My roof doesn't work...

[Ryannn]

Hi guys, I've got a problem with the hydrolic roof on my 94 Audi Cab.

I did get some feedback via the Audi forum, but it's not very busy!

My current situation, the windows don't drop when you unhook the roof at the front. The roof can be unhooked at anytime, no matter of speed or anything! The roof doesn't work off the switch and when you press it. When pressing the 4x window button in the centre console all that happens is the relay clicks!

Something is making me think it's the roof ECU as when I fold the roof back by hand and undo the catches you can hear the motor making all the right noises. Does anyone have any knowledge of these?

Cheers

[wheelspinner]

Welcome to audi cab ownership most likely its a frayed wire near the boot other than that it can get infuriating.

Its a common problem just search audi cab roof problems and start reading,if the wires arent frayed see if you can find someone with a Vagcom and read the faults.

I just put mine up and down manually....

Steve

[Ryannn]

Haha yeah I'm reading through all the faults! Ha
Looking it the boot, it's already had the rear loom replaced, but obviously I don't know how well!

[retrowrongun]

Are there any micro switches on the release catches used to start taking roof down ??
If so possibly faulty

[Ryannn]

Previous owner told me it was a microswitch on the boot lock but when I've checked, they don't have one on the lock!

The windows should drop when the roof is released and you should be unable to open the roof when the car is in gear. None of this is happening so I thought I'd go from the start!

[ejenner]

So is it possible the roof system isn't getting a signal from the gearlever switch?

I'd rule out control unit problems as in my experience working with lots of different cars control units tend not to fail. I say 'tend not to' as I wouldn't want some freak popping up saying 'oh yes they do' - 1 in a 100 times the control unit is faulty. The rest of the time it is something else.

[wheelspinner]

As i said you could spend months looking fot the problem(i know ...i have)

Apart from the normal cracked wiring loom on the boot could be dirty or damaged microswitches,handbrake switch,lack of oil in the hydraulic pump,duff ram,boot or glovebox light,dicky boot lock or actuator could be any of them

Quick idea of how complicated the roof operation is.

www.audifans.net/ftopic-34798-0.html

The only real way IMHO is to plug it into a Vagcom and read the codes.

[Ryannn]

Apr 19, 2014 14:21:22 GMT ejenner said:

So is it possible the roof system isn't getting a signal from the gearlever switch?

It could very well be that yes. It's difficult to explain everything I've looked at or thought of as, from experience, this is the most complicated cabrio I've ever had!

So with everything as it should be, uncliping the roof should drop the windows and it doesn't. This leads me to believe there may be an issue at the top of the windscreen as the roof is also never "locked" when driving.

However, the car also has a switch which drops all the windows at once, the windows don't drop when you press it, but the relay does click on and off. I'm 50/50 as to whether to replace this relay as they're around £50 from breakers and the clicking noise makes me think it's actually ok! Previous owner supplied a relay with the car but when I've checked it it's a sunroof relay for a coupe and not for a cabrio.

Apr 20, 2014 16:44:58 GMT wheelspinner said:

The only real way IMHO is to plug it into a Vagcom and read the codes.

Yeah, I understand entirely and think I've read every thread on the internet about them! I've got a mate with a Vagcom, I'm just waiting for my laptop to come back from repair.