Replaced Z4 2004 rooftop motor and now only spins

[socaljay305]

Hey all,

Been searching for an answer here but i'm pretty sure i'm in over my head now. my top was working for years until it just kicked out.
I managed to get the motor out which was covered in rust and water. I have since replaced the motor but now when I activate the button all i get is the front motor to disengage and the rear motor is just spinning.

things i've tried:

switched terminals for the cords
took the emergency switch off and the brass button seems to push in and out fine.
fluid seems to be good according to the line on the plastic.
I also disconnected the motor from the hydraulic a few times to make sure the little brass pin and spring lines up with the plastic spinner on motor (I did lose one of the small tiny metal 1/10th inch things that pop into the side of the metal round piece inside the pump

I did notice that the roof is still going down manually no matter what position i put the red emergency pull string in.

any help would be greatly appreciated. Feels so close!

thanks in advance

 

[bigwinn]

If you have lost internals (from the plastic and metal bits) it won’t push fluid through

If I’m reading that right anyway

 

[DashingDaryl]

It sounds like you are not building pressure in your system. It maybe that you have a leak in your hydraulic hinges.

You can tell if you ever had to put hydraulic fluid in your pump, then you have a leak.

You can also re-hook up your old motor to the wires and see if the motor spins. If the motor spins, then it is most likely a hydraulic problem. Either a bad hydraulic Hinge, leaking hydraulic lines or a bad hydraulic pump.

If you have never had to add hydraulic fluid and/or the motor doesn't spin. I would disconnect the new motor and test it. Maybe the motor is running but the shaft isn't spinning.

 

[enuff_zed]

It looks like the brass plunger is pushed in? 5mm socket and twist until it pops back out.
Fill the reservoir until it spills out the top, to allow it to work at a greater angle.

Then if it still doesn't work, as Stuart says, check the locating brass pin is fitted between the pump rotor and the plastic rotor.
Also check the three tiny metal pins are fitted in the sides of the metal rotor in the pump.
Even just one of those missing will make it fail.

 

[socaljay305]

Thanks for the reply. I am missing one of the three tiny metal pieces and frantically searching for it now

 

[enuff_zed]

Thanks for the reply. I am missing one of the three tiny metal pieces and frantically searching for it now

Where are you?
I sent a whole kit of stuff to someone on here, who didn't use it all.
Can't remember who, but he may still have some.
I'll see if I can dig it out.

 

[enuff_zed]

Thanks for the reply. I am missing one of the three tiny metal pieces and frantically searching for it now

Even better, I just found some spares.
PM me your address and I'll post over whatever you need.

You need 3 posts to PM though.

 

[socaljay305]

Thank you! Ill search all around And let you know if I can’t find it. I’m in Fl

 

[enuff_zed]

Thank you! Ill search all around And let you know if I can’t find it. I’m in Fl

Florida?
Ah, well, you're talking to all the UK guys atm.
Still happy to send anything you need, but postage may cost you a bit.

PS, just checked mine and the brass plunger on yours IS correctly out, my mistake.

 

[socaljay305]

Ok I’ll search around locally for that little piece. I should have been more careful haha
Thanks again

 

[socaljay305]

Found the tiny metal pin inside the hydraulic part and dug it out. Topped it off with fluid and got it all working.

 

[N4LLY]

Result Congrat's

NB: We do like pictures of newbies cars especialy when based in FL :wink:

 

[enuff_zed]

Found the tiny metal pin inside the hydraulic part and dug it out. Topped it off with fluid and got it all working.

Great result.
No one ever believes me when I say just that one small pin can fail it.

 

[Alexhoek]

When I tried to open the rooftop I heard the high pitch noise but the top only moved slowly and eventually by gravity opened up completely. It would not not close again however. I had to close it manually, without engaging the bypass lever in the trunk. The system now completely fails, no high pitch noise from the pump and the top does not move in either direction.
I have taken the motor out and relocated it to the trunk. To my surprise the motor was completly dry and looked great, not corroded at all as I have seen in the various videos. (The car was allways parked in my garage).
I checked the electric motor by wiring it directly to the battery. It is in good condition and runs freely both ways. When I engage the rooftop button, the motor runs, but the top does not move. I added hydraulic fluid, but it was full already. Still the hydraulic system does not move the top. It seems that the hydraulic pump is not pumping. Is that corrrect? Can I fix it or do I replace it with a new pump.

 

[enuff_zed]

If all the internal parts mentioned above are present then I suspect you need a new pump.