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AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 5:05 pm
by johnnybongo
Eyup from Donny, After following the user manual's instructions on how to get a roof down when it is stuck open, I travelled all around europe for three weeks with it tied down,but now I need to get it back up to start fixing it. Does anyone know if there is a series of nuts holding it down from the inside? as we've tried the musclepower method suggested and it dunt work. If there is a row of nuts holding it down, I'm guessing I'd have to remove the headlining to get to them. (anyone ever had rooflining off to see?, and if so how easy is it to get to?) Ta very much. :(

Re: AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 5:12 pm
by Jolly Rogers
Sorry don't know how to, Im sure someone will be along shortly and explain how.
Good Luck

Re: AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 5:28 pm
by francophile1947
I don't know, but I can't think it will be nuts as it wouldn't go up with the motors :?

Re: AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 5:42 pm
by MountainGoat
Try this I posted this earlier.
Looking at my copy of the Bongo Friendee Service Manual I find that there is an Auto Free Top Control Unit mentioned on page 307. It is located within the rear offside trim just forward of the rear offside light cluster. The Manual says that the control unit should be removed and tested with a circuit tester to see if the measured terminal voltage value differs to the list of voltage values, checked where the terminal is connected to. If the system is normal but it does not opperate well the control unit should be replaced.
PM sent:

Re: AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 8:02 pm
by johnnybongo
At the rear of the van roof in either corner there are two blanking plugs with nuts underneath them which fix to thread coming out of the roof, I'm imagining that there will be several of these under the headlining thats all. In the owners manual it says once you have removed the motors ,pulled the aft down and tied the rope off, to take it to the dealer to be fixed. I've just got it in me head that they're not going to be relying on four strong men and brute force at the dealership to get the roof back up,hence there must be a nuts and bolts way of fixing it, or at least thats what I'm hoping.

Re: AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:27 am
by Doone
We've never removed the roof itself so can't help you with that. We have removed the tent part and there are pictures on the 'Bongo tips' page of our website which show the exposed roof with hinge at the rear, if this helps.

During the summer, Allan took several calls from Bongo owners whose roofs were stuck open. In all cases, the problem was with the connector blocks in the (drivers side) rear corner of the roof. I don't know if you checked them? If not, they are 2 pairs of white blocks and can be easily seen (from outside) when the roof is open. They are exposed to the elements when roof is open. The cure was to pull the blocks apart, clean them, (spray with WD40) and reconnect. The trouble is Al can't think of a way to access these with the roof shut. :( Unless you have very long arms and are thin enough to crawl into the roof space...

Re: AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:25 pm
by mikeonb4c
Doone wrote:During the summer, Allan took several calls from Bongo owners whose roofs were stuck open. In all cases, the problem was with the connector blocks in the (drivers side) rear corner of the roof. I don't know if you checked them? If not, they are 2 pairs of white blocks and can be easily seen (from outside) when the roof is open. They are exposed to the elements when roof is open. The cure was to pull the blocks apart, clean them, (spray with WD40) and reconnect. The trouble is Al can't think of a way to access these with the roof shut. :( Unless you have very long arms and are thin enough to crawl into the roof space...
That is a REALLY useful tip (factsheet stuff). As you say, a pity about the Catch 22 stuff when the roof is down. I'm going to start scratching my head for a solution on that one :roll:

Re: AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:05 pm
by johnnybongo
Thanks for keeping on thinking about it for me lads. I'm properly scratching my head. (am wondering if any UK mazda dealers would be able to access any info on how to get the lid up?, or do they not want to know us?)

Re: AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:39 am
by westonwarrior
Try a couple of phone calls

Bell Hill
Wheel quick

Ask them for advice both a very helpfull and Im sure if any one has sorted this they will have

Re: AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:43 am
by Bob
johnnybongo wrote:Thanks for keeping on thinking about it for me lads. I'm properly scratching my head. (am wondering if any UK mazda dealers would be able to access any info on how to get the lid up?, or do they not want to know us?)
Normaly Mazda dealers either don't want to know, or charge HUGE money, best avoided if poss. Weston Warriors ideas are sound.

Re: AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:41 pm
by Hippotastic
Excuse me if I am being daft.

Will the locking machanism that is holding it down not release if you press the roof lift button in the rrof? I know you disconnected the motors, but the locks too?

Re: AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:24 pm
by johnnybongo
Well, I can try it tomorrow and I'll let you know if you're being daft. Meanwhile ,does anyone have any contact details for Bell hill or Wheelquick please?

Re: AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:32 pm
by mister munkey
Wheel Quick 01942 217800

Re: AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:46 pm
by westonwarrior
and Bell Hill 01373 834252

Re: AFT roof (was stuck open and now stuck down)

Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:53 am
by Hippotastic
johnnybongo wrote:Well, I can try it tomorrow and I'll let you know if you're being daft. Meanwhile ,does anyone have any contact details for Bell hill or Wheelquick please?
Well was I being daft, and if that did not help, how have you solved the problem? Have you solved the problem? :shock: