Hi Guys

My Soft Top goes down but it won't go back up, unless I pull it up Manually.

Looking at the Pipes on the Hydraulic Pump, it looks like it needs Topping up with Hydraulic Fluid, as there is not much Fluid Flowing in the Pipes, no doubt as the Car has been Standing unused for 16 years.

Where is the Plug to Top it up?

There is a screw 'Thingy' that looks like an Allen Key, would that be the Top Up Plug?

The Hydraulic Fluid is 'Red' in Colour and while I know you are supposed to Top it up with CHF11's.

Could I Top it up with Dextron 111 instead.

Is there any really difference apart from CHF11's being a lot more expensive.

 

Looking at the parts drawing I would assume the same as yourself.

Hopefully another ragtop owner will help out eventually.

Is there any scribe about it in the owners manual, assuming you have one for either car?

 

OB,

A few suggestions on your post:

If the hood is going down but not going up, I wouldn't start by looking at the fluid. First of all, do the windows go up if you hold the button for more than 8 seconds? If No, then you've got a different problem. If Yes, then did you hear the hood pump trying to work when you first pressed the button? If No, then again, you've got a different problem.

I'm sure you know all this (or can look it up in the workshop manual) but you start by making sure that the initial conditions are met ie - Ignition on, Selector in Park, Handbrake on. If all conditions are met then ecu energises relay for Hood Up operation. After 8 seconds, ecu energises 2 relays for Windows Up operation. After a total of 12 seconds the ecu closes down the circuits.

So, if pump doesn't try to run AND the windows don't go up, then either initial conditions aren't set or you have a dodgy hood switch. (Yes, you could have 3 failed relays instead, but that's unlikely)

Only if the pump runs, the windows go up, but the hood doesn't raise would I start looking at fluid problems.


As regards the fluid, I would add a few comments:

Don't be too concerned about the pipes looking as if they aren't full. That's quite normal, depending which was the last UP/DOWN operation last completed.

Be careful about which fluid you think you've got. I THINK that you'll have red-coloured fluid which is NOT CHF 11s. As far as I know CHF 11s is green (I have heard that some US cars have that fitted). UK cars originally had a red fluid which was a Univys J13 fluid / MIL5606. That is the fluid you need (but I suspect you don't need any fluid). Do not use Dexron III.

If you do really have a fluid problem, put the correct stuff in there. The pump has a fluid reservoir with Min & Max markings. Your early car is a slightly different configuration to mine but it's all detailed in the Body section of the Service Manual.

Good luck

Paul

 

Hi Paul

Cheers!

When Lowering the Soft Top, the Windows go down followed by the Soft Top.

When (Trying to raise the 'Soft Top') the Windows go up and the Soft Top tries to go up but can't quite get it moving.

I have watched the Fluid in the Pipes while I am doing this and the Pipes seem to run out of Fluid, so I'm suspecting its more likely to need topping up.

 

OB,

Ok, if the hood pump is definitely running and trying to push the hood up then we may start looking at fluid. As mentioned, there are min & max levels on the reservoir. Let the hood settle (run the Down cycle, then wait) and check where the level is on the reservoir.

Paul

 

Hi Paul

Cheers, will do.