005 Cabriolet roof got stuck . I contacted the dealer they gave me quote of Total $8000 to fix it. Then I came across your video and did exactly the same and got the results exactly what you showed in this video. Wow 👏 . Unbelievable. Thank you, Thank you and Thank you. 👍👌🙏

I don't know what to say to thank you as much as I possible can in words. You paid forward and if there is "karma" or any good in life I sure do hope and pray to all that is available to you to come back to you 100 thousand fold. What a marvelous thing to do for all of us and so well done. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Peace

THANK YOU SIR!! My daughter's 2004 A4 did this, she was almost in tears thinking she broke her baby. Worked like a charm!! Grateful in STL Missouri!

This was fantastic, saved my client a tow to the shop. Thank you.

Thank you SO much. You explained it so well that even I managed to follow it and the probem is now solved - you really are a gem x

Thank you !!! Just used your video after my wife drove home with the boot unlatched - and the top pushed down manually - Your method worked beautifully !!! My wife is the original owner of the S4 triple black convertible with manual - she says she's going to keep it forever.

This video probably saved me a bunch of money and I rebooted the top on my S4 today successfully. Thank you for leaving this up on KZfaq - you're helping people ELEVEN years later. Priceless.

Thank you for your calm, patient and logical remedy to this problem. Invaluable!

Mathew, you are a life saver. Put the top half way down to load some things into the back seat easier, like we've done many times, and the top froze half open. Only way to get it to a dealer was on a flat bed. took a chance and looked for a solution on KZfaq and found your excellent advice. Worked like a charm. Thanks!!!!

Thank you very much, Matthew! My wife bought a 2007 and this happened the first time she put the top down. The dealer fixed it for $150. but told her she needed a new convertible top controller. The part was $600 and labor to install was $300. Instead, she chose not to use the top. One day, she tried the top, and it worked fine. Now, using the Brenengen Maneuver, I will be able to reset it if the problem occurs again. Thanks for taking the time to make your video, which will be a boon to Audi cabriolet owners everywhere. You done good!

Crystal clear instructions, the top now works and you've saved us a trip to the dealer. Thanks very much for posting this. Wonderful help.

Thank you Matthew. Well explained. Saved me a heap of money but mainly saved me some stress. Works fine now. Lessons learnt: don't switch off the car until the hood is up/down and completely locked in place.

I've owned this car for 6 or 7 years (and have no intention of ever selling it!) and had no idea we could do that. Thanks for taking the time to make this video!

You just saved us $$$$ too! I was searching out a used pump as the new one was big money, and came accross your video! Thank you for sharing! People like you helping others is what it's all about.

I cannot believe that this actually worked!!! My top got stuck halfway down, and wouldn't moved an inch when I was trying to get it to go up/down using the button. I was too afraid of actually pushing it up or down until I saw this video since I thought I was gonna break it. I called Meineke, and they said that they needed to run a diagnostic, which would cost me $85, and suspected that the hydraulics pump (or whatever it was) needed to be replaced. They gave me an estimate of $1,800 to $3,200(!!!). I was fortunate enough to come across this video before bringing my car in. I wanna thank you so much for posting this. I followed your instructions, and not only did I managed to latch my top to my car again so it was drivable again. After pushing it all the way down, and then pulled it all the way up, it actually started working again. I really had no clue that this would reboot/reset the computer/sensors. Also, I had no clue that I had a key for the top in the dashboard. And a note for all you out there with this problem. The top was heavier than I thought, and I had to use more forced than I thought to make it retract. Same thing with this key for the top. I felt like I had to use an unnatural amount of force to lock/unlock it. I don't think I ever posted a comment on KZfaq before, but you definitely need some credit for this! My car, 2007 Audi A4 2.0L B6 Convertible. Thanks from San Diego!

Great video. I watched this several weeks ago when I came across it looking for something else. I had never had this problem, then today I had it, and because of watching your video I was able to get the top reset and working in short order. Thanks!

