Electric Roof Securing Mechanism Q...

[carreraboy]

OK .... can somone please officially and categorically explain how the above works.

Assuming all electrics working well this should keep it secure?

If there is a failure in the circuit could the fixing mechanism release the securing bolts or watever they are called?

Can someone please explain how it all works?

Thanks....

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Basically, two arms extend from the roof and latch into the sunroof at the back. They are secure, if it's cracked open you can't raise it beyond the couple of inches as the arms hold it in place. To free the sunroof to take it out completely, you have to retract these arms; this can't be done on the move, or without the key, as the ignition has to be turned to "accessory", or position 1. At this point the roof will raise all the way to vertical, but is still held secure by the two clips at the front.

I'm guessing you're wondering how it's got lost? If the arms are broken (the sacrificial cogs stripped), or the microswitch at the front (above the mirror) that recognises you've put the roof back in has failed, then it's possible the roof is sitting in it's hole normally, but if you pushed it up it would open. They lift on the motorway, quite un-nerving when it pops up an inch or two at speed, but it's still secured at the front, and wind will always push it back down. I can see how, if the roof wasn't held by the two arms and you drove it backwards very fast (i.e. on a truck) it could fly off, but it would have broken the front clips and there would be damage visible I'd guess?

 

[carreraboy]

So Paul, if the electrics were knackered this could have "unsecured" the roof via the microswitch even though there was some secondary clips holding it and being then driven backwards i.e rear end facing forwards, with the wind buffeting under a slightly loose and opening could have blown it off?

 

[pauljmcnulty]

So Paul, if the electrics were knackered this could have "unsecured" the roof via the microswitch even though there was some secondary clips holding it and being then driven backwards i.e rear end facing forwards, with the wind buffeting under a slightly loose and opening could have blown it off?

I don't think so, no. You'd have had to get in the car, turn the key to "1", retract the rear arms, then drive it backwards. Even then I'd have thought the roof would open to vertical, then the clips at the front would have given up and broken, and the roof would probably have smacked the windscreen. I can't see how it's an electrical failure myself.

It's not uncommon for the arms to be broken, and the roof to be sitting in it's hole unsecured. Mine was for ages until I got it fixed, it did pop up an inch or two on the motorway but obviously going backwards would have caused a problem. Even if the arms were broken, I don't know how fast you'd need to go backwards to pop it out, perhaps a window was open?

 

[carreraboy]

OK is there any electrical process in the securing of the roof?

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Checked out mine!

Ignition must be in Accessory position to retract arms.

Can drive with arms retracted ie no "auto secure" interlock, I think it would be possible to drive around normally and not realise roof was not secured - at town speeds anyway.

If in open position ie on the arms - it is secure and wont come out.

Front clips only hold it down, NOT in so if pulled out backwards over the wind deflector normally they would not do any damage (but if flipped over and out as is suggested, I am certain would leave marks on deflector and front of opening)

If microswitches were not working the sunroof would not work at all - if you put the roof back in, the car may not recognise it and not lock it down, but also not raise it either.

Think thats as complete as I can manage! Unfortunately, I think it leaves wriggle room for them.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

If the roof was secure - electrical failure would not unsecure it.

And there is no electrical process for securing it - other than the motor in the rear wing.

Had the roof been up and down? (Not in and out!)

Edit - I agree with Paul, if it came went over and away I'm sure there would be other damage, windscreen or dents in bonnet/ wings /front panel

 

[carreraboy]

Thanks Paul and Mike , think I have the picture, they are actually disputing it was actually there at the recovery, despite three witnesses, but they do say the driver retraced his route and could not find it so must not have been there in the first place. Give me strenght .... we will get there[]

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Roof is very cheap used, every car at a breaker has one so getting the right colour should be easy enough. Is there other damage from it breaking loose, or might it be easier to spend £50 and get one yourself?

 

[Mike_Pollock]

IF it fell off, it would have had to have been going quickly, 70 plus, on the back of the recovery truck for it to have come out, Just tried mine unlatched at 60+, didn't move.

 

[Eldavo]

With the arms retracted mine only popped up at the back at 1.2 leptons. Only a couple of inches but I did gulp!

 

[pauljmcnulty]

IF it fell off, it would have had to have been going quickly, 70 plus, on the back of the recovery truck for it to have come out, Just tried mine unlatched at 60+, didn't move.

Was that 60MPH backwards? []

Des' was on the back of a recovery truck, facing the wrong way. I'm still not sure it would have lifted at lower speeds; obviously once it's up in the air and facing the wind direction it's going to fly off, but it does take a bit of speed to lift the roof. I guess the recovery truck could well have hit 60 or more though.

 

[Chrishazle]

Regarding sunroof, suggest you have a look at :
http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/body-03.htm
And associated links.

 

[zcacogp]

I recall the original post from Des about the roof going awol while on the back of the truck. It struck me as odd then, and strikes me as odd now.

Assuming that the car was facing backwards on the back of the truck, I guess it is possible that the airflow over and around the roof could have been enough to pull the roof up and off if the supporting legs were not as strong as they could have been. Bear in mind that the legs are only as strong as the sacrifical cogs holding them in place, and those quite easily strip - often unbeknownst to the owner. (Bear in mind that the 944 is a low car, and will sit behind and below the cab of a pick-up truck, which will cause some unusual airflow over the top of the car.)

The attachment at the front of the car is not strong if pulled directly in line with the roof. If the sunroof has lifted up in turbulence, I could well believe that it could be tugged off altogether.

However, this is all guessword. Des, I'd have thought that the case for you is pretty clear cut - the sunroof was present at the start of the recovery and absent at the end (I presume you have the paperwork to prove this, with the relevant marks made on the picture of the car before it was 'recovered'?) It sounds like the recovery firm is trying to wriggle out of paying for a (very expensive, from an OPC) sunroof and simply need to be held to account 'till they cough up. If you do have this paperwork and they are particularly recalcitrant then issuing in the small claims court could be a good idea; I have found that such action brings very swift (and satisfying) results.

As a point for everyone else; if your 944 does get loaded onto the back of a tow truck, it may be an idea to insist that it is done such that the car is facing forward if you are in any doubt as to the security of the roof.


Oli.

 

[carreraboy]

No question it was present at point of collection, we have a neighbour who came over and chatted to the driver for ages about his American Muscle car obsession they shared.

We both guided him on the truck. I did comment would it not be better I drove it on myself frontways ... no no mate I will reverse it on. Other witness was at the Indy, who saw the panic of the driver saying he had lost the roof and was going to retrace his route and come back ... never saw him again, so three witnesses. I would think anyone would notice a sunroof missing and comment especially being trailered and going to a garage where it is likely to be parked outside.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Just a suggestion!
Source a good s/h one get a quote from OPC form new one, tell recovery co you'll sue them for a new one but to get it sorted say you,ll settle for X (suggest twice the price of the S/h one) as I say just a suggestion to get it sorted.

 

[carreraboy]

They seem at last to be accepting the electric scemario ... so need to get the roof issue sorted before any action .... but thanks everyone for your help and may this be a warning for anybody taking expert recovery insurance!