Roof motor power cables location?

M

mattb10

Member
Hi all,

So after getting the roof motor in the boot and restoring life into it like Jesus on Easter Sunday the next day it's completely dead again! I don't understand it.

The fuse is okay and the roof unlocks/locks okay, but there's absolutely no noise from the motor.

I wondered if it was worth exploring the power cables attached to the motor? Does anyone know how you can get access to the other end of them?
 
Have you tried putting a small 12v battery directly onto the motor ?

Otherwise its worth checking the plugs on the roof module located just to the right of the storage pod behind the passenger seat. Remove the little square vent and see if the connectors are pushed on firmly.
 
mattb10 said:
Hi all,

So after getting the roof motor in the boot and restoring life into it like Jesus on Easter Sunday the next day it's completely dead again! I don't understand it.

The fuse is okay and the roof unlocks/locks okay, but there's absolutely no noise from the motor.

I wondered if it was worth exploring the power cables attached to the motor? Does anyone know how you can get access to the other end of them?
Click to expand...
Problems To check first maybe,
1 Are the wires on the correct way round swop them over and try again,
2 Are the terminals at base of motor clean.
3 Micro switch in boot engaged when re fitting shelf.

These were all issues I had to work out before mine would lower.
 
The other end will be somewhere behind the passenger seat, pry the speaker cover and the small grill off and the roof module is a white box on your right hand side (Facing the back of the car).

Presuming the motor cables would be the biggest three.

Worth considering the options above first though

Cheers,
Sam
 
Firstly if the motor is now in the boot , run a power supply direct to the motor to see it it runs and check the power cables themselves to see that you have power ( you'll have to press the up or down button), it's possible that when moving the motor to the boot you have over stretched a cable causing a break in the cable or moved the power cable into a position where it has chaffed and worn through after a few uses .
 
If your supply to the motor is not present then the next connection back towards the switch from the motor is behind the trim panel behind the passenger seat . Move the seat forward and remove the rear section of the door seal and remove the rear panel screws , speaker grilles if you have them and air vent cover , then carefully lift the trim panel up from the bottom, then I normal put a Bungie around the trim and back up the the headrest metal extensions , you can then gain access under that panel to the motor power connection . Your looking for a plug with 2 wires going to it , it will normally be clipped to the side of the bodywork , both the wires are quite thick, both are black, one with a green stripe and one with a blue stripe, ( one powers the motor one way, one powers it the other way ) . Again here, plug a power supply direct into to plug so it goes up towards the motor ( with it connected of course ) and also check power is getting to this joint from the buttons .
 
sw4nny said:
mattb10 said:
Hi all,

So after getting the roof motor in the boot and restoring life into it like Jesus on Easter Sunday the next day it's completely dead again! I don't understand it.

The fuse is okay and the roof unlocks/locks okay, but there's absolutely no noise from the motor.

I wondered if it was worth exploring the power cables attached to the motor? Does anyone know how you can get access to the other end of them?
Click to expand...
Problems To check first maybe,
1 Are the wires on the correct way round swop them over and try again,
2 Are the terminals at base of motor clean.
3 Micro switch in boot engaged when re fitting shelf.

These were all issues I had to work out before mine would lower.
Click to expand...

The roof motor runs both ways on the Z4 therefore the two cables on the bottom supply power to both terminals , if you press the up button the power is supplied one way and if the press the down button it is supplied the other way . So unless you have connected them in reverse in relation to the power buttons ( up and down ) they can't be wrong . Certainly right to check the connectivity and state of the terminals and the micro switch though .
 
id check the actual cables to the motor with a meter to see what power is getting there too. Im guessing it see 12V or -12V dependent on button from the post above. if it is then there is no need to take the car apart to chase these wire.
 
domsz4 said:
id check the actual cables to the motor with a meter to see what power is getting there too. Im guessing it see 12V or -12V dependent on button from the post above. if it is then there is no need to take the car apart to chase these wire.
Click to expand...

I think you'll find that's is exactly what I was saying in my above posts.......check first :D
 
Update 24/04/16: Thanks everyone for the replies. I found some time to take my car out for a spin today. Hadn't used it for a week so went for a long drive.

After pulling back on to my drive I thought I'd test the roof again on the off-chance it would work, and guess what, it did! How strange. Not only did the motor spring into life but thanks to the hydraulic fluid top-up the roof actually goes up and down again! First time it's properly* worked in well over a year. Happy days.

*My only quibble is that now it doesn't seem to drop enough to lock in place. It needs a little hand to go down fully before the locking mechanisms engage. Never had a problem before and I've heard other members mention this issue too. I'll keep cycling it when the weather is nice and see how it goes.
 
mattb10 said:
Update 24/04/16: Thanks everyone for the replies. I found some time to take my car out for a spin today. Hadn't used it for a week so went for a long drive.

After pulling back on to my drive I thought I'd test the roof again on the off-chance it would work, and guess what, it did! How strange. Not only did the motor spring into life but thanks to the hydraulic fluid top-up the roof actually goes up and down again! First time it's properly* worked in well over a year. Happy days.

*My only quibble is that now it doesn't seem to drop enough to lock in place. It needs a little hand to go down fully before the locking mechanisms engage. Never had a problem before and I've heard other members mention this issue too. I'll keep cycling it when the weather is nice and see how it goes.
Click to expand...
Strange that a few of us seem to have the same quibble of the roof not locking shut .
Are your wires running on top of the plastic shelf where the roof sits when folded?
These I feel may be sitting proud just enough to stop the roof dropping that last inch,
only a thought and I have no idea where to site them if this is the issue.
Would be nice for someone to finally nail this issue. :headbang:
 
sw4nny said:
mattb10 said:
Update 24/04/16: Thanks everyone for the replies. I found some time to take my car out for a spin today. Hadn't used it for a week so went for a long drive.

After pulling back on to my drive I thought I'd test the roof again on the off-chance it would work, and guess what, it did! How strange. Not only did the motor spring into life but thanks to the hydraulic fluid top-up the roof actually goes up and down again! First time it's properly* worked in well over a year. Happy days.

*My only quibble is that now it doesn't seem to drop enough to lock in place. It needs a little hand to go down fully before the locking mechanisms engage. Never had a problem before and I've heard other members mention this issue too. I'll keep cycling it when the weather is nice and see how it goes.
Click to expand...
Strange that a few of us seem to have the same quibble of the roof not locking shut .
Are your wires running on top of the plastic shelf where the roof sits when folded?
These I feel may be sitting proud just enough to stop the roof dropping that last inch,
only a thought and I have no idea where to site them if this is the issue.
Would be nice for someone to finally nail this issue. :headbang:
Click to expand...

Check out this link;

http://dellis.co.uk.linkpc.net/Z4/Pdfs/Instructions/

about 2 thirds of the way down there's a link titled "SI_19-TopFailsToStowFully.pdf"

That describes the problem and gives instructions how to rectify it.

I stumbled across it on another thread on this forum - not sure which thread now but hopefully this will help sw4nny and mattb10.
 
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