OMG Dear Matthew you are the champion! I just did as what you have done to my car, and it completely works fine now, back to normal! Thank you so much. My suggestion is do not try to open the soft top inside a low roof place, such as supermarket car park, although it "looks high enough", still the sensor confuses sometimes, then starts self-protect -- stopped in half-open mode.

Also happened to my partners car yesterday and she was stuck in a car park with the roof half up, until she found this video. Reset it for her today using the same clip. Thanks so much for posting the clip, great great help and money saved.

Thank you so much for this helpful video. I have just driven across Europe and my roof got stuck in the open position with the hatch cover up. This has helped me get it closed until I can have it seen to. You saved a gal!!!

THANKYOU! i got home at 2am this morning and for some reason it wouldn't close completely! a quick google found your video and i was fully working again fine within 15 mins and it chucked it down with rain about half and hour later! thankyou for such a clear video with everything needed to sort the issue!!!

Thank you. Great information! It helpt me to 'repair' my convertible Audi. Now my hood is working perfectly

Thank you Mathew, it is the second time that my roof has a problem. With the help of your video, I have manually closed the roof in less than 5 minutes, this time. So thanks a lot, again (from France).

Thanks so much for the video. My son came home from work and the top wouldn't go up. Glad it wasn't raining last night… I did a KZfaq search and found your video. Got the top back up before he had to go to work this morning… THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!!!

Thank you for this excellent video!!! You saved my mom $1,200 by teaching me this!! Her mechanic told her she needed a new convertible top and motor. Charged her for 3 hour diagnostic work. Good Karma to you sir!

I had no idea we had this option to manually fix this issue. Just watched your video after driving 30 minutes home holding the top down with my left arm (very unsafe, I know, but I drove slow with my flashers on!). Tried what you said to do and BAM, all worked exactly as you described and it took all of 5 minutes with the help of my wife. THANK YOU SO MUCH! We thought we were going to have to call into an Audi dealer for an appointment but not anymore!

Like others I did this in hope rather than expectation. It worked. Thank you so much I confirm that you can fix an 2005 Audi in 2021 if you follow the instructions in this video. You are a gentleman and Audi are magnificent for thinking of this and putting the tools in the car for an owner to do this fix at home. Magnificent work all round. U

Many many thanks for this video. Tried to close roof whilst driving and it stopped halfway. Did what you said with a manual reset and now it works perfectly. Cheers.

An hour ago, I arrived home thinking "this is gonna cost me……:(". And now the roof is fixed! Thank god I googled - and it took me straight here. THANK YOU...

MATE YOU TOTALLY SAVED US! So grateful about your tips 🙏🏼 for more people like you!

Thank you so much for putting this video on and for explaining what you're doing. I've just followed your instructions and now I have my roof working again. Thank you again.👍😊

Thank you so much for posting this video! It was very easy to follow for a non car person and I was able to reset my top in no time.

Happened to me today. with the help from your video I repaired it myself. It wasn't hard at all. I want to thank you for showing this amazing tutorial. Greetings from Bulgaria :)

This video saved me a panic and rush to a garage... especially with the rain coming. Excellent video. Thank you very much!

Dude, you're a freaking lifesaver. Oh my god, your video worked perfectly. My car has been beeping for 2 weeks and I didn't want to pay any more money to fix it. So I've been dealing with this beeping noise with loud music and I finally had the last straw and wanted to fix it my self. It took my 10 minutes. Easy! I actually just put all the down and locked it. Then I turned my car back on and just hit the switch for my top and it worked. THANKS!!!!!!

I tried the reset method and my convertible top is now working!! Thank you for sharing!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! This video really helped me in a time of moderate crisis. Thank you for taking the time to post this.

This one is from GREECE, thank you you're a lifesaver as well as a money saver!!!

Thankyou so much for thisgreat explanation. my A4 cab had the same problem, I followed your instructions and it worked perfectly.

