Trouble with roof

Markben · Post by **Markben** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 2:42 pm

Hi all
A friend of mine was having trouble with the roof on his 53 plate z4, so he did what was said in his manual to get roof down, pull red lever in boot and pull the cord in boot, but now the motor moves slow and struggle to work, by him pulling red lever would this do any damage ?? All help please

Phoenixboy · Post by **Phoenixboy** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 4:13 pm

Markben wrote: ↑Sat Apr 28, 2018 2:42 pm Hi all
A friend of mine was having trouble with the roof on his 53 plate z4, so he did what was said in his manual to get roof down, pull red lever in boot and pull the cord in boot, but now the motor moves slow and struggle to work, by him pulling red lever would this do any damage ?? All help please

have a look on the forum services section for people in your area or closest.
they are the roof gurus and will sort it at a reasonable price.

MACK · Post by **MACK** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 8:02 pm

First of all if you didn't put the red lever back to its original position the roof motor wont work as the bypass will still be active.
The real question though is what was the issue with the roof in the first place that led you to use the roof motor bypass?

Markben · Post by **Markben** » Sat May 05, 2018 2:26 pm

Hi the roof was ok before, it unlocks and moves about 3 inches then will not move at all,

jamie_z4 · Post by **jamie_z4** » Sat May 05, 2018 2:33 pm

Where Bouts are you /he based? As Rob said there's plenty of people dotted around who can sort it

Markben · Post by **Markben** » Sat May 05, 2018 3:59 pm

Based in Shropshire

Number5 · Post by **Number5** » Sat May 05, 2018 6:35 pm

Your nearest roof specialists are probably either me in Bristol , or Ducklakeview in St Helens (Merseyside way).

Drop either of us a PM if you want us to look at it.

I would say that the bypass valve is probabaly half in half out if its moving slowly. If you leave it half way up, does it hold there or does it drop back down with gravity within 30 seconds ? If it drops, your bypass valve is allowing the pressure out and not sealing the system. Easy fix once the motor is out and accessible.

Markben · Post by **Markben** » Sat May 05, 2018 7:43 pm

Hi
It has just worked perfect up and down a couple of times, then it just open the locks and will not move back at all, only open and close the locks,

MACK · Post by **MACK** » Sun May 06, 2018 8:18 pm

Markben wrote: ↑Sat May 05, 2018 7:43 pm Hi
It has just worked perfect up and down a couple of times, then it just open the locks and will not move back at all, only open and close the locks,

By locks I take it that you mean the latches at the front of the roof, not the ones in the doors

If that's right then this sounds like classic main roof motor failure. The front motor unlatches the locks on the windscreen but then the main motor fails to kick in and actually lower the roof.
It's easily sortable. A few members do it a few different ways. If I was you I'd give number5 a pm

Number5 · Post by **Number5** » Sun May 06, 2018 8:51 pm

Markben wrote: ↑Sat May 05, 2018 7:43 pm Hi
It has just worked perfect up and down a couple of times, then it just open the locks and will not move back at all, only open and close the locks,

if it's frequently still working it sounds like the perfect time to relocate it before it dies completely. " A stitch in time saves nine.." as they say.

Markben · Post by **Markben** » Mon May 14, 2018 7:29 pm

Hi all
Got the roof off over the weekend , to find the roof pump and motor housing full of water, someone said to relocate motor in the boot, is it a easy job to do. Tested motor on battery and don’t move it got rusty water around it. Advice most welcome

tug · Post by **tug** » Thu May 17, 2018 2:51 pm

Markben wrote: ↑Mon May 14, 2018 7:29 pm Hi all
Got the roof off over the weekend , to find the roof pump and motor housing full of water, someone said to relocate motor in the boot, is it a easy job to do. Tested motor on battery and don’t move it got rusty water around it. Advice most welcome

Hi Mark, when you connect the motor to the battery directly does it work at all?

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Thu May 17, 2018 3:34 pm

Submerge the motor in a bowl of diesel for a few minutes giving it a few taps. Then try again on the battery. They usually spring to life.

Ducklakeview · Post by **Ducklakeview** » Thu May 17, 2018 5:12 pm

The washing in diesel is only a temporary fix if it works as the commutator will have corrosion on it. When the motor stops with the brushes on that corrosion it won't start again without a nudge. Stripping the motor and refurbishing the commutator makes them work like new again, every time. And yes, I speak from experience.

Mike

tug · Post by **tug** » Thu May 17, 2018 5:21 pm

ph001 wrote: ↑Thu May 17, 2018 3:34 pm Submerge the motor in a bowl of diesel for a few minutes giving it a few taps. Then try again on the battery. They usually spring to life.

Exactly what i was gonna say buddy

But as Mike says they dont last long but it is nice to see them coming back from the dead even if only for a short while.

Cheers, tug

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