Roof up and down problems

[crookrise]

If, as you say, the roof works OK when on electric hook up then its a battery problem. Possible a cube fuse blown on top of one of the batteries.
As a side you dont need the engine running to put the roof up or down but you do need the ignition on.
Reason for ignition on is so as the vehicle speed sensor is active to check if the van is moving.

 

[Aubisque]

@Aubisque

It only has limit switches, so it doesn't track the roof position.

More likely you have a faulty roof sensor or low fluid or low battery and switching the panel off and on resets the error and allows it to function again.

if you read this then it can help you determine if you have a faulty sensor or it is reading the sensors incorrectly.

Does £800 sound about right including new loom to fix roof sensor issue?

Hi all. Been qu’outra the above for a new loom inc three hours labour to fix issue where I keep getting warnings the roof is open. 2012 SE. I have no mechanical knowledge so couldn’t do it myself. Does this sound about right? Thanks in advance

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Ok, I don't know the electro-mechanical specifics, but I've had a couple of times (one last week, one several years ago) where I've been specifically raising or lowering the roof partially for random reasons and the control panel has then said the roof is open when it actually isn't. Still functions fine, just doesn't seem to recognise it's end position.
A switch off/on of the control panel has sorted it.
I am very confident I don't have dodgy sensors or anything as works fine in general use, never had the warnings.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

You have to remove the seat to get at the battery.
Fiddly and requires correct spline spanner but not too difficult.

@Anthony1 I have to say, I’m really not sure anything is wrong. Perhaps your batteries are not perfect but functional. My batteries lasted 16 yrs before I needed to replace. Your van is quite old yes?

 

[vbk1975]

Sometimes if you half raise or lower the roof it can lose track of what position it is in. If you turn off the control panel and then switch back on it re-registers correctly.

Just for clarity (using pictures) - There are three normal roof states (Closed {Both closed sensors active}, Partially open/close {one or no sensors active}, Open {both open sensors active}) - Fourth Error state is flashing {one or more Open & Closed sensors active together, current / timer pump limit hit but both sensors not made, or sensor error (open circuit)}

 

[crookrise]

So who knows how the system detects the roof has sagged [usually just one side] and then starts the pump.

 

[WelshGas]

So who knows how the system detects the roof has sagged [usually just one side] and then starts the pump.

Probably because 1 or both Open sensors are no longer active showing fully open so pump starts to bring both into alignment showing fully open.

 

[vbk1975]

So who knows how the system detects the roof has sagged [usually just one side] and then starts the pump.

The Roof ECU, not the control panel reads in each individual sensor (x4), after period after ign off, if it detects that one or two of the open sensors are not longer active, then it will run the pump until the electrical current of the pump peaks when the correct pressure is reached. @WelshGas can probably remember the timings for the roof recheck better than me.

 

[WelshGas]

The Roof ECU, not the control panel reads in each individual sensor (x4), after period after ign off, if it detects that one or two of the open sensors are not longer active, then it will run the pump until the electrical current of the pump peaks when the correct pressure is reached. @WelshGas can probably remember the timings for the roof recheck better than me.

It's supposed to be 10hrs after last Ignition Off and then it checks every 5 hrs thereafter.
That's why it always seems to happen in the middle of the night, if it's going to happen.