Roof won't retract

G

GNR1

Member
Hi All !!!!

Got the roof motor out ,relocated, and the hydraulic topped off. Pushed the retract button---nothing. Windows did not go down and it did not unlatch.

Figured if motor was bad it would go through the window, latch routine anyway. Thought that perhaps the previous low fluid level was cause of retraction failure.

All ideas very welcome.
 
Morning.
First thing to check, is the microswitch on the parcel shelf correctly located and operating?
Very easy to put the parcel shelf back in wrongly aligned in the slot.
Assuming you have actually put the shelf back? If not, then close the switch with a suitable item (I used an old wheel nut) and see if it works then.
 
enuff_zed:

I thought of that this morning.---I think you are right on target The shelf is still out. Where do I find the micro switch?
 
The Micro Switch is located about midway in the boot bulk head. Just do a search in the forum for Micro Switch or even Youtube for z4 Micro Switch and you will see where it is and how operates. My Switch went bad and as your case nothing worked until replaced. Good Luck,
 
rdm05z4 said:
The Micro Switch is located about midway in the boot bulk head. Just do a search in the forum for Micro Switch or even Youtube for z4 Micro Switch and you will see where it is and how operates. My Switch went bad and as your case nothing worked until replaced. Good Luck,
Click to expand...
In this case, it is not failed, just nothing there to operate it.
I can understand you want to check everything before you reassemble it so look for the vertical slot in the middle of the forward boot wall. You'll see a small curved metal bit sticking out. Wedge it back using something as I suggested and your roof should work.
 
Thanks enuff_zed & rdm05z4. Will be checking the switch out in couple of days.
Thanksgiving tomorrow , Turkey & football (NFL)--not the REAL football.. :)
Appreciate the help.
 
GNR1 said:
Thanks enuff_zed & rdm05z4. Will be checking the switch out in couple of days.
Thanksgiving tomorrow , Turkey & football (NFL)--not the REAL football.. :)
Appreciate the help.
Click to expand...
Enjoy your turkey and 'football'. :D
Let us know how you get on, with the car I mean.......... :wink:
 
Back at it today.
Wedged the microswitch, pushed/held button for top down, windows went down, but no unlatch.

Tried to separate motor from pump. 1 allan screw had been previously stripped, wrench just went around. Managed to get a star wrench in and biting well, but could not loosen. Obviously had been overtightened by some previous owner/ mechanic.

I'm going to have to remove the hydraulic lines from the pump to take the unit out and put in vise for bolt removal.
Will there be a back flow of hydraulic oil into the boot/trunk ? Trying to avoid a big mess if I can.

Thinking I can remove lines from pump into a container for the limited back flow if any.
If successful, is there a way to bleed the lines after reassembly of new motor to hydraulic pump ?

This is almost as much fun as working on a sailboat !!!!! But not upside down as much !!

All thoughts /experiences welcome !
 
Would anyone know the specs for the 2 small bolts that hold the motor to the pump, or a resource I can search.
I got it apart, but one bolt had its allen socket stripped, now got to replace.

Got very little hydraulic oil flow back when disconnected the lines.
Any clues about locating the holes in the bolts that hold the 4 lines to pump ?

Making progress.
 
Installed new pump motor. Hit retract button--windows down, no unlatching.
Checked pump (now in boot/trunk)--low oil--added more---button light flashing--windows go down, no unlatching, no retraction.
Leave garage for home----1/2 mile away, roof decides to start retracting--pull over--roof successfully retracts completely

Pitch dark, rain is starting. Roof will not go back up.
Return to garage (daughter's)

Saga will continue tomorrow.
More hydraulic oil will be needed, I'm sure.

Should the unlatching work even with low oil ?

I will depress the brass button on the pump so I can raise the roof manually---thankfully in the trunk now.

Any ideas out there ?
 
Hmmm, I think I'd be looking to the wiring along the side of the roof for any damage.
Are you 100% certain you haven't kinked a hose or damaged any wiring while you were moving it?
 
enuff_zed said:
Hmmm, I think I'd be looking to the wiring along the side of the roof for any damage.
Are you 100% certain you haven't kinked a hose or damaged any wiring while you were moving it?
Click to expand...

Took the words right out of my mouth

I'll post my thread up from the same issue
 
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1839488&hilit=roof+issues+number+5#p1839488
 
Hi All !
Thank you for the insights, links etc. Read, followed them all.

With a day's separation to think, I realized that the retraction en route started with nothing in the microswitch slot. Should not have been able to retract. But the light was blinking.

Tonight, top down, fabricated a wooden plug to hold in microswitch.

Put a clamp on the brass button to allow hydraulic oil backflow.

By myself, stood on drivers seat and eased the top back up.

when close to closing, pushed close button. Started to retract. Pushed retract button, went forward to close.

Switched electrical leads on motor. Went according to buttons! Due to time constraints, did not run through full cycle either way.

BUT, it locked down on command. Will do full cycles tomorrow. Feel I'm pretty close to success ! BUT prepared for further endeavors !!!!!!!!!!


Thanks to all. !!!!!
GNR1
 
Ah, so was it just wind pushing the roof open then?
And hopefully something as simple as having the wires round the wrong way?
Hope it's sorted.
 
A couple of posts to this thread seem to have disappeared.

Will recap:

After a day to think about the events-----the micro switch was not depressed, but it retracted under power.???

Used C clamp to hold in brass button on pump. manually lifted top up with relative ease.
Would not complete latching cycle to close.
Switched wire leads.
Latched successfully.
Retracted partially using button. Finished latching cycle successfully.

Today ---SUCCESS !!!!!!
Completed several complete open/close cycles with no problems !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm suspicious of the microswitch. Will probably replace it in the spring. But for now will wallow in my triumph !

I'm not going to reinstall the parcel shelf, as it is not needed in my plans for the Z. Just will keep my little plug in to keep the switch depressed. I'll keep the C clamp in the tool kit, and check the fluid level and brass button function periodically, remembering the horror of the "stuck down" top.
Glad I bit the bullet and moved the pump/motor to the boot.

THANK YOU to all who helped me walk through the minefield of the Z4 "top won't work" issue.

You've even got me speaking UK---boot and Zed.

GNR1
On,On
Swansea, MA, USA
 
GNR1 said:
A couple of posts to this thread seem to have disappeared.

Will recap:

After a day to think about the events-----the micro switch was not depressed, but it retracted under power.???

Used C clamp to hold in brass button on pump. manually lifted top up with relative ease.
Would not complete latching cycle to close.
Switched wire leads.
Latched successfully.
Retracted partially using button. Finished latching cycle successfully.

Today ---SUCCESS !!!!!!
Completed several complete open/close cycles with no problems !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm suspicious of the microswitch. Will probably replace it in the spring. But for now will wallow in my triumph !

I'm not going to reinstall the parcel shelf, as it is not needed in my plans for the Z. Just will keep my little plug in to keep the switch depressed. I'll keep the C clamp in the tool kit, and check the fluid level and brass button function periodically, remembering the horror of the "stuck down" top.
Glad I bit the bullet and moved the pump/motor to the boot.

THANK YOU to all who helped me walk through the minefield of the Z4 "top won't work" issue.

You've even got me speaking UK---boot and Zed.

GNR1
On,On
Swansea, MA, USA
Click to expand...
Excellent! Glad it's sorted. And that you've had an opportunity to polish up your English. :poke: :D
Hadn't even realised you were over the pond tbh!
 
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