[pendragonfalls]

In my new found exuberance/ignorance.
I tried to lower the roof, without first pulling the release handles at the top of the windscreen. The back window raised. Then nothing. I realised I hadn't released the handles
I put the back window back to where it was, released the handles, and tried again. Same thing. Back window rises, then nothing. I can hear the pump still whirring away, but nothing moves.
The back window goes back down all right, and locks into position.

Have I confused it or something? It was working perfectly when I got the car 2 weeks ago. Had it up and down a few times during the test drive.

Any help appreciated... :mygrin1:

 

[paintergirl]

Why not try putting it away manually? It may think that it's done all that it needed to.

 

[pendragonfalls]

I did try that, using the buttons behind the seat. It just made a whirring noise, and nothing moved..

Its the first day I've actually driven it since I got it 15 days ago. It still has ABS issue, but its drivable.

 

[pendragonfalls]

Update:
Been having a bit of a play. Its something to do with the motor with the two cables attached to it. Gentle thump with a hammer and it released the hood cover. Roof went all the way down, proper like. Then went to put it back up. Got as far as the roof reaching the screen, and stopped. Another tap on the motor, and playing with the manual switch, managed to get the hood cover back down. The back window wouldn't move any more. Had to push it down by hand then use the manual button to lock it down.

 

[Ruiner]

There's a plastic cog in the motor - sounds like the teeth have been stripped as the gentle hammer tap is a temporary solution until a replacement is needed - though you can rotate the cog 180° - there's
thread on here somewhere

 

[pendragonfalls]

Cheers for that. I'll have another go at it tomorrow.

 

[Julianf77]

I have done this many times (I got used to the wifes Convertable Mini, no catches)
although I have never stripped the cog, you can get them off ebay.
I opened and closed it a few times manually and it seemed to reset itself.
I now have a sticker next to the switch!

J

 

[Ruiner]

Here's that thread, how to replace and how to rotate the cog too.

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa...84-electric-hood-metal-cover-not-raising.html

 

[alexGS]

I also forgot to release the handles the other day. The back folds up, then the cover raises, then the back folds down, and only then is there a problem when the roof doesn't move. I remembered the catches and released them, and normal service was resumed. I believe the infamous lid-catch motor failure is not related to whether the windscreen-frame catches are released or not: pendragon I think you can let yourself off the hook on this one! still needs fixing of course...

-Alex

 

[pendragonfalls]

Loads of useful info guys.. :thumbs:

I'll go and have a fiddle about before the rain sets in

Ta....!

 

[pendragonfalls]

Update:
Last night I put WD-40 down in and behind the motor. Now it works with the manual switch, without the aid of a hammer..!

But, now the centre switch does nothing. Just the LED starts flashing continuously. No motors running or anything.
The manual buttons both power their respective motors, but the roof won't budge.

Have I confused it or something? Will disconnecting the battery for a while do anything..?

 

[pendragonfalls]

Disconnected the battery, and did an ECU reset...... Nada..

Is there a separate ECU reset procedure for the hood ECU..?

 

[tancho]

All the power hoods go like this at some point. Mine is no differant i live with it. One day it will go up and down allday long the next i have to do it by hand. It's one of those things but i will change the cog one day.

 

[tancho]

Disconnected the battery, and did an ECU reset...... Nada..

Is there a separate ECU reset procedure for the hood ECU..?

Do it by hand up and down once thats the only reset

 

[pendragonfalls]

I guess down and up by hand is the same..?
I'll give that a go tomorrow

Cheers

 

[pendragonfalls]

Had a go at this. Its working after a fashion.

Ignition on, release window, release clam. With buttons.
Ignition off, manual lift rear window, manual lift clam. Fold roof by hand.
Fold clam down, ignition on, lock clam with button.

To raise. Centre switch all the way until the clam starts to come back down. All stop.
Ignition off, fold clam by hand, fold window by hand.
Ignition on, lock clam and window with buttons.

