Roof trouble

[splitpin]

Not had any problem with roof before, then after four days camping it wouldn't come back down, it was late in the day light was fading I was in a hurry and didn't have any rope to pull it downwith. Took motors off and managed to get it down by sliding the struts along bit by bit then a horrendous two hour drive with roof light flashing and beeper sounding all the way, seems to get louder the faster you go. So now I have to get the roof back up to sort out problem, I have been told by one of the specialist garages that the roof should now simply push back up from inside but I can only move it about an inch which seems to be free play in the mechanism, so does it have to be raised by pushing the struts along the reverse of when lowering manually. Also does anyone know where the relay that operates the roof motors is located on new shape Bongo. If you have a raising roof always make sure you have rope and allen key to lower it manually if need be.
Thanks

[Rhod]

Can't help myself I'm afraid, but check this thread

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 0fe3b43f5e

mrsam may be able to help - he seems to have gone a fair way into working out how the roof functions.

Doesn't help you now, but I sometimes find that I need to give the roof a push up before it'll come down.

[splitpin]

Cheers Rhod, some good info in that topic, still havn't figured how to get roof back up, or where relay is though.
Thanks

[missfixit70]

Control unit is behind the rear drivers side panel.
I know it doesn't help you now, but most "roof not working" problems are just down to the switch behind the handbrake not properly making contact, you just need to lift the centre console to clean the switch contacts before doing anything drastic like detatching the motors, may help someone else reading this with similar issues.

[TWO BLUE]

I had the same trouble on Tuesday last. Fortunately, or embarrasingly, my problem was only that I had disengaged the handbrake the evening before to locate the portable tv.
I was ready to follow manual to drop roof manually i.e. drop motors etc. Then I thought to ring Caravan Supplies at Rotherham as I had the number in my wallet.
Phil at CS reminded me that the handbrake must be applied to enable the roof to function.
Phil you're a star.

splitpin, I know this doesn't help your situation but do smile at my stupidity as I would be needing something to smile about if I was in your situation. Also post a reply as to how you manage to raise roof as this may help others in the future.

[splitpin]

Thanks missfixit and two blue, roof fixed yesterday, handbrake switch was okay, fault was in either one of two connectors (one white and one black) right at the very back of the roof, which can only be accessed when roof is raised. Motors were already dissconnected to allow the roof to be lowered manually. Raising the roof was difficult by myself and would have been much easier with with a helper, I found it could only be lifted about an inch at the front initially and after wedging with rubber blocks I could access the slider arms with a long wide screwdriver and push them back a little at a time and then support the roof with pieces of wood one side at a time. Eventually at about the half raised position it tends to stop trying to come back down by itself and gets much easier to push up. Then you can get at the two connector blocks and also refit the motors. Pleased it's sorted anyway and hopefully not something I will have go through again.

[missfixit70]

Glad you got it sorted, was it just a matter of cleaning the block contacts, or did it just sort itself when reconnected? Might be a bit of a top tip if it's just a quick unplug & plug back in to re-establish the contact

[splitpin]

After dissconnecting and reconnecting the blocks both motors worked, but to keep a good connection I used a contact cleaner spray which prevents oxidisaton.

[mikeonb4c]

Phew! Pleased you had a happy ending without major expenditure. Strange that the connector block should gone AWOL like that though

[georgeil773480]

Had the same trouble roof would not come down had to get Ian Taylor Jap parts Market Drayton to fix it .One of the motors was u/s.
George....

[TWO BLUE]

Mmmm!! Me worries about being stuck on/off site and roof getting stuck. Must be known to though, otherwise they wouldn't tell you how to manually lower it in the manual.
Good to know you got it sorted splitpin, and thanks for telling us how you sorted it.

[splitpin]

Yes mike, agree it's strange should happen like that after working okay 4 days earlier, suppose a few days with moisture getting into blocks was enough to make contact fail, after separating the blocks could see slight corrosion on connections. Cleaned them with contact cleaner and have since opened them again and put a dab of vaseline on each connection to make sure they stay good.