I've never tried to open my Spider top from fully closed, only from partially open. But after looking at the owners manual I imagine it would be simply a matter of following the closing procedure in reverse. You'll want to pull the hydraulic pump bypass cable, unlatch the two forward latches, unlatch the deck, and then see if you can move the top manually. As long as you don't get too rough with things and move the components in the normal sequence I doubt if it would hurt anything. If it doesn't work you can always reverse things to close it up just like explained in the owners manual. Just make sure the forward latches are engaged properly before you do driving around with the top up and be sure not to let the aft deck clash with the boot lid.

 

I opened my roof yesterday, and its as Mozella states, pull the hydraulic release cable, release the latch levers either side of the back section (see page 88 fig74 of owner's manual) then from the boot unlatch the deck, but before you raise the deck make sure you close the boot fully, and make sure the deck doesn't catch the boot while lifting. Hope this helps

 

Thanks guys!

I didn't quite get the latch levers part initially but after reading your post I managed to open the hood. I checked in the roof compartment and nothing was jamming the mechanism.

After I put everything back i had the warning that the roof cycle was not complete. I can't open the boot now to complete the last turn to lock down the roof.

The cable in the glove box behind the drivers seat does nothing and I've tried to pull it ... very hard indeed...still nothing. I tried to work the buttons to see if that might resolve it, in doing that the windows went down a couple of inches as they do and now they won't come up!

when i push the electronic boot release it says the roof cycle is not complete and the boot button on the remote will not work either!

So I've managed to solve one issue and I now have another. I'll have to put a tarpaulin over the car until I can figure a way to open the boot...bummer!

The cable in the glove box does nothing..... oh what joy!

I'm assuming it's the turning of the key in the boot that finalises the cycle of the roof?

But thank you for your input, you helped me solve my original request

Any ideas for my new challenge would be greatly appreaciated

many thanks

 

You need to reactivate the release valve after pulling the wire behind drivers seat.
to do this you need to lift up the deck again, remove cover from the bottom of the hood compartment, and remove cover from the hydraulic pump/control unit.
Find the wire coming through from behind drivers seat, which is attached to a rotating lever, and rotate this back into position. Once done replace covers, lower deck and roof, and open boot using the pull cord in compartment behind passenger seat. You can now relock the deck.

 

Just to add to my last post you don't need to reset release valve if you still have a fault on your roof, just open the boot via cord in compartment behind passenger seat.

 

Jetblack... You are a LEGEND!! THANK YOU!

I can now see the issue was .. the boot release is in fact on the passenger side!.. It did say that in the manual however i couldn't find it at all... after following your instructions I traced the cable (on the drivers side) back to the hydraulic pump which told me there MUST be a cable in the passenger side glove box for the boot,... sure enough it was hiding behind the material!


Bingo.. Ive now accessed the boot and managed to get the windows back up...

All i need to do now is resolve the hydraulic pipes that have split in the roof..

Thanks ever so for your help, I hope many others find this post useful... (i hope no one needs to in the first instance!)

Have a great day.. you're on my Christmas card list :O)

Tony

 

Does anyone happen to know if leaving the release valve pulled to manual is an issue? doesnt leak fluid / lose pressure or anything? In doing mine manually yesterday i put the hood up without resetting the pump as per jetblack's instructions above... would pushing the cable back in be enough to reset it?

 

If you are talking about the release cable in the glove box behind the drivers seat then no- there's no issue or risk of it leaking. To reset the cable you need to do this from inside the roof compartment - under the pump. If you follow the cable you'll see where you need to push it back. Simply pushing the cable in from the glove box will not do it.

 

Well, that depends on the car. My Spider bypass cable can be reset easily by pushing it in from the glove box with no need to dig around in the roof compartment.

I suppose it has to do with how much lubrication is on the cable and the stiffness of the hydraulic valve itself, but since mine is the only Spider I've dealt with, I can't say for sure.

I would say it is worth trying to push the cable first as long as one is careful not to over do it and crimp the cable. Mine is quite easy to push. If that doesn't work, then start removing carpet.

