Raising roof after emergency closure?

[Jason wallace]

Hi.

In the lakes at the mo and the roof has now decided to sag on one side. I’ve tried lowering it and the left closes a lot faster than the Right.

Have found lots of posts re wonky roof and the procedure for lower an ocean t6 roof manually.

But I was wondering if I carry out this to lower the roof fully, can I then raise the roof to see if this helps clear it?

Jason

 

[westfalia]

Yes you can.

 

[Hotel California]

Have you tried to raise it fully and then again try lowering it ?
Thats the standard procedure.

 

[Jason wallace]

Thanks yes tried the advice on several threads, put back up and tried to lower several times.

The left is coming down a loads quicker in fact if I stop mid close or at the warning message it carries on dropping.

Have put the roof back up after emergency closure...but still sagging. Just need to assess how far it’s dropping and whether it can be used tonight by the kids.

 

[westfalia]

Is there any way you could prop the side thats dropping, you´ll need
a piece of wood about 1.2m or a brush steel. not the thing that you take
camping but....

 

[calimera]

Seems you have the same problem with your roof today as Properjob. See his thread under elevating roof threads.

 

[mic_b]

I’ve posted the same message in the other roof problem thread. It’d be great to find out what has happened with your roof and how you get it fixed.

Good luck getting it sorted.

Michael



I had the same issue. I had VW assist out who managed to get the roof down using the emergency closure method and something similar to your way of getting it to close fully. It was then taken to JCT VW in Sheffield to be looked at but has worked perfectly since then so they say they can’t do anything. We’re off to France for 3 weeks for the summer and I’m worried it may fail again. Please keep the thread updated as it may help diagnose my roof problem.

Thanks Michael

 

[Jason wallace]

Calling my local dealer tomorrow as away in the lakes at the moment.

A rather hefty umbrella has doubled up as a brace with some cushioning each end. Will give it another go in the morning as one suggestion was heat could be a factor and the van was sat in direct sunlight on that side all day.

Will keep you updated.

 

[Jason wallace]

Sadly no joy this am same issue but managed to get the roof down level by supporting the left side.

I have managed to raise the roof slightly then close so the van completed the closure process and appears locked. Would I still need to use the ties down straps?

 

[westfalia]

Would I still need to use the ties down straps?

Probably not as its locked down but i put them on when this
happened to me.

 

[Jason wallace]

So having booked the van in to my local van centre in Kettering and spoken to them earlier this week to go through the issues.

They've just called to say the Van is ready.....however they don't have anyone trained to look at the roof so thats still knackered.

 

[Max-Felix]

So having booked the van in to my local van centre in Kettering and spoken to them earlier this week to go through the issues.

They've just called to say the Van is ready.....however they don't have anyone trained to look at the roof so thats still knackered.

Feel very sorry for you - it's laughable that VW continue to sell these vehicles without any consideration for actually setting up dedicated service teams in the UK who have received training in Germany or from visiting VW factory techs from the EU to teach them how to actually repair all aspects of the bloody things!

I'd consider with something like this finding a specialist hydraulics engineering company who probably deal with far more complicated systems day in day out for commercial HGV/lifting plant/etc customers and could discover and sort the problem out in a jiffy.

 

[sidepod]

I genuinely believe VW should publicly name and shame those involved in the design and sign off of this roof system, then fire them and ensure they never work again.

 

[Jason wallace]

Update.......was getting a bit tight as we head off to Austria later this week....but just picked up the van and current test of the roof looks like its fixed.

Not all good news as having been in there for 1.5 weeks when i picked it up they informed me that they had a slight leek of the hydraulic fluid and this has stained the roof lining which they have assured me they will replace on my return. I also had to point out that their grubby handed techs had also left black finger prints on the pop top roof lining.

So having booked the van in to my local van centre in Kettering and spoken to them earlier this week to go through the issues.

They've just called to say the Van is ready.....however they don't have anyone trained to look at the roof so thats still knackered.

 

[Ocean Spirit]

Enjoy your trip.
Sorry to hear of the issues and I can't believe in 2018 we are still getting grubby finger marks over interior trim regardless of which brand dealership we go to. I speak from Landrover and BMW experience.

 

[VW Guru]

Feel very sorry for you - it's laughable that VW continue to sell these vehicles without any consideration for actually setting up dedicated service teams in the UK who have received training in Germany or from visiting VW factory techs from the EU to teach them how to actually repair all aspects of the bloody things!

I'd consider with something like this finding a specialist hydraulics engineering company who probably deal with far more complicated systems day in day out for commercial HGV/lifting plant/etc customers and could discover and sort the problem out in a jiffy.

