Spyder Hood Expert needed

[Scudrunner]

OK, so there's a certain inevitability to this; 1st nice (weekend, South of England) day of 2017 and I try to lower the hood (as in soft top) on the Spyder and it stops quite early in the cycle.

Windows drop, pins on the rear of the hood unwind and then it just stops. Won't go back either. To get back to the beginning I have to use button 2 to rewind the rear locking pins and do a battery reset to get the windows back up and extinguish the hood warning light.

I guess I should have regularly "exercised" the hood through the winter?

Car is a 2005 (glass window)

Any wise words?

Thanks

 

[safrane]

A common problem is the straps that pull the middle frame loop out of the way come away or loose tension. This in turn prevents the next part of the cycle starting or reversing to close up again.

You may be able to see under the covers to see if anything is loose or bent.

 

[Scudrunner]

Thanks, I'll take a look at that. I assume that the straps are between the outer hood and the inner headlining?

 

[hladun]

Sounds like your hydraulic system isn't starting. Fuse, relay, pump, fluid..?

 

[Vampyrebat]

Should be yes, the same thing happened to my wife's Cooper S a few months ago, the straps were out of sync with each other (a bit like trying to open an old sash window). Just needed re-tensioning........Again the roof was never exercised during the cold/damp months.
Otherwise potentiometers/sensors not in line or electric motor failed

 

[Scudrunner]

All good things to check over the weekend. Thanks

 

[RJ237]

Failure of the elastics is a common problem here, finally allows the frame to wear a hole in the hood. Lorenz-06MT offers a repair kit on the US forum if that proves to be your problem.

 

[Stewart]

Hi I replaced the elastic in the spars ...cured all the problems, 12 inch looped with Velcro, stop hood just when it's upright, push first spar back ..if hood folds down as it should and stows, then next time you get it to the opening position, reach in with the elastic and fix it around spar one on to the second spar, this should cure the problem.
Best to have someone to run the system and one on elastic duty.Cost less than £5
Good luck.

 

[philw696]

To be fair from my experience re tensioning the elastic straps is only a short term fix.
You're better off doing what Benny does keep the roof down and drive fast.

 

[zagatoes30]

you're better off doing what benny does keep the roof down and drive fast.

whs