Hood protocol

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alfazagato

New Member
Messages
36
When I bought my 4200 Spyder from Marenello in 2003 I was warned that under no circumstances should I stop the hood action either opening or closing. I have followed this dictum for the last 14 years together with operating the roof every month even in the garage. However in talking to a fellow Spyder owner he said that he half raised the roof and stopped the movement so that he could clean out the recess into which the hood folds. Have I been misled or is he courting disaster?

Stuart
 
zagatoes30

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
21,024
There is no problem stopping the roof as long as you don't turn off the ignition, as soon as you do the hydraulic pressure drops and the roof sticks. It is easy to fix jus release the locks in the cubby hole between the seats and gently fold the roof back down and all will be good when you start the car again.
 
Stewart

Stewart

Junior Member
Messages
472
I have stoped mine on numerous occasions, the only thing I do is continue the same way with the cycle...I have had the odd stoppage but after repressing the button cycle continues.
I have never stoped the engine during the operation.
 
alfi boy

alfi boy

Junior Member
Messages
114
I stopped mine half way through to clean storage area when I first got the car, turned everything off and spent an hour and half figuring out what the **** to do next, forum came to the rescue but like you I religiously never now stop between cycles, it's voodoo to me.
 
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alfazagato

New Member
Messages
36
Out of caution I think that I will continue with the continuous movements up and down...thanks for the advice.
BTW I never manage to get more than 20-21 mpg on a run, as displayed on the trip screen. Is this reasonable? My 996 gives me mid 30s!
 
miket

miket

Member
Messages
647
I have stopped mine mid cycle to clean the bay out, engine off I even have a prop to hold it open whilst I do it, fire her back up and continue with the cycle no issues!
 
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alfazagato

New Member
Messages
36
Thanks for your thoughts....most illuminating!! On the subject of fuel consumption I think that I have found part of the answer in that the Trip works in miles per US gallon which being 0.83 of an Imperial one makes up some of the difference. So my 21 miles per US gallon is, in fact, 25.5 per Imperial gallon.....which is certainly better. Motto....read the manual!
 
BennyD

BennyD

Sea Urchin Pate
Messages
15,006
20-25? No mate, that's way off. I get around 15 touring and about 10-12 when 'dwyving wiv spiwit'. The only hood protocol I know of is; never drive with the f*cker up unless the storm outside has a name.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,907
BennyD said:
20-25? No mate, that's way off. I get around 15 touring and about 10-12 when 'dwyving wiv spiwit'. The only hood protocol I know of is; never drive with the f*cker up unless the storm outside has a name.
Click to expand...

Much as it pains me, I have to agree with Benny. I only used to get about 19 out of my 4200 driving like Miss Daisy

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alfazagato

New Member
Messages
36
OK, I do tend to drive at about the legal limit on motorways and that was the sort of running that I was comparing. If Benny, CatmanV2 and Zagatoes30 are using their Trip function to see the consumption they note, then we are saying roughly the same thing.
Benny, as far as having the roof down, I tend to run that way all the time. I also live in Central London so parking is an obvious roof-up moment,
 
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ChrisN

New Member
Messages
19
Just looking at this thread, I am getting concerned that my Spyder GT being 15 years old could use some TLC on the roof mechanism and fabric. I am not aware that this forms part of the annual service at the indie garage I use.

The movement has seemed to slow over the years from slow to dead slow, and l expect to be stranded sometime in the future with it stuck half open and half closed.

Are there any UK specialists known to members who could check, lubricate(?) and service the roof to get it back into a reliable operating condition?
 
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