Roof Motor - different failure mode?

JamesUK

JamesUK

Member
Guys,

I've searched the forum for roof motor problems, but not yet found anyone having the same failure mode as me.

2003 3 litre, 70k miles. No gap tech or other elec mods (as far as I know). No warning lights on dash. Roof worked perfectly, no issues, last time (probably October/November I guess).

Pressed the roof lower button today.... nothing. The windows didn't drop a few inches as they should. The latches didn't unlatch. No noise from any mechanisms. Nothing. The only thing that changed, was the orangey-red LED by the roof button - that illuminated as it should when I pressed the button.

I believe the motor was last changed about 2009/2010 (have a receipt in the service history from previous owner).

Any ideas?

TIA

James.
 
Just thought, is there a way to isolate/lock out/disable the roof, that I might have inadvertently activated?
 
There's a manual release along the top line of the boot, check that's all well and good in place. What colour is the light? Red or Orange?

FYI, you should try to operate your roof a few times over winter when it's not too cold or whatever, leaving it for ages isn't a good idea.
 
srhutch said:
Have you checked the tray in the boot. Sounds like it could be in the up position.
Click to expand...
Right. And if that's not the case, the sensor has likely failed so that the controller thinks it is up even if it physically is not.
 
Yep if the parcel shelf is as should be, it's almost certainly the microswitch in the boot from what I you've described. Fear not it won't be the motor or an expensive fix :)

Have a look around the boot for a little metal clip as they can from time to time come off the sensor... I'll post a pic up soon.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk.
 
Sorted, thanks guys!!

Basically, I'm am idiot:

I put a large box in the boot last week, and I must have pushed that little shelf UP, only on one side. I hadn't even realised it would/could move, what's it for?

I'm more used to the roof an my MG Midget... just push up/down with one hand, zero tech!

Hope this thread helps out another fool in the future...

James
 
Edit: haha just seen above as I posted. Like I said at the bottom :D. Will leave this reply and pics here in case anyone in the future does have the same problem and searches out this topic :thumbsup:

------------------------

Right the microswitch is located here:
10pn39d.jpg

(no idea why that shot has all the roof/parcel shelf taken off, you don't need to do that for this fix).

It's function is to tell you when the parcel shelf is raised or lowered, so as to not lower the roof if the parcel shelf is in the wrong position. There should be a small metal clip protruding out of the side of the switch, from time to time these can come loose/fall out, resulting in the switch failure. This will tell the roof button not to work because it assumes the parcel shelf is in the way.

Here's a quick shot through the window of mine, and you can just about see the small metal clip which is contacting with the lowered parcel shelf. Have a check of yours and see if you're missing the metal clip or if it's loose (it may even be somewhere around your parcel shelf or boot if it's come off...

35jlapd.jpg


Of course you may find that it's just because the shelf is raised, and all this is fixed in three seconds 8)
 
Thanks Ste.

And yes, useful for the next forum member who has this problem (my search was fruitless)

I take it the shelf just moves up to allow slightly bigger items to be carried?
 
JamesUK said:
Thanks Ste.

And yes, useful for the next forum member who has this problem (my search was fruitless)

I take it the shelf just moves up to allow slightly bigger items to be carried?
Click to expand...

Yep, pretty useless as there's only a couple of inches in it. People assume it's the roof motor itself if it doesn't lower, but more often then not it's either the shelf or the switch, especially if nothing atall happens when you press the button.
 
Ste said:
Yep, pretty useless as there's only a couple of inches in it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, not only is there little gain, but you CANNOT LOWER THE ROOF!! It is worse than useless. If something will only fit by raising the shelf, it's not going in my car. I didn't buy a convertible in order to drive with the roof up. May as well be welded permanently in the down position, wouldn't matter to me one bit.

Does anyone actually raise this on any more than an extremely rare, unusual situation?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom