Roof Operation

[Phrede]

Looking at an '04 w/ 42k. May purchase.
The top seems to work partially. Trunk lifts, panel behind seat lips up, but top does not separate from wind shield. It pulls back only a fraction then all stops.

Thoughts?

Confirm that the trunk barrier is in place.

Watch a video of a working roof. Determine what is not happening exactly at the time of failure. Check the sensors for the last move to make sure they are reporting back the correct position. The check what causes the next move to make sure it is working.

The down side is that a special diagnostic tool (tech 2) is needed to monitor these items. A trip to the dealer is in order. I certainly would put that on the seller unless it is a great deal.

 

[XFireXLR]

Confirm that the trunk barrier is in place.

Watch a video of a working roof. Determine what is not happening exactly at the time of failure. Check the sensors for the last move to make sure they are reporting back the correct position. The check what causes the next move to make sure it is working.

The down side is that a special diagnostic tool (tech 2) is needed to monitor these items. A trip to the dealer is in order. I certainly would put that on the seller unless it is a great deal.

There are timing parameters for each of the sensors and they have to be dead on for smooth operation. I have the info from the dealer and there is a document that covers this in their database, once I locate it I will post the document number.

 

[BoughtTheXLR]

Looking at an '04 w/ 42k. May purchase.
The top seems to work partially. Trunk lifts, panel behind seat lips up, but top does not separate from wind shield. It pulls back only a fraction then all stops.

Thoughts?

Fluid level in the pump would be worth checking. Much beyond that would require dealer examination, especially to verify that all top-related service bulletins have been applied. It being an 04, you'd want to do that even if the top currently worked.

 

[WB6BBZ]

Looking at an '04 w/ 42k. May purchase.
The top seems to work partially. Trunk lifts, panel behind seat lips up, but top does not separate from wind shield. It pulls back only a fraction then all stops.

Thoughts?

I would suggest that you re-index the door windows. That's the very first thing you should do.

Also, be aware that the windows in these cars are automatic, meaning you don't have to push and hold the switches for normal operation, just push and release.

Do the following on both door windows with the doors closed and the ignition ON or in Acc. mode, one at a time. This can all be done using the controls on the driver's door.

If the windows are down, push and hold the window up switch and continue holding it for about 10 to 20 seconds after it reaches the top. Repeat the same thing to put the window down.

That sets the top and bottom limits.

A good indication that your windows need re-indexing is if you try to close a window and it goes all the way up then comes down again but doesn't go all the way down into the door.

 

[Phrede]

I would suggest that you re-index the door windows. That's the very first thing you should do.

Also, be aware that the windows in these cars are automatic, meaning you don't have to push and hold the switches for normal operation, just push and release.

Do the following on both door windows with the doors closed and the ignition ON or in Acc. mode, one at a time. This can all be done using the controls on the driver's door.

If the windows are down, push and hold the window up switch and continue holding it for about 10 to 20 seconds after it reaches the top. Repeat the same thing to put the window down.

That sets the top and bottom limits.

A good indication that your windows need re-indexing is if you try to close a window and it goes all the way up then comes down again but doesn't go all the way down into the door.

The process of lowering the roof will not begin if the windows need to be indexed as the first step is to lower the windows. That is not the case here.

FWIW, in my car, a 3 second hold at the end of travel is sufficient to re-index the windows.

 

[Phrede]

Another thought is to check the relief valve on the pump assembly to make sure it is fully closed. Raising the roof off of the windshield takes the most force (hydraulic pressure) of any move. If the available pressure is low (fluid level, bad pump or valve) it may act like what you describe.

Does it make any difference if you help the roof move manually? If it does look at the pump for problems. HTH

 

[DjP]

Roof

Tried pushing up on roof at point where it stops moving. Does not budge. Feels like front is locked.
hydrolic level at max. Valve firmly closed.
Will use window index info as start point.

To all, thanks for input. I like the car, hope this is just a glitch.

QUOTE=Phrede;45736]Another thought is to check the relief valve on the pump assembly to make sure it is fully closed. Raising the roof off of the windshield takes the most force (hydraulic pressure) of any move. If the available pressure is low (fluid level, bad pump or valve) it may act like what you describe.

Does it make any difference if you help the roof move manually? If it does look at the pump for problems. HTH[/QUOTE]

 

[Phrede]

Tried pushing up on roof at point where it stops moving. Does not budge. Feels like front is locked.
hydrolic level at max. Valve firmly closed.
Will use window index info as start point.

To all, thanks for input. I like the car, hope this is just a glitch.

QUOTE=Phrede;45736]Another thought is to check the relief valve on the pump assembly to make sure it is fully closed. Raising the roof off of the windshield takes the most force (hydraulic pressure) of any move. If the available pressure is low (fluid level, bad pump or valve) it may act like what you describe.

Does it make any difference if you help the roof move manually? If it does look at the pump for problems. HTH

[/QUOTE]

With this info I suppose it could be the roof latch not releasing fully. The latch can be released manually with a special tool that cam with the car. It may be lost by now and a torx driver will work too. I expect someone here will be able to shed more light on it.