Roadster Roof Help!
Discussion
Knights of Aston said:
If the ambient sensor fails, the roof doesn't know what temperature it is outside and it's programmed not to work in super cold conditions in case some of the mechanism is frozen. So if the reading is missing, as a precaution, the roof won't work.
Bugger exactly what temperature is that as I'm off for two weeks in the Alps shortly!And where is it so I know where to warm up to get the roof back up!
don't expect any pictures of me on a snow covered mountain in a blizzard with the roof stuck down blowing on the temp sensor to warm it up 
Quick Update and further problem.
So, after having had the roadster back for a week or so, the same problem happened again. This time, I did a window reset myself but to no avail so again I had to lock the roof down manually.
Unfortunately this time the service was not as up to scratch. I had to wait 10 days before someone could come and collect the car. On the day itself i had to call up after the alloted time had passed and someone said the would be leaving immediately which made me think they had forgotten all about it. The guy also arrived 2 hours later than he said and didn't begin to offer even the least bit of an apology.
For future issues I think I will take it to my nearest dealer who is a lot closer to me but from whom I didn't buy the car. I tsalso is not part of the same dealer network but was told that doesn't matter if you have a warranty. It is a shame since the dealer who sold me the car has looked after since it was new but having a dealer who is about 40 miles away would only really work if the service provided was first class and didn't impinge upon me too greatly but this time it's been a real hassle getting the car to them when I could have drive it to the local London one and got a tube back. Or maybe I'm being too churlish?
I was told by the service guy (who was a very nice and knowledgeable chap) that they had raised and lowered the roof some 50 times but it was all working fine now. Which is a bit of a bugger to say the least. So he said they couldn't do anything as there was no obvious problem.
As an aside, I had problems with my tracker and was told it was a problem with the transponder inside the car so at least that got replaced and now seems to be working fine.
I was surprised by one thing - I asked the guy what the procedure was for getting the rood back "online" and he said that once the manual lock had been done, you could leave the car and then try the automatic mechanism again. This came as a bit of a surprise since I thought the manual said you should immediately have it sent back. However I was told that the car recognises a "locked" roof and an "unlocked" roof and makes no distinction as to whether it is locked in manually or automatically. So the further bugger is that the very next day I could have tried the roof again and it would in all likelihood have worked. I was always afraid I'd do damage if I tried to automatically lower it once locked in manually. Oh and there appears to be no issue with the hydraulic-release strings you need to pull since it appears they just tape them back down with a post-it note! God knows what the actually do since they have been taped down with so much slack I cannot imagine they are doing anything at all and they do not appear to be connected to a sensor of any sort.
So I'm left with a car that works fine now but has failed on me twice with no one really knowing what the problem is. On the plus side I can apparently lock it into place and then try the automatic mechanism some time later to see if it's "sorted itself" unless someone tells me I shouldn't?
Also having sent the guy on his way (doh!) I have noticed quite bad scuffing on the outside edge of the drivers seat. There appears to be multiple lines of "grazing" where some of the leather has actually rippled. It looks as though a zip or something with teeth has dragged across it. So aside from a moan at the dealer is there anything I can actually do about this?! Is there some sort of fix available? I know to some it may only seem like a small thing but the car was perfect so I'm a bit annoyed know. At least it's black leather so less obvious than it could have been bu it does not look nice at all.
Suggestions/thoughts?
Thanks
(oh it's an N400 Vantage Roadster by the way)
So, after having had the roadster back for a week or so, the same problem happened again. This time, I did a window reset myself but to no avail so again I had to lock the roof down manually.
Unfortunately this time the service was not as up to scratch. I had to wait 10 days before someone could come and collect the car. On the day itself i had to call up after the alloted time had passed and someone said the would be leaving immediately which made me think they had forgotten all about it. The guy also arrived 2 hours later than he said and didn't begin to offer even the least bit of an apology.
For future issues I think I will take it to my nearest dealer who is a lot closer to me but from whom I didn't buy the car. I tsalso is not part of the same dealer network but was told that doesn't matter if you have a warranty. It is a shame since the dealer who sold me the car has looked after since it was new but having a dealer who is about 40 miles away would only really work if the service provided was first class and didn't impinge upon me too greatly but this time it's been a real hassle getting the car to them when I could have drive it to the local London one and got a tube back. Or maybe I'm being too churlish?
