roof stuck closed

[neepboy]

Hi guys, dusted of the bongo ready for spring and found the roof wont go up.
Beeper goes and there's a soft clunk from the rear of the roof at each side but no sound of motors coming into life.

checked fuses 10 and 12
hand brake switch working
gear selector in park.

any ideas would be very welcome.

thanks folks

[g8dhe]

Dealt with this just a couple of days ago here is the link to that thread .... Ah ha it was on the other forum see the link here; http://www.bongoforum.co.uk/forum/Blah.pl?m-1367573073/

[neepboy]

top stuff thanks, will have a squint.

[neepboy]

looks top gen. will give it a go tomorrow.

thanks and happy bongoing to you all

[neepboy]

ok guys struggling here.

followed the link above and tried all the electrical stuff.
fuses good, handbrake switch good, aft unit good,
Then linked blue to green (1B to 1C) and Black to red (1A to 1D) on 4 way plug. wires get warm (drawing current?) but no movement. Leads me to think winter damp has got to motors and seized them.
Any other ideas??

SO>>>> If motors are seized how to get at them , I've done a couple of searches and found a few hints but still struggling

so far I've undone a couple of blanking plugs in the headlining at the back (one each side) to reveal a stud and nut,( these are the hinge bolts?) undone the nuts and tried to leaver roof up...not moving at all.

any more info pref with pics to allow me access to motors so I can pop my top?

thanks folks

[Simon Jones]

The nuts under the grey plastic blanking plugs are for the inner flap, not the roof. You will need the remove the three plastic trim panels next to the tailgate opening and then pull away the headlining. Quite a big job...

[neepboy]

cheers for that looks like It's the head lining out.... but where are the aft hinges?

[g8dhe]

Try this thread, it describes raising the roof manually with wedges to help http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 26#p341826
The AFT hinges are inside at the very rear.

[mikeonb4c]

The nuts under the grey plastic blanking plugs are for the inner flap, not the roof. You will need the remove the three plastic trim panels next to the tailgate opening and then pull away the headlining. Quite a big job...

Adrian at japandirect fixed mine without removing the headlining. I'm sure he'd advise if you call him on 0161-763-3003 tomorrow.

[neepboy]

ok after trying all the electrics and switches were good I was still struggling to get in at the motors (or even spot them despite using wedges to see under the roof)
I got the following info from "profdave"


"The manual indicates removing the roof but my van is outside so not possible

Well I stripped out the headlining and so on (including the cab)

You can then see the five (each side) 10mm nuts that hold the runners for the roof down

You also have the two each side larger bolts for the rear hinges near the back door. The one hinge nut has a huge long extension on it but an appropriate tube spanner will help.

Having got all the 14 nuts off I then very carefully levered up the roof at the rear; one side then the other and carefully chocked them with increasingly thick piences of wood with cloth around them to protect the paint.

Eventually I could get a hand in each side to remove the plastic motor covers (This needed only about 3 to 3 inches gap as I have thin wrists!!) DO NOT FORCE THINGS (as you could crack your roof and also DO NOT raise it too high ; the aforementioned long bolt ends for the hinge need to stay in their location; those tremenodously powerful roof lifting struts will want to push the whole thing off I guess so keep the ends of the long hing bolts in their lugs. (It will give you plenty of room)

I modified an appropriate Allan key then to remove the three bolts that hold each motor in and then let them hang outside the roof. With the aid of two children I could then try the motors and see that one was US;

then you can remove the US one ; they are quite easy to strip and put back together (wtch the brush springs) but I ended up with one dead motor so I have ordered a new one from Bongo bits

since then its been raining so I have not yet put the new motor in but this although a fiddle should sort it

If you have to wait for a part be SURE to re-attach some of the nuts to hold the roof on; and reattach the hinges too; again it may feel a bit like it does not want to sit back down but patience should do it. (and in all of this a step ladder is useful unless you are 7-8 foot tall!)

This is what I did at any rate so good luck; only though when I was sure a motor was dead."

so far I've undone the 5 10mm bolts down each side of the rail but an going to have to make some sort of long box spanner to get to what I think are the rear hinge nuts. will let you know how I get on tomorrow night if the weather's ok.

thanks to all who've provided info so far.

any more help always welcome!!!!!

[neepboy]

ok hunt for a suitable long box spanner or a long enough deep socket came to nothing, so I cut a 100mm length of thick wall tubing, then ground 4 flats on one end and welded a (perfectly good, breaks my heart to do it, )12mm, half inch drive (although a quarter drive would have fitted) socket to the other end.

socket on and a few turns of my trusty Baco shifter on the other end and there was a pop and the roof was loose...

now need a helper to lift the roof and go fishing for motors.

anyone got photos?

[neepboy]

finally managed to lift roof enough to wedge and get a hand in. Motors are screwed to the inside of the roof, (look up from the back) covers DID wiggle off, dropped motors (eventually) to find one full of water and slime, possibly even tadpoles, (that bit's a lie). managed to crack front of roof above drivers door in process(sigh) fixed with arrildite, (just as well as it SNOWED yesterday! (ffS)

second hand motor sourced online through bongospares.co.uk. bloke appeared to know his stuff and when I said I'd give him a name check here, he knocked a tenner off the price.

awaiting motor so I can refit and then get to the lovely job of refitting all the rooflining and trim....

Keep them bongos rollin!

[Bob]

Well done.

[neepboy]

just a final name check: on fitting the roof motors I failed to get everything lined up and the cable came whipping out on one side flailing about like a horses whatsit. Adrian at Japan Direct in Bury (0161 763 3003) provided the calming influence re loosen motor mounting plates, wiggle, jiggle and refit....working now if a bit slowly

[mikeonb4c]

just a final name check: on fitting the roof motors I failed to get everything lined up and the cable came whipping out on one side flailing about like a horses whatsit. Adrian at Japan Direct in Bury (0161 763 3003) provided the calming influence re loosen motor mounting plates, wiggle, jiggle and refit....working now if a bit slowly

He's a great guy. Worth planning a camping trip near there so you can let him give it a going over. Glad its fixed for now