Searching for a Spyder roof pump for <4000 GBP

Gooner

Member
Messages
443
Hi, it's been a long time since I posted but I've enjoyed lurking from time to time.

I just had a painful conversation with the main dealer who I asked to fix my Spyder roof during a service. They have quoted £4.5k and said that the cost is almost all the pump itself which has apparently failed, the labour being very little. I've had a search of the forum and found some alternative parts suppliers that I will follow up on.

However, if anyone can tell me what is the smart thing to do about an apparently failed Spyder roof pump I'd be very grateful.

FWIW the roof failed half way through being opened, when my finger slipped off the switch. I have tried all of the resets I could find and hoped it was a microswitch or something. Part of me is hoping it isn't really the pump but the dealer says they have tested it and it has definitely failed.
 

BennyD

Sea Urchin Pate
Messages
14,994
Whatever you do, don't go to EuroSpares. They will sell you one but if it doesn't work, they will tell you to fuc...go away when you return it. You will then have to hire lawyers to get your money back. I know, I've been there and won't be going back.
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,748
Surely a pump of the same rating could be uses from another manufacturer...may need a different mounting plate or some other adjustment?
 

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,958
I would also check some of the Alfa forums. It may be a similar pump, but with a different block for the take offs.
 

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,958
Hi, it's been a long time since I posted but I've enjoyed lurking from time to time.

I just had a painful conversation with the main dealer who I asked to fix my Spyder roof during a service. They have quoted £4.5k and said that the cost is almost all the pump itself which has apparently failed, the labour being very little. I've had a search of the forum and found some alternative parts suppliers that I will follow up on.

However, if anyone can tell me what is the smart thing to do about an apparently failed Spyder roof pump I'd be very grateful.

FWIW the roof failed half way through being opened, when my finger slipped off the switch. I have tried all of the resets I could find and hoped it was a microswitch or something. Part of me is hoping it isn't really the pump but the dealer says they have tested it and it has definitely failed.

I'd be surprised if that would cause it to fail. Have you managed to open it manually, then close it manually, then try it again from a point where the car knows where it is?
 

Needamaser

Member
Messages
1,491
Heard of a similar issue with a Merc SLK who was told by main dealer his roof didn't have a problem even though it wouldn't open.
They had plugged their diagnostic kit in and didn't detect a fault so said car was fine without trying to open it themselves.
I would be getting it double checked before going further. A relay is a lot cheaper than a new pump.
 

miket

Member
Messages
647
Hi, it's been a long time since I posted but I've enjoyed lurking from time to time.

I just had a painful conversation with the main dealer who I asked to fix my Spyder roof during a service. They have quoted £4.5k and said that the cost is almost all the pump itself which has apparently failed, the labour being very little. I've had a search of the forum and found some alternative parts suppliers that I will follow up on.

However, if anyone can tell me what is the smart thing to do about an apparently failed Spyder roof pump I'd be very grateful.

FWIW the roof failed half way through being opened, when my finger slipped off the switch. I have tried all of the resets I could find and hoped it was a microswitch or something. Part of me is hoping it isn't really the pump but the dealer says they have tested it and it has definitely failed.

Did you try the two switches in the storage box between the seats? Low down on drivers side in the box itself...
 

giantoak

Junior Member
Messages
35
It might be worth trying this procedure - I had a dead roof after replacing one of the pipes.

http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/sho...e-buttons-to-work-again?highlight=spyder+roof

Also worth looking into whether it is the pump itself or the electronics on the unit - the pump on a Vauxhall Astra of similar vintage is very similar (although the electronic block connectors are not) and because there are so many things in common I'm sure was produced by the same manufacturer. A bought a complete hydraulic roof system for about £100 off e-bay - see my post on the subject. I still have the Astra pump so can check for any identifying marks for you if you wish.

I think it is very unlikely the pump itself has failed.

Mario
 

giantoak

Junior Member
Messages
35
IMG_0911[1].jpgIMG_0912[1].jpg

Here are a couple of pictures of an Astra pump - it has fewer of those vertical cylinders which I assume are electronically activated valves, but apart from that it is similar to that fitted to a Spyder. The valves themselves, the layout and configuration is all the same as was the pipework. The hydraulic rams were very similar (but not identical).
 

BennyD

Sea Urchin Pate
Messages
14,994
Check your fuses. Starting again immediately after stopping could cause a surge which could blow a fuse.
 

giantoak

Junior Member
Messages
35
One more thought - £4k new, and upwards £1k used is simply daylight robbery and approx 10x what it should cost even allowing for a Maserati premium.

The hydraulics on a Spyder seem to be mostly assembled from generic parts used throughout the motor industry. There are convertible roof specialists out there who I'm sure would be able to recondition a Maserati unit. For example, when I had problems with my roof I came across Simply SAAB in Bristol who amongst other things, seem to specialise in fixing SAAB convertible roofs and they recondition SAAB pumps, motors and rams on-site. As things turned out, I never had to contact them, but they were going to be my next port of call.
 

MrPea

Member
Messages
3,012
One more thought - £4k new, and upwards £1k used is simply daylight robbery and approx 10x what it should cost even allowing for a Maserati premium.

The hydraulics on a Spyder seem to be mostly assembled from generic parts used throughout the motor industry. There are convertible roof specialists out there who I'm sure would be able to recondition a Maserati unit. For example, when I had problems with my roof I came across Simply SAAB in Bristol who amongst other things, seem to specialise in fixing SAAB convertible roofs and they recondition SAAB pumps, motors and rams on-site. As things turned out, I never had to contact them, but they were going to be my next port of call.

I'm with you on that. Now I've actually taken some of my Saab pump apart, and it's extremely similar to the Maserati one! Thanks for the info, GazCW as I may need to get the bypass sorted on my spyder's pump.

That pump going second hand is almost certainly off a rather delicious project car, but it's possible Premierperformance will have one from my old spyder in the near future.
 
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breakeronly

Junior Member
Messages
90
The pump that we are selling is from this car below, from which we bought the complete interior and roof.

IMG-20160720-WA0000.jpg
 

breakeronly

Junior Member
Messages
90
If only we were that clever, so hands up can`t take any credit at all, but we did make sure they checked all wishbones for splits and cracking
 

Gooner

Member
Messages
443
Thanks all for the amazing help and comments. Just to confirm a couple of points: I have tried all of the reset options I can find (mainly on this forum) although I will happily retry them and the other suggestions on here once the car is back; the car has been in the workshop of a Maserati main dealer, so while we can all be a bit cynical about main dealers, I am taking at face value at this point that they have checked everything like relays etc.. They told me a fuse had blown but replacing that didn't help and they say they have tested the pump specifically.

I now have a couple of offers of help and sources of second hand pumps via PM which I will follow up once I get the car back, which should be in a couple of days.

Like some of you, I also think it can't be that hard to rebuild the pump or substitute a similar one, so I may look at that if the second hand options don't pan out.

Thanks again, and if it springs back into life I'll let you all know. I'm relieved that at least there is a way forward that is a lot less than £4.5k