Well, I finally graduated!!! now the fun begins!!!

Here is the dilemma:

its all related to the top I'm thinking....

airbag light on dash....
top will not latch automatically. I have to use a key to close it all the way... its weird.
When the key is used to unlock the latch, the switch functions as normal to lower the top, however the latch stays up? another weird...
When I close top with switch, I can keep holding down, but it just will not lock down.

According to what I am reading so far:
1. window reset? done...
2. how do I reset the top mechanism?
3. Do I have reversed hoses on latch?
4. Do I have a bad latch?
I don't know if the hoses have been replaced, since I just picked it up, however I suspect they have been replaced as the header is dirty, and airbag light is on...Hopefully I'm on the right track....

Thanks for the help you all!!!! GO!

 

Congrats on the acquisition.

I am sure the convertible top experts will be along soon to help get it sorted. As a starting point I would check the fluid level and make sure the relief valve is fully closed on the pump.

By "use a key" do you mean the allen key for manual latching?

Can we also see pics of the Cougar? I had a 1970 XR7 back in the 70s while in high school. Some *** hat rear ended it hard so it got totaled. I still miss that car.

 

The key is the Allen key, yes...Fluid looks good at this point... valve is fully closed...

The Cougar is in over 500 pieces getting restored....I'll get you one with the engine test fitted!

Thanks!

 

Jim, does dashboard show top not latched message with latch up? Are you saying that you can operate the latch with the Allen wrench without releasing the hydraulic fluid pressure by loosening the stopcock?


In a nutshell the roof works ok except the latch neither engages or releases the top without manual intervention?

Do the rear windows raise with latch up?

Are there any "green shower" leaks / stains by the latch or above the rear view mirror?

Let's split airbag into another string as another unrelated issue?

John

 

Get airbag code. My S-type had 6 airbags and 5 blowing seat belts, you need to know which one to diagnose.

 

no message on dash that I can see yet.
you are correct, In a nutshell the roof works ok except the latch neither engages or releases the top without manual intervention. I can unlock the latch without moving the petcock. Once the top is open though, I can't close the latch with the Allen at all. I haven't tried to close with petcock opened...
Rear windows only raise once the latch in manually closed.
The whole header trim panel is a mess, but nothing fresh showing....

 

Sounds like you know what your doing. Please do not take this the wrong way but you do know turn the Allen key clockwise to unlock dont you? As you say the hoses could be the wrong way around. Not a difficult job to swap them. Put a small zip tie on the lower one so when you have them off you know which one was originally on the bottom. Its obvious now but believe me its easy to confuse the two once they are off. The top latch is also adjustable. Read about the fun I had when I had the green shower, it may give you some insight. Just click me to jump to topic. Good luck.

 

Yep, you seem to know what you're looking for.

In the event you release the hood switch (going down) too soon, you should have a dash message saying the hood is open as the latch is up. Do you get that?

I would try switching the two hoses are on the left side of the hydraulic pump which are easy to reach as they on the Left Hand Side of the Pump (towards the centre of the car). You shouldn't even need to remove the pump. There's lots of threads available here on this unit.

I know there are micro switches on the hood hinge rams, but not sure where they are on the latch, as I haven't been above the windscreen glass yet in the header trim panel. One thing I did do, was make sure the latch & the steel cover clip move freely (bit of WD40).

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

The fact that you don't get a hood (roof) not latched message is telling. Yet the rear windows go up when latch manually closed.

No message made me think perhaps the car thinks the latch is a closed, but then the rear windows only work when latch is closed.

***sidebar: for the record do the rear windows ever close automatically witj roof closing? I bet not, since the latch just be manually closed. But I never want to assume. ****

Jim, I've gotta grab the Jaguar TSB that details which convertible top switches operate in what order. Wouldn't it be nice if this was no more than a bad switch.

John

 

Jim,

Having a tough time attaching the TSB. Please Google it:

TSB 501-11

It's even got trouble shooting by symptom. Let us know how it goes.

John

 

Finally got a message... had to learn how!

anyhow, I have a “hood not latched” message. If I close it manually with the Allen, the message disappears. With the top down, I can manually close the latch with the Allen and the message also goes away. if I open the latch manually, the rear quarter windows immediately drop and the top will open fine with the switch, but open latch stays up in open position.

For kicks, I closed the latch manually with the top down, and I could not get it to reopen at all until I partially raised the roof with the switch. once it was fully closed, I used the key and manually latched it down.

If that provides more info...

 

oops! double post!

 

Jim, find that TSB. It will put so much in perspective for you. It even has a symptom = check this section that covers your issues.

John

 

Take another look at the hydraulic pump and make sure that you have 6 lines attached to it... maybe the previous owner did the manual latch conversion (when you get the green shower at the latch and then disconnect just those TWO hoses)...

 

John, I have the TSB. There are two options I see, but the TSB says “top latch fail”. Mine doesn’t. Is it the same as “hood not latched”?

I’ll also check the pump for 6 hoses... under the rear seat there are new zip ties tied to one hydraulic line running forward. Looks like some attempted something on it!

 

Airbag problem solved!!!! (small connector under driver seat, both wires cut!!! yuck!

 

You cut the wires? Or where the wires cut?

 

already sliced. Looks like when the seat was pulled, they left the connector down and the seat just tore them apart!

 

On a hunch, pulled the entire panel. All the hoses are replaced (top hydraulic brand..). PO had the hoses reversed on the pump. Flipped them and BOOM!!! Fully functional!!!! Love this ride!!!!!

 

Well done,

Frankc was right. Sometimes things are real simple. hope things go go well from here. Let us know how you get on it