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Thanks to Richard's help with bits from the manual, I have successfully removed, tinkered with and re-installed my rear spoiler and now it is working fine. To recap, the left ram was being lazy on retraction. It was fine on extension but my car would have a wonky spoiler whenever I parked it up after the spoiler had been deployed. There was no sign of any hydraulic leaks.
Now, before I removed my spoiler I tried to establish what was going on. I used a cable with the spade connectors attached to terminals of the pump and enrgised it by using the jump start terminal next to the oil filter. It just a case of revesing the polarity to switch between extesion and retraction. After messing around for half an hour I was none the wiser so I thought I'd go the whole hog and take it off so I could follow the filling and bleeding procedure.
To remove the spoiler you need to remove the black cover from the underside of the engine cover. You have to remove the snorkel that fits onto the airbox when the engine cover is closed as it secures part of the black cover.
Disconnect the wiring to the pump and remove the microswitch assembly from the right side ram.
To remove the spoiler the rams must be extended. I remove the three allen bolts that secure the left ram to the engine cover. Visually locate the small hole in the top of the ram right under the spoiler. Now rotate the ram anticlockwise until this hole lines up with a deeper hole. At this stage the manual has a special tool - a c-spanner with a pin that would fit in the hole. You then rotate the whole lot 90degrees clockwise and the spoiler pops off. I substitue the spoiler for the plain end of a 3/16'' drill bit. It fitted in the hole well and I was then able to perform the 90degree turn by hand. Put a blanket on the back of the car just under the rear window and you can rest the spoiler down while you repeat on the other side.
Once you got your spoiler off remove the four locking nuts that secure the motor/pump and remove.
I then carried on my investigations in the kitchen! It seemed the left ram was working but was sticking. Although I didn't get to see one I think the retraction of the ram is done by a spring. I could hear what sounded like a spring catching as the ram extended and retracted. I did follow the procedure for filling the ram but it was full. Not surprised really as I hadn't seen any leaks. So I thought I'd do my best to get some lub on it. I removed the circlip from the top of the ram and removed the section that has the slot that secure to the spoiler. I lubbed the slider with some of the CHF I bought and now didn't need [£13litre!!!] and some good old WD40. I thought about removing the rubber dust seal but thought I would most likely do more damage to the seal. Anyway after lubbing it and working it in and out by using a motorcycle battery is seemed to be working as well as the right hand ram.
Refiting the spoiler is just a reversal of the removal - trust me, if you've got it off you'll have no trouble putting it back together. Probaby only took 30mins to put it back on and if I had to remove another I reckon I could do it in 30mins too.
Obviously I'm chuffed as nuts to have not had to fork out for any new bits. Once again, big thanks to Richard!!!!!