Brilliant video ! Thank you so much. I tightened the allen screw then the electrics wouldn't work. Didn't know about the secret tool, so easy after watching your video, thanks again (from New Zealand)!

Hey Matthew. Thanks for taking the time to produce this video. It was well done and easy to follow. I got a perfect result. Top is working great. No flashing lights. No codes. I'm sure you saved me a pile of money. Thanks so much. Bill

Hello from Bavaria. I would like to thank you for that Video. Had to transport some garden chairs, openend the top just a bit to get them out again and ran into the same trouble. Your method just works. (Even 6 years in the making...). cheers. jürgen

This video was very helpful...I just did exactly what it showed and got the electric top reset on a 2004 Audi A4 Convertable. My rating: 10/10...Great video Matthew

using the key was the mystery for me so thanks!

Thanks Matthew! Great video with none of the usual pre-amble that drives me bananas! My roof stopped working for no reason. I didn't do anything about it until it was due its service and my tame mechanic came round to do it. I asked him to look at the roof and when I next saw him, the roof was working OK. I asked him how he fixed it and he said he hadn't done anything - it just worked. Anyway, it worked for a while and then stopped working again. As the mechanic apparently did nothing to fix it last time, there is no point in asking him to have a look at it again. So, if your trick of manually operating the roof worked for you, I will give it a try. I wasn't sure if you could do this single handed but now I have seen your video, I know what to expect. Even if this doesn't work for me, thanks anyway! I will let you know how it goes.

Worked like a charm! Followed instructions just as you've posted and 'bam!' Opened and closed perfectly. I might add I also 1. Cleaned the Hydraulic motor 2. Found that my position sensor had come undone from one of the holes (placed it back in, took about 30 seconds) 3. Manually reset as described in the video 4. Blinking light was on when I started the car but went away as I drove it with the roof down 5. Came home after a trip around the block, put it back up, no problem.

Thank you so much. This happened to me earlier today and your vid effectively ensured I got home. Much appreciated.

thank you so much for this video!! I just got my 06 Audi a4 about a month ago. just the other day it got stuck midway and I was freakn out lol.. Audi dealership wanted $120 just to look at it.. well I watched your video and reset it myself just in time to go to the beach!! Thank you do much!!

Thanks man! You saved my life! I didnt know how to close roof, the motor was dead, but your video helped!

Nice S4 with the manual, Chief! Thanks for taking the time to help. My S4 did the same thing just a few days ago, and it took me awhile to figure out how to handle the rear cover standing straight up with the rest of the top unhooked in a downtown location via the OM. Several pedestrians displayed amusement. Its now locked in down position (open air), and I have not tried to operate it since. Bets are being placed that your procedure will reset it to its former glory. : ) Thanks again

Thank You, You saved me a heap of stress and a trip to the repairer. Very well prepared video. Appreciated.

Matthew's reboot of the convertible top software/hardware is missing one thing...make sure the power windows are all down as in his demonstration. The reboot will not sequence at all (dead) if the windows are up and actually give you an alarm that the top is not secure.

Thanks Matthew for the video ! It's great and very useful ! I've just solved(5 minutes ago) that problem thanks to your video ! Cheers !

You just saved my life, this is the best instructional video it absolutely worked. I’m ready to enjoy a lovely English Summer. Thank you so much.

Thank you Matthew for the video. Until now, fortunately, my A4 soft top worked fine. But just in case the system fails I know how to solve the issue. Thanks again.

Thank you very much for this post. I had this problem while on holiday and I got it right immediately thanks to your 'tutorial'!

Good video! My top got stuck a few years ago. I found the key in the fuse box. But I didn’t figure out that the top of the key needed to be screwed out. I eventually resolve my problem by Removing the fuse and then putting it back in place and manually pushing the top two to position where it’s almost ready to go in the boot and from there it worked. But good to know the details because I love my Audi convertible. Thanks again.

Thanks for the video.This happpened to me yesterday and I was in a state of panic. I was able to manually close my top. And today I was successfully able to reset the convertible top. I feel like so accomplished!!!!

