Roof light flashing constantly after water ingress

M

mcbraidwood1

Member
 Scotland
Hi everyone,

Another faulty roof post for the forum (wish I'd searched this on here when I bought the car). Roof was working fine before lockdown. The car has largely been sat on the drive with just the odd run throughout lockdown.

Roof button was flashing red as soon as I opened the car door two weeks ago. Checked the motor and the area was under a few inches of water! (Again I wish I'd read up on this earlier) I've drained all of that, let it dry and replaced the relays but still nothing and the red light still flashes constantly with no movement from the roof when I push the buttons. There was a little blue corrosion inside some of the wirinf connectors, but I have cleaned these up.

Any ideas of what the cause could be? Is it needing a new motor? From what I've read of other problems I think that's the case but didn't want to try and source one if there's a chance of fixing it or if it might be a micro switch/sensor.

Thanks
Matt
 
Sorry to hear.

It sounds like you need to find someone who can perform a diagnosis on the motor unit.

Probably a case of removing it from the car, stripping it down and determining which part is causing the motor to fail.

It could be any number of other issues though. Is there water ingress around any other part of the car? There are several control modules which could be affected.

Ideally, if you can refurb the motor, that will be your best option.

I suppose it failed as the battery had power, and it was connected whilst the water was in the motor housing.

You may get lucky, and it be some corrosion on some of the contacts.
 
You'll need to read the codes really. Without knowing what the electronics think, its anyone's guess.. I'd also check under the right hand boot cover where all the electronics are. If that's wet that's where others have had problems..
 
Thanks for the replies. I'll try and find somewhere local that can read the code and that'll hopefully give me a better idea. I've not looked under the right hand side but I'm guessing the water will have got into there too. I'll strip it tomorrow and have a look
 
Follow up to the above, I got the codes read by a local garage and it's come up with a faulty micro sensor on the left hand side of the roof. They said they tried to bypass this to double check it's the only fault. When bypassed the roof moves a little but the is also giving an overheating error. Apparently even though I gave the motor a few weeks to dry out it is still soaking inside, so I'm hoping this is causing the overheating.

They're ordering the new micro switch to fit as a first step and fingers crossed that solves it.
 
mcbraidwood1 said:
They're ordering the new micro switch to fit as a first step and fingers crossed that solves it.
Click to expand...
did you check under the right hand floor panel (behind the rear lights)? this also gets wet and stops it working. it might be a contact that is corroded... there was a post here about that last week, but I can't find it. I'll do a bit more searching. Ah, it was a boot not opening. but its all around the same area. the plastic cover is showing picture number 2. look under there!

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=126598
 
mcbraidwood1 said:
Follow up to the above, I got the codes read by a local garage and it's come up with a faulty micro sensor on the left hand side of the roof. They said they tried to bypass this to double check it's the only fault. When bypassed the roof moves a little but the is also giving an overheating error. Apparently even though I gave the motor a few weeks to dry out it is still soaking inside, so I'm hoping this is causing the overheating.

They're ordering the new micro switch to fit as a first step and fingers crossed that solves it.
Click to expand...

IMHO, expecting an electric motor that’s been sat in water to run perfectly whilst just sitting there damp is asking for trouble. :tumbleweed:

There will all manner of corrosion taking place inside that motor. :thumbsdown:

At the very least you would need to take it out and dry it out say in an airing cupboard plus copious WD40 through any inspection / access holes.. :thumbsup:
 
Few things don’t add up here. The only microswitch is on the parcel shelf (which is activated when set in its upper position on the two circular knobs). The switch they might be referring to is a hall sensor on the lhs, sometimes the mounting tab breaks off so it loses it’s position but that doesn’t usually stop the roof moving, it just stops it completing it’s operation.

Sounds like the motor needs some attention. It’s really just the brushes that suffer when submerged and 99% of the time can be brought back to life by submerging in diesel overnight then running the pump from +12v whilst tapping lightly with a wooden mallet.

I would get the motor working first then move it to the boot and see where you are.
 
ph001 said:
Catches me every time! Apologies.... I have no idea about E89!
Click to expand...

