Retractable Roof Issue

[Nocturnal]

Hello,

I have relocated my roof motor to the trunk. I have replaced the electrical motor while making sure the existing hydraulic fluid stays in the reservoir. When I operate the top, I hear the electric motor but the top doesn't move. It's very finicky. Sometimes it will work, othertimes it will not.

With the roof totally down this is the image of my pump:

What can I do to further diagnose?

 

[enuff_zed]

The manual cable doesn’t look fully extended to me. Could be partially opening the bypass plunger. There is a white plastic adjuster on that cable about halfway back. Wind it in to give some slack, then n my air sure the brass plunger is fully out.

 

[Nocturnal]

The manual cable doesn’t look fully extended to me. Could be partially opening the bypass plunger. There is a white plastic adjuster on that cable about halfway back. Wind it in to give some slack, then n my air sure the brass plunger is fully out.

I was able to work on it a bit since the post. I added a small amount of Pentosin CHF 202 Synthetic Hydraulic Fluid to the top of the pump. I then ran the operation back and forth quite a bit (with my hand helping it along the way). Right now it's in a state where after sitting for a while it will not open by itself (motor whining but not moving back). When I push my hand there a little bit then it will work fully. Closing works without help (just a bit slow). I do this again, open the top, use my hand to help. Close it without helping. Eventually after doing this in succession, it will then be able to retract itself and open without the help of my hand.

Any idea on how I can get it to retract without the help of my hand all the time?

Thanks!

 

[enuff_zed]

The manual cable doesn’t look fully extended to me. Could be partially opening the bypass plunger. There is a white plastic adjuster on that cable about halfway back. Wind it in to give some slack, then n my air sure the brass plunger is fully out.

I was able to work on it a bit since the post. I added a small amount of Pentosin CHF 202 Synthetic Hydraulic Fluid to the top of the pump. I then ran the operation back and forth quite a bit (with my hand helping it along the way). Right now it's in a state where after sitting for a while it will not open by itself (motor whining but not moving back). When I push my hand there a little bit then it will work fully. Closing works without help (just a bit slow). I do this again, open the top, use my hand to help. Close it without helping. Eventually after doing this in succession, it will then be able to retract itself and open without the help of my hand.

Any idea on how I can get it to retract without the help of my hand all the time?

Thanks!

Have you checked that bypass ?

 

[Nocturnal]

The manual cable doesn’t look fully extended to me. Could be partially opening the bypass plunger. There is a white plastic adjuster on that cable about halfway back. Wind it in to give some slack, then n my air sure the brass plunger is fully out.

I was able to work on it a bit since the post. I added a small amount of Pentosin CHF 202 Synthetic Hydraulic Fluid to the top of the pump. I then ran the operation back and forth quite a bit (with my hand helping it along the way). Right now it's in a state where after sitting for a while it will not open by itself (motor whining but not moving back). When I push my hand there a little bit then it will work fully. Closing works without help (just a bit slow). I do this again, open the top, use my hand to help. Close it without helping. Eventually after doing this in succession, it will then be able to retract itself and open without the help of my hand.

Any idea on how I can get it to retract without the help of my hand all the time?

Thanks!

Have you checked that bypass ?

Just so I’m following, so the black cable visible in the image which is associated with the red manual lever. I should trace the cable back and eventually I will feel some white plastic adjuster. Is this like a screw? When you mention wind it, just trying to understand what that means. What is the brass plunger btw?


Thank you!!!

 

[enuff_zed]

I was able to work on it a bit since the post. I added a small amount of Pentosin CHF 202 Synthetic Hydraulic Fluid to the top of the pump. I then ran the operation back and forth quite a bit (with my hand helping it along the way). Right now it's in a state where after sitting for a while it will not open by itself (motor whining but not moving back). When I push my hand there a little bit then it will work fully. Closing works without help (just a bit slow). I do this again, open the top, use my hand to help. Close it without helping. Eventually after doing this in succession, it will then be able to retract itself and open without the help of my hand.

Any idea on how I can get it to retract without the help of my hand all the time?

Thanks!

Have you checked that bypass ?

Just so I’m following, so the black cable visible in the image which is associated with the red manual lever. I should trace the cable back and eventually I will feel some white plastic adjuster. Is this like a screw? When you mention wind it, just trying to understand what that means. What is the brass plunger btw?


Thank you!!!

Before you do all that, undo the three small screws that hold on the black plastic part in your photo. You will see it holds a lever which the cable pulls on. Under that, you will see a small brass plunger in the body of the pump. It should stick out about 3-5 mm. Pushing it in should be easy and it should pop back out when you let go. If not then use a 5mm socket to twist it until it frees off.
Try operating the roof without the lever reattached.
If it works then it is that cable holding the plunger in a bit and partially opening the bypass so not all the hydraulic pressure gets to the hinges.
Follow the black cable from the lever back along the left side of the roof. You will see a plastic turnbuckle adjuster. It is threaded. Turn the adjuster so the thread screws inwards. You should see the end of the cable attached to the lever move over to allow the lever to move fully out and remove any pressure on the brass plunger.

 

[Nocturnal]

Have you checked that bypass ?

Just so I’m following, so the black cable visible in the image which is associated with the red manual lever. I should trace the cable back and eventually I will feel some white plastic adjuster. Is this like a screw? When you mention wind it, just trying to understand what that means. What is the brass plunger btw?


Thank you!!!

Before you do all that, undo the three small screws that hold on the black plastic part in your photo. You will see it holds a lever which the cable pulls on. Under that, you will see a small brass plunger in the body of the pump. It should stick out about 3-5 mm. Pushing it in should be easy and it should pop back out when you let go. If not then use a 5mm socket to twist it until it frees off.
Try operating the roof without the lever reattached.
If it works then it is that cable holding the plunger in a bit and partially opening the bypass so not all the hydraulic pressure gets to the hinges.
Follow the black cable from the lever back along the left side of the roof. You will see a plastic turnbuckle adjuster. It is threaded. Turn the adjuster so the thread screws inwards. You should see the end of the cable attached to the lever move over to allow the lever to move fully out and remove any pressure on the brass plunger.

Hello,

By the plunger and removal of the plunger are you referring to the spring that I see when I split the motor from the hydraulic pump? It has like a circle of holes and what looks like a spring.

 

[enuff_zed]

Just so I’m following, so the black cable visible in the image which is associated with the red manual lever. I should trace the cable back and eventually I will feel some white plastic adjuster. Is this like a screw? When you mention wind it, just trying to understand what that means. What is the brass plunger btw?


Thank you!!!

Before you do all that, undo the three small screws that hold on the black plastic part in your photo. You will see it holds a lever which the cable pulls on. Under that, you will see a small brass plunger in the body of the pump. It should stick out about 3-5 mm. Pushing it in should be easy and it should pop back out when you let go. If not then use a 5mm socket to twist it until it frees off.
Try operating the roof without the lever reattached.
If it works then it is that cable holding the plunger in a bit and partially opening the bypass so not all the hydraulic pressure gets to the hinges.
Follow the black cable from the lever back along the left side of the roof. You will see a plastic turnbuckle adjuster. It is threaded. Turn the adjuster so the thread screws inwards. You should see the end of the cable attached to the lever move over to allow the lever to move fully out and remove any pressure on the brass plunger.

Hello,

By the plunger and removal of the plunger are you referring to the spring that I see when I split the motor from the hydraulic pump? It has like a circle of holes and what looks like a spring.

No. The brass 5mm hex head that sticks out slightly from the side of the pump body. It’s what the lever pushes in when you pull the cable.