Til this day ...still a great video. Used it 3 times.....GREAT JOB

thanks for the video! I just tried it and it worked. As stated I tried it once and it didnt work because I had the windows up. I tried again a week later, put windows all the way down. Followed what the video says and it worked like a charm

Very good , I am about to buy a A4 cabriolet, and your video is going to be very helpful. Thank you

Great instructions. Thanks you just saved me loads of time working this out for myself.

You absolute genius, thank you so much for posting this, I have just rebooted my roof and it all works perfectly, thanks to you buddy

Fantastic......mine did exactly the same thing on a slope and I was baffled, took 30mins securing the roof and looked like taking the car in to get sorted and a no doubt huge expense. Nothing in the manual suggested this remedy, but it works fine and its all back working again. Thanks very much.

Thank you. The owner's manual was worthless and without your excellent video I could have never figured out how to manually operate the soft top. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.

Life saver! Thanks very much for posting this, you are a gentleman.

Matthew, as another(s) has said -its over five years since you posted this video - but here's another grateful viewer. In unusually balmy English weather my sister opted for "roof-down" rather than air-conditioning. It stuck halfway, like the Titanic going down. Manual closure followed. Roof icon on dashboard flashing all the way home. Then thanks to you...open manually and close manually..and hey presto alles ist in ordnung as they at Audi. (Could be that we were parked on a bit of an incline.) Really good clear no-nonsense instructions. If you were a blonde lady of 25 I would kiss you, but as you're not I hope these words and a trans-Atlantic handshake will do instead. Cheers.

You just saved me a lot of money! This video is gold! Thank you so much for uploading it

This video saved me from ruining my seats in the snow! Thank you ❤️

This did the trick! Thanks for posting. Glad I looked for this before taking the car into the shop.

Thank you for taking your time to video this! Saved me a trip to the dealership :)

Thanks , my girlfriends A4 stopped working the roof was down then she tried to put it back up the windows went down as normal but the back lid only opend about 4-5 inches , done the manual reset copied off this video and it works perfect ! we thought we were going to have a nasty repair bill !! thanks .

Thank you! You saved my life for this rare sunny Belgian week! My 4 years old son is grateful too and is ready to offer you some chocolate...

Hey Matthew, just to say I had an issue today with my roof getting stuck and this video helped my fix the issue really quickly. Your a top man - thanks for sharing! :)

This video is such a great service to Audi convertible owners. Thank you do much. It saved me so much time and my sanity! Just bought my car! Brought it home and was going to take my family for our first ride and the sensor detects something ( my sons big head?) and stops working mid-way! Had no idea what was happening! Thought it was broken and called dealer where I bought it and was trying to figure out how to get it so I could drive it back for them to fix it. They couldn't really hel

Thanx Matthew, your video helped me to get home safely!

this is GREAT ! Saved me a ton of money . Worked like a charm . Now I know how to do it incase this problem happens again .. you do ROCK !

Fixed my roof thanks to this awesome video rebooted it all back to normal thanks for this video saved me a fortune !!! Well happy

This just happened to my b6, follwed the op's instructions, after checking the fuze first, that was ok, flashing yellow roof symbol on the dash and unable to open the boot with the fob, also the alarm beeb won't happen if you have this problem when locking the car, any how followed the video instructions and all's good now, full marks to the dude who posted this, andy.

Thanks for this helped me loads. Mine simply had the rear panel not fully locked. One turn and it was done. Cheers

Thanks for saving me not once....but twice. The second time it was raining and this helped me fix it at the carwash under a roof. Thanks!!!!!!

Thank you so much for posting this. My top wouldn't close. I am 5 hours away from home & mechanically challenged. Your advice saved the day!

Thanks so much! It worked and saved me a trip to the service dealer. Very easy.

Thanks so much for this video, I was out and popped my top, went halfway up and then it quit. Your video assisted me in securing the top and resetting it. Later I realized that my car was parked on an incline.