Hi @Max-Felix i am a Vw trained California specialist for all of the California systems, we do exist there is just not many of us.

 

[Max-Felix]

Hi @Max-Felix i am a Vw trained California specialist for all of the California systems, we do exist there is just not many of us.

Well, please join in and shout from the rooftops! If you are an expert in Calis, work for a VW franchise, know an Eberspacher from an Elsässer Flammkuchen and don't leave a trail of grubby hand prints and broken plastic trim in your wake then you will have endless customers on here I'm sure!

 

[VW Guru]

Well, please join in and shout from the rooftops! If you are an expert in Calis, work for a VW franchise, know an Eberspacher from an Elsässer Flammkuchen and don't leave a trail of grubby hand prints and broken plastic trim in your wake then you will have endless customers on here I'm sure!

All of the above I am trying to help where I can. I am thinking if you make the doh you maybe able to cook your Elsässer Flammkuchen on the DPF when it’s in regeneration

 

[westfalia]

Elsässer Flammkuchen

Just had one of them today. Nice

 

[VW Guru]

Update.......was getting a bit tight as we head off to Austria later this week....but just picked up the van and current test of the roof looks like its fixed.

Not all good news as having been in there for 1.5 weeks when i picked it up they informed me that they had a slight leek of the hydraulic fluid and this has stained the roof lining which they have assured me they will replace on my return. I also had to point out that their grubby handed techs had also left black finger prints on the pop top roof lining.

Hi @Jason wallace I have to wonder why there is hydraulic fluid on your roof lining. I am assuming that your hydraulic pump unit has been replace as this seems to be the common cause for the type of failure you have described. When the pump units are replaced the roof lining should be removed completely from the vehicle and refitted thus your head lining should have been nowhere near the hydraulic fluid. While the system was open. Your pump motor is also encased in thick foam so if they have had a leak as they say has that been replaced?

 

[Jason wallace]

Possibly.....the info i had was given re the actual issue was that it turned out just need the whole hydraulic element replacing on one side as it had a faulty value in it. Part of this required them to bleed the hydraulic fluid and it appears that overnight something wasn't tightened properly and the had a leak of hydraulic fluid. I have no reason to not believe them as from the very start the warned me that if they needed to replace the pump they would have to replace the roof lining. The told me of the issue as soon as i got there and the van is booked in for a day for them to replace the liner and clean their grubby hand prints.

Hi @Jason wallace I have to wonder why there is hydraulic fluid on your roof lining. I am assuming that your hydraulic pump unit has been replace as this seems to be the common cause for the type of failure you have described. When the pump units are replaced the roof lining should be removed completely from the vehicle and refitted thus your head lining should have been nowhere near the hydraulic fluid. While the system was open. Your pump motor is also encased in thick foam so if they have had a leak as they say has that been replaced?

 

[VW Guru]

Possibly.....the info i had was given re the actual issue was that it turned out just need the whole hydraulic element replacing on one side as it had a faulty value in it. Part of this required them to bleed the hydraulic fluid and it appears that overnight something wasn't tightened properly and the had a leak of hydraulic fluid. I have no reason to not believe them as from the very start the warned me that if they needed to replace the pump they would have to replace the roof lining. The told me of the issue as soon as i got there and the van is booked in for a day for them to replace the liner and clean their grubby hand prints.

At least they have been upfront about it, same applies for toping up as well as replacing the pump though roof lining should have been remove entirely.

 

[Max-Felix]

Just had one of them today. Nice

I'd love to say I have intimate knowledge of German cuisine and did not just, ahem, Goggle for a German dish beginning with E to make a jocular point but it sure looked good in the pics. OT but any more info?

 

[VW Guru]

So it may have been put on here before but here are a couple of shots of your roof hydraulics control first picture shows the hydraulic pump mounted in is foam sound deadening to the roof and the black box with the blue connector is your roof control unit. Second pic just the pump in it’s normal position foam removed. This one had a jamed non return valve in the hydraulic block.

 

[westfalia]

So it may have been put on here before but here are a couple of shots of your roof hydraulics control first picture shows the hydraulic pump mounted in is foam sound deadening to the roof and the black box with the blue connector is your roof control unit. Second pic just the pump in it’s normal position foam removed. This one had a jamed non return valve in the hydraulic block.

View attachment 35664 View attachment 35665

Thanks for the pics guru, pictures are always good.
As mine was way out of warranty i followed Emils excellent post and managed
to get the pump out without removing the headlining. I´m currently doing a BA
in cali roof hydraulics, half way through, but i might sack it and do a manual
conversion soon.
Emils post is here https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/leaking-oil-behind-control-panel-of-2008-t5.19984/
I think your input to this forum is great, keep it up.