I took my 2004 XK8 on an afternoon drive. Let the top down but now it will not raise. Push the button and the ping sound is heard but top does nothing else. Checked the fuse but it’s good. Any suggestions?

 

Check the petcock on the pump is closed, mine came loose once.

 

Bill Jacobs,

A few more details needed. So you've started with the top down, and when you pushed the button, you get nothing. Did hear any noises apart from the ping? If the windows are up, do they drop an inch? If I remember right it's a big 40A fuse that powers the pump system. That's probably a good place to start checking. Check out the info in this previous thread on the subject where moosejr had the same problem.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...t-move-233597/

Let us know how you get on.

 

Thanks for the response. The top is fully down and all windows are down. When I push the top up button the “ping” sounds but nothing else happens. I checked the 40 amp fuse. It looks good. I reseated it. I checked the valve on the pump and it is fully clockwise closed. I did review the moosejr post but I since my situation was a bit different in that my stop is fully down and simply will not do anything but “ping” I did not want to go further without more info. Finding the diagram of where the switches are located does help. I will reseat the “up” switch to see if that helps. If not, and assuming it is the “up” switch that has failed, where is the best source for replacement?

Again thanks

Bill

 

Have you checked the fluid level in the pump? Is it between the two center embossed lines?

 

The fluid level is at the top line.

 

I have a similar issue. My top was operating perfectly. The fluid was low, so I got some fluid and serviced the reservoir (the top was down) to the proper level. Now I cannot get the top to operate. I can hear the pump kick on for about 5 seconds and then it kicks off. Nothing moves. The top does not move and the latch does not move. The pressure relief is closed. The 40a fuse is good. I have tried with the door key and the console switch, with the same results.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated, Mark

 

Broken connector at the solenoid.

 

Where is the connector located?

 

That is the way is supposed to look.

 

Where on the car is it located?

 

I got lucky! I contacted Cabriolet Hydraulics this morning to see if they had a solenoid, and the young lady told me I would have to send in my pump and have it rebuilt, and that they did not sell individual pump components. Their technician Zig called me back about 15 minutes later and talked to me about the problem. He told me he would sell me a new solenoid for $80.Then...THEN! I found out they were an hour down the road in Sarasota! Well as I type this I have already been there and back, stopped in Cheesecake Factory to pick up dinner, installed the solenoid, got the top up, showered, and ate dinner! Whew...what started out as a sucky day turned out...not to bad.

Great folks at the new facility in Sarasota at Cabriolet Hydraulics, 2111 72nd Terrace East, Sarasota, FL 34243. (941) 756-1300 Angela & Zig

 

In the trunk, passenger side (US version), on top of the hydraulic pump. There is 2 of them. Same P/N.

 

I found the two solinoids. They are shy little fellows hiding back up in there. They seem to be properly connected. So on to the micro switches. Below is a photo of my fuse box and what I understand might be the switches. My question which one and do the just plug in and out?

 

So, Raise your windows. Then try to to raise your top. Do your windows go down? Does the top hook latch in the front windshield come up?

 

Yes, it pings and the windows do drop slightly but the top hook latch does not move.

 

The solenoids will have a small wire coming from them, seems to be a delicate connection. One solenoid diverts the pump flow to raise the top, the other one diverts flow to open the latch. Default flow from pump is lower top, and close latch. Off the top of my head, I think it's the third relay for top up. I'm not sure which, if any energize the latch open solenoid.

 

Brown blocks - vertical or horizontal? or the black blocks? Do they simply pull out?

 

the black row and the fuse block are the relays for the top operation, the bigger one are top up and down, the smaller ones are to raise and lower the quarter windows. The micro switches are located on the right ram cylinder and the latch cylinder. But I am confused, you said you got the top back up. Did the solenoid fix it or did you have to manually raise the top?

 

Unfortunately no I have yet to get my top back up. Another fellow also on this link did get his back up.