 

I was just worried as i'd left mine 'on manual' for a couple of days and worried that it may let the hydraulic fluid out somewhere but after pushing the cable in and then still being paranoid and looking under the deck anyway mine does seem to reset ok with a push of the cable... just gotta fix the broken flap motor now - anyone know how to reset the positioning of everything when done? I'm assuming my roof won't open at all due to the flaps being manually released and one motor snapped so its position will be off...

 

I had my roof in manual mode for months and no damage was done or leaks extra , was an ass ache putting the roof down manually though !
I eventually replaced my hydraulic pipes- filled up the reservoir with a basting tool ( it's tricky to fill it up) and it works fine now - :lol:

 

I have a problem opening my roof, but think it's just something sticking, or the manual lock in the boot has been over-tightened (if that's possible).
The car was worked on last year to try and sort the final part of the closing procedure where the roof wouldn't quite seal.

It has operated without a problem a few times since but is now refusing to open.

If I was to manually turn the nut in the boot with the tube key to start things off and then let the electrics take over in the normal manner via the switch on the centre console, would this create further issues or not?
Can the tube key be used without pulling the wire in the box behind the driver's seat?
I realize I may have to use the manual key to finish the closing procedure when I put the roof back up to fully seal it again.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

Does anyone have an image of the latch levers as I am lost as to were they are

 

Page 88 fig. 74 in your owner's manual.
If you've not got one, download from here Fiat eLum - HOME
Just type your reg in & select Spider book rather than Brera.

The levers are hidden behind the lining - you've got to feel for them.

 

In the boot or in the car, my reg doesn't go in? Worrying!!

 

Try the VIN then.

Levers are in the car, where the rear quarter glass would be if it wasn't a convertible.

 

It's not very well explained, are the soft fibre straps that you pull?

 

No, definitely no fibre straps! Hard plastic or metal by the feel of it through the lining.
Look for the marking on the lining then feel for the lever and either pull or push depending on what you're trying to do with the roof.
Don't forget to pull out the hydraulic emergency release cable in the storage box behind the driver's seat first.

 

Thanks for the replies, sorted, just need to work out why the roof doesn't work now, windows go down then nothing? Any ideas?

 

Not even with pulling both levers in, then pushing the cable back in, and then giving it a helping hand while also having a finger on the button?
Is it making any noise as though it's trying?
If none of the above then that's got to be a specialist job...

With a worst case scenario, you should be able to get the roof up & down manually by following the instructions in the book.

 

I should also add do not be afraid of the roof as I once was, and doing some manual opening & closing.
When you've got a spare hour have a good do with it, otherwise you'll have 'roof anxiety' for the rest of your ownership .
I'm not saying do the whole procedure manually, just get used to doing certain parts of it .

 

I am currently working on a problem with the roof on my 2007 Spider and now understand how these manual levers (over-centre mechanisms) inside the roof lining work. Have a look at the thread "Spider hood sealing" for progress so far...

 

PLEASE HELP! Good evening all.

I have problems closing my roof electronically.

So I’ve decided to pull the cable to release the pressure valve of the hydraulic pump.
I’ve tried to open the roof manually then, but at the end the last part won’t tight properly.
More specifically, when the roof folds back into its compartment I try to tight the door up rotating the bolt in the boot anti clockwise but it won’t shut!

the flaps and the front part of the roof door stay up!

So now I closed everything back leaving the hydraulic pump’s valve in manual mode (fully rotated towards the front of the car) , but the windows won’t close up anymore and the uncompleted closing procedure error lights up on the dash! The boot won’t open electronically too!

oh and one more thing: the steel cable is off the pressure valve! I need to rotate the valve with my thumb instead of pulling the cable from the gloves compartment behind the seat.

is there avway to keep the roof system on manual without getting any errors and using the windows and the boot!?

thanks in advance for your support.

 

Thanks for the instructions I opened the roof changed the broken gears in the motor flaps and now my hood is working perfect !! Love u and safe rides