Why not? Another roof problem post UPDATE

[jmotsch]

Hey all,
So my roof has started to struggle to close. I noticed the motor making louder whining noises when trying to close. It then started moving slower. Last time I put it up I had to help it along with my hands. I have started the process of relocating the motor to the trunk. I am at the step of having the top of the motor casing off. So far everything looks clean and dry. The car never sees rain. My question. Is there anything else that could be causing my roof issues or is my best bet to pull the motor and inspect it? Any tips on getting the motor and the rest of the casing out would be helpful too.

 

[G600]

Much easier to figure out what's wrong with it once it's in the boot, I just replaced the motor and it only took about 5 minutes

 

[ph001]

Will most likely be either a sticky bypass plunger (brass tit on side of motor) or low on oil due to leak somewhere.

 

[jmotsch]

Thanks guys. I will just keep trying to wrestle it into the boot and go from there.

 

[Davz]

if you have the top of the case off you have done the hard bit! Make sure the cable ties that run alongside the wing are cut and then simply plu the motor out of the lower case......if water has ever got into the case be ready for water to come pouring out all over you.

 

[jmotsch]

Wow that was a huge pain, but I managed to get the motor in the boot. Good news is the motor and pump look brand new. It appears it was low on fluid. I topped that off and it works like a charm. I guess the bad news is that there must be a leak somewhere if it is low on fluid? Think a cylinder somewhere?

 

[ph001]

They usually either leak at the unions where the copper washers are if not done up tightly or the steel braided hoses rot away because they have been sat in water. I would just run it for a few weeks and see if the oil level drops now you have it in the boot.

 

[jmotsch]

So I have the roof motor relocated and I have cycled the roof probably 10 times and now I see this puddle of hydraulic fluid leaking from the roof hole drain. Never had this before. I didn't see any wetness or leaks before I put it back together. What is the likely culprit?

 

[jmotsch]

I read that the motor is self bleeding. Could I have overfilled and it's bleeding out the excess?

 

[PHILGZ4]

Could it be just old water/fluid coming through the hole now the motor has been relocated?. Think i am the same as you as the oil reservoir seems to get low very quickly and still not figured out where it could be coming from.

 

[jmotsch]

It's definatley hydraulic oil and as far as i could tell it was dry as a bone before and the hole was not plugged. Ill keep an eye on it as I continue to open and close the roof.

 

[srhutch]

How did you move the motor, by removing part of the roof, or blind from the boot. If it’s the latter I’m guessing you have damaged a line.

 

[jmotsch]

I did it from the boot. I've tried to get my hand down in there and feel around but not finding where oil might be leaking. Might have to get in there with a scope