Roof motor relocation

[T_J_G]

Having roof problems, would stop half way up and go no further and red light was flashing all of the time. Seated it manually and now no red lights. But now a solid orange light when pressing, so I’ve ordered a new microswitch for the parcel shelf and thought whilst it’s all off I’ll relocate the motor as it’ll do no harm whilst I wait for the microswitch to be delivered.

I spent a couple of hours today trying to remove the top part of the motor case, to the point where I eventually gave up. I’m going to have another crack tomorrow, but I’m at the point where I’d love to know if there’s someone local that can sort, as I don’t have the greatest of patience.

I’m based in Kent ME9

 

[Number5]

I think Enuff Zed may be your nearest roof man. He’ll reply shortly I expect

 

[enuff_zed]

I think Enuff Zed may be your nearest roof man. He’ll reply shortly I expect

Hi yes I may be your closest forum option but still a long way from Kent. Happy to help if needed but may I suggest you look for Simon Liggins on Facebook? He has a workshop in Kent and does a lot of roof motors. If you can’t find him let me know as I have his number somewhere.
If you’d rather use a forum member then as I said, happy to help.

 

[T_J_G]

I think Enuff Zed may be your nearest roof man. He’ll reply shortly I expect

Hi yes I may be your closest forum option but still a long way from Kent. Happy to help if needed but may I suggest you look for Simon Liggins on Facebook? He has a workshop in Kent and does a lot of roof motors. If you can’t find him let me know as I have his number somewhere.
If you’d rather use a forum member then as I said, happy to help.

Thanks for the info, but I put my big boy pants on this morning and have finally got it out! Expecting to find a damp soggy mess....this is what I found.



Looks mint :roll:

 

[enuff_zed]

To quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail: "You lucky, lucky bar-steward!"

 

[T_J_G]

To quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail: "You lucky, lucky bar-steward!"

I guess it’s a good preventative measure, can’t check all is working until a new switch arrives for the parcel shelf.

Although after all that effort I can say I’m a little disappointed that it wasn’t full of water :lol:

 

[enuff_zed]

To quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail: "You lucky, lucky bar-steward!"

I guess it’s a good preventative measure, can’t check all is working until a new switch arrives for the parcel shelf.

Although after all that effort I can say I’m a little disappointed that it wasn’t full of water :lol:

You could simply bridge the two pins on the plug to the microswitch.

 

[T_J_G]

To quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail: "You lucky, lucky bar-steward!"

I guess it’s a good preventative measure, can’t check all is working until a new switch arrives for the parcel shelf.

Although after all that effort I can say I’m a little disappointed that it wasn’t full of water :lol:

You could simply bridge the two pins on the plug to the microswitch.

Fitted a new one this morning, roof folds down lovely but gets stuck half way to being closed. So all that effort and still none the wiser

 

[enuff_zed]

Does it just stop or is the motor running?
If you assist it does it keep going to fully closed?
Stand the motor upright and fill the reservoir with hydraulic jack oil until it spills over. It may hopefully just be not quite enough fluid in it.
I had one a while back that had been replaced with new and put back in the original position.
They had obviously filled the fluid to the '+' mark then sealed everything up.
First operation it self-bled and with the air out the fluid level dropped.
Symptoms were almost the same as yours.
With the motor now in the boot it is at even more of an angle so much easier for the inlet ports to be uncovered and draw in air.

 

[bigwinn]

After that’s checked it may be worth swapping a roof control module over to rule that out

 

[T_J_G]

Does it just stop or is the motor running?
If you assist it does it keep going to fully closed?
Stand the motor upright and fill the reservoir with hydraulic jack oil until it spills over. It may hopefully just be not quite enough fluid in it.
I had one a while back that had been replaced with new and put back in the original position.
They had obviously filled the fluid to the '+' mark then sealed everything up.
First operation it self-bled and with the air out the fluid level dropped.
Symptoms were almost the same as yours.
With the motor now in the boot it is at even more of an angle so much easier for the inlet ports to be uncovered and draw in air.

I think the motor stopped but I’ll have to check. I didn’t try and assist it as I didn’t want to break it.

Here is a photo from yesterday regarding the oil level which looks ok to me?



If I hold the button it’ll jerk a bit and move it more, but then do nothing. Interestingly red lights go off when windows are down.

Thank you for your help

 

[enuff_zed]

Possibly an electrical issue, but definitely fill that reservoir up first. Hard to tell as it's new clean fluid but it looks less than halfway up.
Fine while vertical, but not enough when you tip it to fit in the recess.

 

[T_J_G]

I think it’s electrical too, someone on Z Roadster had the same issue (almost to a T) and they had a broken wire in the loom. So I’ll look into that tomorrow.

Roof motor is original

 

[enuff_zed]

I think it’s electrical too, someone on Z Roadster had the same issue (almost to a T) and they had a broken wire in the loom. So I’ll look into that tomorrow.

Roof motor is original

Fine. Let us know how it goes.

However, in your original picture it looks as though the bypass lever is halfway pulled. That would be enough to stop enough pressure building to move it against gravity.
Have you checked it is now fully moved out?
You may have to adjust the cable tension using gthe white plastic adjuster about halfway down the cable.

 

[T_J_G]

I think it’s electrical too, someone on Z Roadster had the same issue (almost to a T) and they had a broken wire in the loom. So I’ll look into that tomorrow.

Roof motor is original

Fine. Let us know how it goes.

However, in your original picture it looks as though the bypass lever is halfway pulled. That would be enough to stop enough pressure building to move it against gravity.
Have you checked it is now fully moved out?
You may have to adjust the cable tension using gthe white plastic adjuster about halfway down the cable.

This is interesting but I’m not sure I understand what you mean.

I have however operated the level several times to close the roof when doing todays test so I’m not sure that’s the issue, and the issue was there before I faffed around with anything, but I’m willing to check anything at this stage

 

[enuff_zed]

The plastic levewr operated by the cable should be fully across to the right. as far out as it can move.

 

[Zedebee]

Roof stopping half way down sounds very like a broken wire in the loom that runs from the base of the roof to the top motor inside the edge of the roof on the (UK) passenger side. The wire’s outer plastic can get brittle with age and with repeated folding the wire (usually the red one) breaks. To locate the break you have to unwrap the loom and very carefully inspect each wire at the bend point, circled in the picture.

 

[T_J_G]

The plastic levewr operated by the cable should be fully across to the right. as far out as it can move.

Just checked this, and it seems ok but now I’ve got no roof at all just flashing red lights.

Thanks @zedebee this is my suspicion, and I’ll investigate further tomorrow (and pickup some new oil to rule that out)

 

[bigwinn]

Roof stopping half way down sounds very like a broken wire in the loom that runs from the base of the roof to the top motor inside the edge of the roof on the (UK) passenger side. The wire’s outer plastic can get brittle with age and with repeated folding the wire (usually the red one) breaks. To locate the break you have to unwrap the loom and very carefully inspect each wire at the bend point, circled in the picture.
IMG_1529.jpeg

Agreed

Especially if it jerks when you tap the area- mine did that

 

[FunkyGBrown]

Just seen you got it out, I'm in ME12 and managed to get mine out (took long enough mind). sadly it was knackered but enuff_zed kindly sorted a new motor for me and got it all working fine.