Soft top stuck down after winter hardtop removal

W

williamdefender

Member
After a winter hibernation i thought St Paddys Day would be a good time to remove the hardtop and treat the soft top to some renovo dye . Well the dreaded roof motor issue seems to finally hit me . Soft top is stuck in the down position with red light flashing at the switch . I can hear the motor attempting up and down but no movement . With me being in Northern Ireland I've never been able to avail of ducklakeviews wonderful boot mod so I'm kinda stuck now . Lots of reading ahead I'm sure but if anyone can throw out some quick tips then please do . Im sort of confident that once it frees up it will keep going as there has been no issue prior to the hibernation . Oh and if theres any motor boot movers in NI then please shout out , thanks chaps
 
Are you sure it's not the red cable in the boot that's pulled out? Thought my roadster motor had died, but it was just this
 
tried the red release but it won't let me pull the roof manually . I get the impression the cable is stuck , i can pull it but its doesn't seem to have much of a spring in its step . Im now thinking whatever the red cable attaches to is stuck . Electrics seem ok as its defo making noises like putting electric windows up and down . Will dive in a bit more
 
williamdefender said:
tried the red release but it won't let me pull the roof manually . I get the impression the cable is stuck , i can pull it but its doesn't seem to have much of a spring in its step . Im now thinking whatever the red cable attaches to is stuck . Electrics seem ok as its defo making noises like putting electric windows up and down . Will dive in a bit more
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I'm sure there will be a thread on here on it if you delve deep, good luck :thumbsup:
 
ok some progress . Ive got the shelf out by following a guide on here . Problem is the roof is now in the way and the guides seem to describe the process with the roof being in the up position . So now I've the rear glass window looking at me and covering where i need to reach . How the hell do i shift the roof up . Reading ducklakeviews various posts i think the plunger is stuck on the motor which is therefore stopping the roof going into manual mode so as i can lift it . Any help?boot1.jpg
 
Really need some advice folks . Im thinking of getting a person each side of roof and forcing it up . Only other way i can see is the full removal of roof . Any takers for advice , thanks
 
You don't want to risk bending the frame, I'm sure one of the roof boys will be along soon and give you words of advice.
 
I'm no expert in this but could the catch that the cable attaches too be under pressure from trying to raise the roof and jammed? Pushing the roof down slightly might take the pressure off and allow it to release.
 
Thought it over and I'm going to bite the bullet and pull out the roof . To bloody cold though at the minute , will let you know how i get on with it .
 
Screenshot_2018-03-20-23-45-07.pngScreenshot_2018-03-20-23-39-43_1521589214023.pngScreenshot_2018-03-20-23-39-36_1521589214618.pngScreenshot_2018-03-20-23-39-12_1521589216211.pngScreenshot_2018-03-20-23-39-09_1521589216606.pngProgress tonight , motor out after struggling to it the boot removal way . Ended up the long way , still happy i got there in the end . Going to run the pipes into boot and see can i get the thing back working again .
 
Well done you, I'm amazed one of our roof gurus didn't comment on this issue. They are normally very quick to post on roof issue threads.
Maybe this problem was to complex for them :|
 
Remove the motor from the hydraulic unit. Plonk it in a bath of diesel and run off of a battery for 20 mins in each direction.
Mine was like yours this time last year. Chances (very good chances) are your motor will be fine. Clean up the emergency cable mechanism at the same time.
 
I think the top roof motor guy is having a lot to deal with at the moment so you can forgive his lack of reply. Well done OP for getting your motor out though - looks like you have had the classic problem of a s**t load of water sat in your drainage well - assume you know the importance of checking the drain bungs etc?. It's amazing how those motors clean up though.
 
Thanks for the kind words guys . With the help of my son i managed to get the roof lifted off tonight so as i could get them drains cleaned out . Check out the tidal line on the roof motor drain . Got them all cleaned out and ran some boiling water down through them . All good , ready to go back in . just have to work out about cutting a slot to allow the lines to run into the boot . Got the motor steeping here and it is moving free . Will maybe leave it overnight and see how it goes . drain1.jpgdrain2.jpg
 
Found a very useful video . 10 mins 30 secs in shows where to drill hole for relocation of pipes into the boot . Someone else might find this useful if reading this thread at a later date
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH9H-j3RKac&frags=wn
 
guys please help . Im at the give up stage ...
Ive removed the soft top and have it on the garage floor
connected the lines and ran straight to a good battery .
No movement in the roof and I'm started to think i may have the line mixed up . Can anyone help here , the numbers have rubbed off but 12 and 14 are still visible . Should the two lines from each ram run to one side of the pump . i.e if I'm looking at the pump the left hole should the two lines from it run to one ram . Is there a picture anywhere . Motor spins and if i back go the lines at the pump i get a flow of oil out of the hole and if i reverse power i get a flow oaf oil out of the other hole . Flipping had the roof in thinking i had it sorted and have now had to pull it out again . What other tests should i do . Please help , thanks
 
guys if you could confirm the lines please , that would be of good help . lines.png

This was my before picture . Does 11 and 13 go to the same same ram and 12 and 14 go to the same ram .

passenger side ram , which line goes to top of the ram and which to the bottom
driver side ram ram , which line goes to the top of the ram and which to the bottom

thanks
 
I'm amazed you haven't had the roof boys all over this thread, they are usually very helpful in these matters. I'm sure there are threads on the forum showing the pipes into the motor. Really sorry I can't help as I have never touched my roof motor.
 
Ok I'm pretty sure i have the lines going to the right place . Im not seeing any leaks and if i disconnect the lines at the pump and move the roof manually then the oil squirks out of the banjo ends which makes me think the rams are ok . I have also ran the pump without lines attached and found that there is a flow of oil and it moves onto the other port if i reverse the polarity . Question is should i be getting a good flow , i mean it only kinds drips out . certainly no real pressure coming out of the oil ports . If i split the motor then the dc motor spins fast and free . Im starting to think i should get a good pump out of the oil ports . I may be looking at getting the hydraulic part of the motor replaced .
 
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