Convertible Top
03-16-2019, 03:34 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Convertible Top
Convertible top opens and closes but the dreaded however - it opens and closes very slowly and very labored but it does open and close.
My thought maybe I had an unrecognized/unseen hydraulic fluid leak.
What do you think?
911STYL
My thought maybe I had an unrecognized/unseen hydraulic fluid leak.
What do you think?
911STYL
03-16-2019, 05:57 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
Haven't had the experience yet. The general consensus is its a leak on previous post. Seals on the rams are common. Have you seen any oil/fluid drip from just in front of the rear tires? Its really easy to open it up and do a visual. You will see the fluid. Several people have been succesfull putting fluid in it for now and getting another 6 months or longer before repair. Plenty of post on how to add fluid. Hesrd its a pain in the butt.
03-16-2019, 06:19 PM
#4
Three Wheelin'
These things are 16 +years old,so I guess the seals are starting to leak
From what I hear the "new" seals are much better..
My "new to me" 03 has receipts for rebuilding the cylinders...here's hoping.....
From what I hear the "new" seals are much better..
My "new to me" 03 has receipts for rebuilding the cylinders...here's hoping.....
03-17-2019, 09:04 AM
#5
Instructor
+1 on leaking ram seals. You can check for this visually by accessing them via the area behind the rear seats; follow the DIY steps for refilling the top hydraulic pump. At the same time you can check all the fittings connecting the rams to the pump, and the pump itself, for evidence of fluid leaks.
Seals can start to leak very slowly -- no obvious evidence on the ground, yet over time the fluid loss is significant enough to compromise top operation. This is what happened with my car. One fluid top-top lasted about 18 months at which point the leaks became pronounced enough that hydraulic fluid did finally drip to the ground (which happens via the normal body drains, which is why slow leaks can take a while to show up). Replaced both rams, operation good as new.
Oh, and as for having a receipt for "rebuilding" the rams -- it all depends on who did the work and what materials they used, plus the condition of the original rams. Any sort of wear or scoring on them is going to compromise the service life of any replacement seals.
Seals can start to leak very slowly -- no obvious evidence on the ground, yet over time the fluid loss is significant enough to compromise top operation. This is what happened with my car. One fluid top-top lasted about 18 months at which point the leaks became pronounced enough that hydraulic fluid did finally drip to the ground (which happens via the normal body drains, which is why slow leaks can take a while to show up). Replaced both rams, operation good as new.
Oh, and as for having a receipt for "rebuilding" the rams -- it all depends on who did the work and what materials they used, plus the condition of the original rams. Any sort of wear or scoring on them is going to compromise the service life of any replacement seals.
03-17-2019, 10:59 AM
#6
Rennlist Member
I have seen a few good videos on YT on the servicing of the old hydraulic fluid in our cars and in some of them it was mentioned that opening & closing of the top was slow & labored as well before fluid change and then worked much better afterwards. So maybe your fluid is just old and needs a refresh, worth a quick DIY. I am planning to change my 19 yr old fluid as well. Good-luck, cheers.
03-18-2019, 02:42 PM
#7
Drifting
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ephrata, PA, USA now. Originally from the UK
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First try a full charge on your battery and try the top when the engine is running. If no improvement then you can go onto all the BS re hydraulic fluid leaking etc