Another roof problem!

W

wanatkinson

Member
Hi all,

I know this has been covered before but it is all very confusing and I think this problem is quite specific. The roof won't go fully up, but gets as far as here:

bZOrdwC.jpg

It will go fully down but I get the warning light and flashing roof button and constant bonging. I can hear the motor turning as usual until the boot lid closes but instead of the next stage starting (the rear windshield coming down) the motor sounds like it keeps turning.

It ruined the first day in the sun this year and i've had to hide it out of site of the local ne'er-do-wells and plan to phone the garage in the morning. If anyone knows exactly what it is from the description, I can go in with more confidence to get it fixed (I know this can be expensive)
 
Is the car running when you’ve been trying this? I had the exact same problem a couple of weeks ago if I left the car for a couple of days. I would then open the door and the red light would be flashing for the roof and I wouldn’t be able to open the boot. Start the car and then tried opening to the first stage and then closing and all was ok. Leave again for a couple of days and same thing.
I wasn’t sure how old my battery was as car is 2010 and it had a Varta battery badged BMW so I changed the battery. So far so good, haven’t experienced the problem since.
 
Not sure how old the battery is and I can't get into the boot to see. I've had it 2 years so it's at least that old. I'm doubtful it is that as I can hear the motor still turning. It's like it's trying to close the boot lid but doesn't realise its already done it so it keep going.
 
RobbiZ4 said:
What is shown on the first picture: Opening or closing?

wanatkinson said:
The roof won't go fully up, but gets as far as here:
bZOrdwC.jpg

It will go fully down but I get the warning light and flashing roof button and constant bonging. I can hear the motor turning as usual until the boot lid closes but instead of the next stage starting (the rear windshield coming down) the motor sounds like it keeps turning.
Click to expand...

If it's while closing, then I assume an issue with a microswitch coupling lock on the right or left side. Should be replaced on both sides.
Click to expand...

Thanks. It's stuck there when closing. Microswitch is what I was hoping! The garage replaced the rear light unit recently.....
 
So is likely to be a broken wire in the roof cylinder Hall switch. Something is not telling the system the rear window is in a suitable position for the boot to lift, if the motor is running ok.

I know it's an expense but worth it's weight in gold but buy a Foxwell or similar code reader, it shows real time data of the switches.
 
The mechanic saw me at short notice, which was good of him since COVID means he is alone in the garage. Ran the diagnostic but he didnt give much away - said something about the motor being on the way out. We managed to close to the roof by me holding the close button and him completing the cycle (pushing the rear window down) by hand. The alert still bongs away and it is booked in next week for a proper look.

Not sure what anyone thinks about that but it makes more sense to me that the boot lid just doesn't realise it is shut (i.e. MS). But then, what do I know?!
 
wanatkinson said:
The mechanic saw me at short notice, which was good of him since COVID means he is alone in the garage. Ran the diagnostic but he didnt give much away - said something about the motor being on the way out. We managed to close to the roof by me holding the close button and him completing the cycle (pushing the rear window down) by hand. The alert still bongs away and it is booked in next week for a proper look.

Not sure what anyone thinks about that but it makes more sense to me that the boot lid just doesn't realise it is shut (i.e. MS). But then, what do I know?!
Click to expand...

Doesn’t sound like the motors on its way out to me, doesn’t he think it’s strange that the roof stops in exactly the same position every time?
Sounds like he’s guessing to me :?
Rob
 
I've been reading the workshop manual and it makes sense to me that it is one of the the "rear module" microswitches. Or maybe a hall sensor? I'm not sure what the hall sensor does yet. I've also ordered a Creator C310 scanner which should arrive tomorrow. I'll let you know what it says!

Thanks everyone.
 
It seems quite common for people to get multiple faults from these readers so I will take the codes with a "pinch of salt". I have looked again at dietcokeman's big post about this and he seems to describe my issue quite accurately:

"UPDATE

having done a few of these now here is another bit of info.

If your roof opens , folds into the boot successfully but the windows fail to raise and the boot won't open or the roof closes and leaves the rear window cam shell on top of the roof and the windows fail to raise. ...........this is likely to be a faulty boot switch micro sensor .items 4 and 5 on the parts diagram , (microswitch ring buckle coupling )"

I think I will replace these first and see what happens :thumbsup:
 
So should these micro switches be replaced in the same fashion as the salmon relays? i.e. preventive maintenance. If so is this doable by an average person? where are these microswitches located and how do you change them?
 
tintoverano said:
diag_46o6.jpg

Screen Shot 05-22-20 at 12.59 PM.PNG

how about #2 and #3?

thanks
Click to expand...

The problem seems to be with the "rear module microswitch" (that's what it's called in the workshop manual) or what I've been calling the "boot lid" not knowing it has succesfully closed, which is what RobbieZ4 and dietcokeman seem to agree is due to the boot lid or "rear module" microswitch - #4 and #5 in the diagram. The parts catalogue seems to call this the "ring buckle coupling microswitch" but I'm pretty sure it is the same thing.

I can see why you would look at the rear window shell as that is the part that is stuck when trying to close the roof, but the problem is still present when the roof is fully open and the rear window shell is stowed away, i.e. the wndows won't go up, the boot is locked and the warning light and sound remain.

Hope that all makes sense! If not, let me know before I go down the wrong path...
 
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