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Cab top goes down, but struggles to go up

Gonzo911
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Gonzo911 Member

Gonzo911

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MY03 Carrera Cab (50,500 miles). The Cab top goes down ok, but struggles to go up. The dealer says I need a new hydraulic pump ($1200), but, this situation has been slowly getting worse which makes me think it could simply be that I need to add hydraulic fluid. The dealer disagrees and says they checked it. I read the DIY and it looks fairly easy to get to the pump, but how will I know if it is low on fluid or not? Does the reservoir need to be 100% full? Thanks in advance.

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dammad Member

dammad

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Gonzo,

When you get the carpet out around where the top sits when open look at the translucent white plastic part at the bottom on the pump. On mine, it was translucent white completely and I couldn't see any level. If yours looks like this you need to fill it up. With hydraulic fluid inside it will be dark rather than translucent white.

I'm pretty useless at DIY and even I managed it, so I say go for it.

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E Kap Member

E Kap

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I can definitely see the fluid level in the plastic container. When I fill it to the top, the fluid level is about 1/4 inch from the top of the container. Like everyone says, this is a very easy procedure. Took me about 45 min the first time and now about 10 min start to finish.

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SteveMeckman Member

SteveMeckman

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Refilling the hydraulic system is not going to fix the problem all the way. It'll make it work again for a week or two. The fluid level is low because you have a leak somewhere, which will continue leaking under pressure. Most likely a seal in the cylinder is worn; this is a common problem amongst our cars after they reach a certain age.

I got my car a little over a year ago, and almost immediately I had the same problem. Same scenario, the reservoir was almost empty and the roof was having a hard time moving despite the sounds of motors whirring. I found a guy local to my area (Sarasota, FL) who rebuilds cylinders, and was able to get my car fixed very inexpensively. I use my roof extensively and these things have held up really well so far; there have been no leaks and no change in performance. Removing and reinstalling the cylinders is not a difficult DIY project, and you should be able to send him your old ones to get rebuilt. PM me for more info.

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Down South Member

Down South

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Refilling the hydraulic system is not going to fix the problem all the way. It'll make it work again for a week or two. The fluid level is low because you have a leak somewhere, which will continue leaking under pressure. Most likely a seal in the cylinder is worn; this is a common problem amongst our cars after they reach a certain age.

I got my car a little over a year ago, and almost immediately I had the same problem. Same scenario, the reservoir was almost empty and the roof was having a hard time moving despite the sounds of motors whirring. I found a guy local to my area (Sarasota, FL) who rebuilds cylinders, and was able to get my car fixed very inexpensively. I use my roof extensively and these things have held up really well so far; there have been no leaks and no change in performance. Removing and reinstalling the cylinders is not a difficult DIY project, and you should be able to send him your old ones to get rebuilt. PM me for more info.

I wondered the same thing, but I had absoutely no fluid leaks anywhere. It's been about a month and it still (knock on wood) working perfectly.

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RFM Member

RFM

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It is still possible that the pump is leaking a bit, if the hydraulic fluid level drops after a while, then are you sure. The fluid does not disappear without a reason.

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