convertible roof faulty

[nick]

Has anyone out there had a problem with the roof, it goes down okay, but strugles to go back up sometimes just goes so far then drops back into the open position, eventualy with a bit of help it closes but it is a pain, have replaced switch but this has not helped as I was told this could have been the issue, oil and oil level seems fine, anyone any ideas?

[Nik]

Hi Nick ,
Have you had the system flushed and the oil replaced by the later variant , I believe the original oil thickened up to almost a gel ,

Hope this helps ,

Nik

[nick]

Hi Nik,
I have just had a similar problem. The roof opened fine, but when parked facing front downhill, the roof would not close. I posted on here and having read the replies decided to replace the fluid, after emptying the tank, refilled with fresh ATF open and close the roof several times, repeat 4 times until all old green fluid has gone, then top up to the top mark on tank and up to now all is fine. I didnt use the Pentosin CHF 11S that is £40 per ltr. from dealers I used Esso ATF . My friend who works for Rock Oil told me this would be fine as the CHF 11S is for temps of -40c and here in England we dont see it so cold.
J.Mc

[nick]

Thanks for the replies, I will get the oil changed and feedback on the progress !!!!

[nick]

Thankyou John and Nik, Have changed the oil and everything is working like a dream again, Have also used ATF this time instead of the CHF 11S as the later proved to be unreliable, I noted that Halfords also do a Central Hydraulic Fluid suitable for use where CHF 11S is recomended, this is priced at £14.49 per ltr.once again thanks for your help on the subject, Nick

[Raymond007]

Hi !!!!

Not entirely the same problem as Nick but same ultimate result !!!!

Having just collected my car this lunch time from a main dealer service, had a great drive home and duly parked in front of my garage. Quick dust down and then put her away ready for day out tomorrow !!!!

Upon pushing the roof switch I suddently found I was being showered in hydraulic fluid (green) as was the complete interior ....but no sign of the roof coming home !!!!!! Quick let go of the roof switch and the pressure of the shower subsides but still grren fluid poring out !!!!!! Well you can imagine my thoughts bearing in mind one of my instructions this service was to check the roof mechanism and lubricate the locking points; nothing previously wrong mind you, just wanted them to try and ensure everthing remained quiet and smooth.

Immediate call back to my dealership and yes......and yes, being a Saturday all the service department had finished at 12:00 !!!!! Anyway, fortunately I have very goos relationship with them and the sales guys put me through to the service manager who had adjourned to the pub !!!!

Seems like what's happened is the hydraulic plumbing accross the top of the hood rail at the front of the screen has burst.....and that's a real b.......r of a job he says !!!!! Anyway, full marks for them opening up the workshop and saying get it back here immediately which I did whereupon the car was safely placed into the workshop, the interior covered in case of further splilage and left for work to commence on Monday morning !!!!! I wait the result of their investigations !!!!!!! Just cannot help wondering though if (a) anybody else has experienced this problem and how common it is and (b) as there ws positively no sign of any issues prior to this, the operation being swift and virutually silent is their any way that in carrying out my instructions to lubricate the mechanism they may inadvertantly have caused this probelm ?

Moral is, get the car out in future BEFORE the sun shines !!!!!!

Good luck to all,

Ray Brooks.

[doug]

This could be the same or very similar problem, see this link: http://www.jaguarforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=32717 on the Jaguar Forum.
Doug

[J44EAG]

My pal in Somerset had the same problem around four years ago having just bought a three year old XK8 4.2 with 24k miles from a Main Dealer.

The pipe burst and showered the car and his wife with hydraulic oil.

The dealer fixed the problem, paid for new clothes and issued a brand new XJ 2.7 as a courtesy car.

After the repair no further problems were experienced. Regret, I don`t know the technical details of how the repair was carried out.

Clearly, the problem is not unknown and not an uncommon occurance. What a shame that this technical matter keeps on cropping up. Not what one requires from such an expensive piece of kit.

More importantly there is the matter of hydraulic oil finding its way into the eyes of the occupants of the car. That could certainly spoil your day.

Mike

[jagmk9]

Hi everybody,
This seems to be more of an issue than I first thought. See my post...Leak from windscreen header on xk8. Maybe we should get all the posts together so we can find out how many times this has happened, maybe members with full service history will have this repair logged. Just a thought.
Cheers John

[FELIX456]

Hi all, these posts have made me a bit concerned for my convertible. She has always had a small drip of oil in the header rail speaker, but only after putting the roof back up, it doesn't just drip whenever it likes. Did any of the explosive failures have a drip as a warning sign? Or did they just go off suddenly? I've had her for just over a year and she barely gets out but when she does it's topless as often as poss. The previous owner said the fluid had been replaced but didn't give me any receipts for anything when I bought her (- why do some people fail to grasp the importance of these things?) so I have to trust him.
Should I be concerned and wear a pinny when I drive?
Or should I just keep using her and loving her and fix it if it breaks?
Cheers guys, Oh and is it a good idea to get a whole new subsection as 'convertible roof' on the bulletin board, or would coupe owners feel it not 'PC'?
cheerso, tara x

[mike020150]

Hi Tara,
The prospect of a lapful of sticky hydraulic fluid along with the possibility of damaging the interior would be all the encouragement necessary to get me to have the leak checked out! After all, hoods have a habit of failing just as the rain starts...
You will have seen in the magazine that the Club is working on a new standardised website for introduction shortly so development work has been frozen on the old one. Mike.