:rofl:

Those E85 motors are a wonder of engineering though aren't they. Number5 relocated mine to the boot, I planned it purely as preventative maintenence as it was working 100%. The puddle of brown rusty water it had clearly been sitting in for years I'll never forget as Alan poured it onto the ground :o
 
mcbraidwood1 said:
Follow up to the above, I got the codes read by a local garage and it's come up with a faulty micro sensor on the left hand side of the roof. They said they tried to bypass this to double check it's the only fault. When bypassed the roof moves a little but the is also giving an overheating error. Apparently even though I gave the motor a few weeks to dry out it is still soaking inside, so I'm hoping this is causing the overheating.

They're ordering the new micro switch to fit as a first step and fingers crossed that solves it.
Click to expand...
Hi guys,
It pains me to read from afar how much false information and nonsensical hints are given here and will be copied/quoted over and over again.

1) The flashing red light NEVER indicates any failure! It only signals, that the roof is neither completely opened nor closed.
2) Roof shell microswitch: they never break, only the wires in the roof shell to the microswitch / hall sensor break. Don't try to replace the switches. Keep care about the 2 + 4 wires on both sides of the roof.
3) Overheating of the pump motor: the internal temperature sensor is damaged by the water and can be replaced, if the motor got dried and still works. I take this part: NTC-THERMISTOR DHT0A104F39H3SY (with 100K ohms!)

roofmotors..co.uk may provide a complete motor for replacement.


CU
Rob
 
RobbiZ4 said:
mcbraidwood1 said:
Follow up to the above, I got the codes read by a local garage and it's come up with a faulty micro sensor on the left hand side of the roof. They said they tried to bypass this to double check it's the only fault. When bypassed the roof moves a little but the is also giving an overheating error. Apparently even though I gave the motor a few weeks to dry out it is still soaking inside, so I'm hoping this is causing the overheating.

They're ordering the new micro switch to fit as a first step and fingers crossed that solves it.
Click to expand...
Hi guys,
Click to expand...

Hi Robbi, good to see you back.
If we all promise to play nicely, I'd like to hope you will stay and help us all with the inevitable roof issues. :thumbsup:
 
My roof failure was indicated by just as i moved off;
1/ Bong 2/ Red roof on dash 3/ Flashing red button close 4/ Roof impaired message on iDrive.
The system knew some condition wasn't met. In my case from obd reader Hall switch rear shell(wires).
When i pushed on wires it all went away, if i pushed again i could bring it all back so it knew condition had not been met to work correctly.
If the over temp. is bust might be one condition that is monitored, possibly? What did a code reader say.
 
Tried experiment, i disconnected the motor connector with two violet temp. sensor wires and power to motor.
No warning in cabin until ignition on and you try to open roof.
Then "roof movement impaired" comes up.
 
enuff_zed said:
Hi Robbi, good to see you back.
If we all promise to play nicely, I'd like to hope you will stay and help us all with the inevitable roof issues. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Nice welcome, thanks.
Not sure, if I really will. Made 2 dozens of roofs in the last couple of weeks right after work. :o

Most details and basics can be found in the German ZRoadster forum. Google translate will be your friend!
 
RobbiZ4 said:
enuff_zed said:
Hi Robbi, good to see you back.
If we all promise to play nicely, I'd like to hope you will stay and help us all with the inevitable roof issues. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Nice welcome, thanks.
Not sure, if I really will. Made 2 dozens of roofs in the last couple of weeks right after work. :o

Most details and basics can be found in the German ZRoadster forum. Google translate will be your friend!
Click to expand...

As others have said ,Good to see your back :thumbsup:
 
RobbiZ4 said:
enuff_zed said:
Hi Robbi, good to see you back.
If we all promise to play nicely, I'd like to hope you will stay and help us all with the inevitable roof issues. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Nice welcome, thanks.
Not sure, if I really will. Made 2 dozens of roofs in the last couple of weeks right after work. :o

Most details and basics can be found in the German ZRoadster forum. Google translate will be your friend!
Click to expand...
Yup, that's fair enough I guess.
Good to know you're still active in the German forum so we can at least track you down there. (You cannot escape! :D )
Be nice if you could look in every now and then though.
Cheers
 
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