And just when I thought everything was working well the damned thing has started to act up again!
Not long after I bought my 2008 Cabrio back in 2012, I had the common 'roof opening half an inch then stopping' problem which I 'solved' with the help of this forum by cleaning the roof motor commutator and easing the brushes (thanks, Khurrum) then it happened again, and again, and - you get the picture. So I bought Khurrum's brushes and brush holder kit, fitted it and had no more trouble for three years. Hallelujah and thanks again, Khurrum!
However, a few weeks ago it all started again so once more I cleaned the commutator (although it wasn't really all that dirty and the brushes were sliding freely in their guides) and that appeared to solve the problem, or so I thought, until a couple of weeks later it did it again. This time I decided the only sensible thing to do was to replace the motor with an upgraded model from Roofmotors. I ordered it last Thursday and it was delivered the following day together with a repair kit and hydraulic fluid, brilliant service. At first it seemed to be a fix but over the weekend, you guessed it, the blasted thing decided to go belly up again. Clearly it's not a motor fault.
The symptoms are that at first touch of the switch the roof opens about half an inch then stops but if I repeatedly operate the switch I can hear a very faint 'click' from the roof header rail near the right hand side latch, the roof moves fractionally each time and then suddenly it operates as normal. I can then cycle the roof time and time again without problem - until the next day when it all starts again. Today there was some variation when the roof stopped with the front edge directly over my head when being raised. One more touch of the switch and it closed as normal. It did this randomly a few times.
To say this is driving me nuts is an understatement.
Not surprisingly, I have some questions.
1. Is there any was of 're-setting' the roof operation after fitting a new motor? I was hoping for something like 'continue to hold the switch on for 30 seconds after closing the roof'. OK, I'm being silly.
2. Assuming I'm looking at a defective sensor somewhere, would a VCDS scan indicate which one to replace?
3. My local VAG specialist quoted me £80 for a scan today but I see that I can buy a cable from Diagnostic Central and download full, genuine VCDS onto my laptop for £50, £60 or £65 (I have no idea which I need and the company is currently closed.) Has anyone bought one of these? Any comments?
Any help, guidance, suggestions would really be appreciated. The problem is, the car has only done 60,000 miles and looks and drives like new but this constant worry about whether the roof is going to open or close is sucking the enjoyment right out of owning it.
Help!
Not long after I bought my 2008 Cabrio back in 2012, I had the common 'roof opening half an inch then stopping' problem which I 'solved' with the help of this forum by cleaning the roof motor commutator and easing the brushes (thanks, Khurrum) then it happened again, and again, and - you get the picture. So I bought Khurrum's brushes and brush holder kit, fitted it and had no more trouble for three years. Hallelujah and thanks again, Khurrum!
However, a few weeks ago it all started again so once more I cleaned the commutator (although it wasn't really all that dirty and the brushes were sliding freely in their guides) and that appeared to solve the problem, or so I thought, until a couple of weeks later it did it again. This time I decided the only sensible thing to do was to replace the motor with an upgraded model from Roofmotors. I ordered it last Thursday and it was delivered the following day together with a repair kit and hydraulic fluid, brilliant service. At first it seemed to be a fix but over the weekend, you guessed it, the blasted thing decided to go belly up again. Clearly it's not a motor fault.
The symptoms are that at first touch of the switch the roof opens about half an inch then stops but if I repeatedly operate the switch I can hear a very faint 'click' from the roof header rail near the right hand side latch, the roof moves fractionally each time and then suddenly it operates as normal. I can then cycle the roof time and time again without problem - until the next day when it all starts again. Today there was some variation when the roof stopped with the front edge directly over my head when being raised. One more touch of the switch and it closed as normal. It did this randomly a few times.
To say this is driving me nuts is an understatement.
Not surprisingly, I have some questions.
1. Is there any was of 're-setting' the roof operation after fitting a new motor? I was hoping for something like 'continue to hold the switch on for 30 seconds after closing the roof'. OK, I'm being silly.
2. Assuming I'm looking at a defective sensor somewhere, would a VCDS scan indicate which one to replace?
3. My local VAG specialist quoted me £80 for a scan today but I see that I can buy a cable from Diagnostic Central and download full, genuine VCDS onto my laptop for £50, £60 or £65 (I have no idea which I need and the company is currently closed.) Has anyone bought one of these? Any comments?
Any help, guidance, suggestions would really be appreciated. The problem is, the car has only done 60,000 miles and looks and drives like new but this constant worry about whether the roof is going to open or close is sucking the enjoyment right out of owning it.
Help!