What a bleedin' carry on.. :lol:

Just as well its nearly winter. Couldn't be doing that every day.

Will get it sorted properly in time for next summer..:mygrin1:

 

[pedrito]

The same problem

Hello, did you manage to solve your roof problem? because mine looks to have the same...
Thanks

Had a go at this. Its working after a fashion.

Ignition on, release window, release clam. With buttons.
Ignition off, manual lift rear window, manual lift clam. Fold roof by hand.
Fold clam down, ignition on, lock clam with button.

To raise. Centre switch all the way until the clam starts to come back down. All stop.
Ignition off, fold clam by hand, fold window by hand.
Ignition on, lock clam and window with buttons.

What a bleedin' carry on.. :lol:

Just as well its nearly winter. Couldn't be doing that every day.

Will get it sorted properly in time for next summer..:mygrin1:

 

[pendragonfalls]

I got it sorted last week. Turned out to be a dodgy sticky motor. Replaced it, and everythings working OK now..!

 

[alexGS]

I got it sorted last week. Turned out to be a dodgy sticky motor. Replaced it, and everythings working OK now..!

Good to hear :thumbs:

For pedrito - I had to replace my high-level centre brake light bulbs, so I opened the roof by using the switch (by the handbrake) just up to the point where the cover opened. I switched the ignition key off and worked on the light (be aware that the roof/cover tend to fall gently down).

Then when I turned the ignition key back on and tried to operate the roof with the switch by the handbrake, the light flashed and nothing happened. That's because the roof position had changed without the ECU knowing - it gets 'confused'. I think this is why Alfa provided a plastic cover over the switches behind the driver's seat, because if you use those, it is easy for the roof to become out-of-sync with the ECU. Therefore, buttons behind the seat are for emergencies/testing purposes only, as follows:

First thing to check is always that the handbrake is on - sorry to state the obvious, but I've forgotten a few times :lol:

Next thing to do is the 'reset', which worked for me:

- unlock back edge of roof/open cover if necessary using buttons behind the seat,
- switch the ignition key off and move the roof by hand, folding it away into its compartment,
- with ignition key back on, use the buttons behind the seat to latch the cover down (need to press down on cover while doing this).

If the last step doesn't happen, it's the dodgy-motor problem. Then you need the slightly-modified process described clearly by pendragon above

After putting roof away manually, turn key off and on, and finally try switch beside handbrake again to raise the roof. Should whir into life and perform usual procedure. If you have the dodgy-motor problem, you'll need to help it along.

If not, repeat manual operations I listed above, but in reverse order to put the roof up, then after locking cover down, lock the back edge of the roof down onto the cover using the second switch behind the driver's seat - press down on the back edge of the roof while doing this.

Try it again - if still not fixed, well at least the bloody roof's up ready for when it rains... :lol:

-Alex

 

[pedrito]

Alex, thank you for your answer, but my problem is sligtly different.
I`ll try to describe my situation: at first I changed broken cog wheel in an "infamous" motor.
But when I put it back all together in car, the red led light on the center console flashed. I tried to reset the roof ECU by folding and raising the roof manually, but with no succes.
So when I turn the ignition on, red led ligt sometimes flashes (like the ECU remembers some mistake) and sometimes the red light stays permanently (like the roof is not closed properly).
Now, when the roof is folded completely, and I press the button on the center console, the roof goes up nicely, but when the 5th arch goes down in the final faze, it suddenly stops (then the only way to continue is manually, button on the center console with no reaction). I think it is right in the point, in which the ball microswitch on the roof arms is pressed. So I guess it is either the ball microswitch wrong, or it is one of the microswitches on the hood cover locks wrong (tension of the cables is OK, I already checked it).
See
Jamie Porter's Alfa Romeo GTV/Spider Problem Solving Guide
(spider hood stops half way up always in the same place)

If anybody knows if I`m right in my thoughts, or if anybody knows, how to check the microswitches, I would really appreciate your help.
thanks, pedrito