I was told by the service guy (who was a very nice and knowledgeable chap) that they had raised and lowered the roof some 50 times but it was all working fine now. Which is a bit of a bugger to say the least. So he said they couldn't do anything as there was no obvious problem.
As an aside, I had problems with my tracker and was told it was a problem with the transponder inside the car so at least that got replaced and now seems to be working fine.
I was surprised by one thing - I asked the guy what the procedure was for getting the rood back "online" and he said that once the manual lock had been done, you could leave the car and then try the automatic mechanism again. This came as a bit of a surprise since I thought the manual said you should immediately have it sent back. However I was told that the car recognises a "locked" roof and an "unlocked" roof and makes no distinction as to whether it is locked in manually or automatically. So the further bugger is that the very next day I could have tried the roof again and it would in all likelihood have worked. I was always afraid I'd do damage if I tried to automatically lower it once locked in manually. Oh and there appears to be no issue with the hydraulic-release strings you need to pull since it appears they just tape them back down with a post-it note! God knows what the actually do since they have been taped down with so much slack I cannot imagine they are doing anything at all and they do not appear to be connected to a sensor of any sort.
So I'm left with a car that works fine now but has failed on me twice with no one really knowing what the problem is. On the plus side I can apparently lock it into place and then try the automatic mechanism some time later to see if it's "sorted itself" unless someone tells me I shouldn't?
Also having sent the guy on his way (doh!) I have noticed quite bad scuffing on the outside edge of the drivers seat. There appears to be multiple lines of "grazing" where some of the leather has actually rippled. It looks as though a zip or something with teeth has dragged across it. So aside from a moan at the dealer is there anything I can actually do about this?! Is there some sort of fix available? I know to some it may only seem like a small thing but the car was perfect so I'm a bit annoyed know. At least it's black leather so less obvious than it could have been bu it does not look nice at all.
Suggestions/thoughts?
Thanks
(oh it's an N400 Vantage Roadster by the way)
Gutted for you
I know nothing about the roof so can't offer anything other than sympathy.
However.... 10 days before collecting to attempt to rectify!!!!!. Ok I can accept a fault that isn't evident may be hard to trace, but surely they must know the most likely source and thoroughly investigate.
Putting it up and down 50 times doesn't solve anything.
My OH had similar with his XK8 where the drivers window would lower on its own after locking the car. Two years of complaints to the Jag main dealer, meeting with DP and still it was never resolved. Easier to say it didn't happen than replace the parts which could cause this.
Next an awful rattle from the door on his Audi but only when the window fully shut. Open slightly and silence. He went out with an engineer who wouldnt listen and kept lowering the window to hear the rattle. Doh !!!!!
Most annoying is the damage to your leather.
I have to say, you really should have checked before accepting, but hindsight is wonderful and this sort of thing can be overlooked.
I would say that if the dealer is honourable then they should be able to get a detailer to try and rectify.
More of your time without a car for no fault of your own.
Because of my own poor dealer service experience I have been chastised for tarring them all with the same brush.
Not at all but some really need to get their act together.
I am not being a snob, but these are very expensive, prestigious cars and I personally think worthy of those who are there to solve our problems going the extra mile.
Good luck
Di
I know nothing about the roof so can't offer anything other than sympathy.
However.... 10 days before collecting to attempt to rectify!!!!!. Ok I can accept a fault that isn't evident may be hard to trace, but surely they must know the most likely source and thoroughly investigate.
Putting it up and down 50 times doesn't solve anything.
My OH had similar with his XK8 where the drivers window would lower on its own after locking the car. Two years of complaints to the Jag main dealer, meeting with DP and still it was never resolved. Easier to say it didn't happen than replace the parts which could cause this.
Next an awful rattle from the door on his Audi but only when the window fully shut. Open slightly and silence. He went out with an engineer who wouldnt listen and kept lowering the window to hear the rattle. Doh !!!!!
Most annoying is the damage to your leather.
I have to say, you really should have checked before accepting, but hindsight is wonderful and this sort of thing can be overlooked.
I would say that if the dealer is honourable then they should be able to get a detailer to try and rectify.
More of your time without a car for no fault of your own.
Because of my own poor dealer service experience I have been chastised for tarring them all with the same brush.
Not at all but some really need to get their act together.
I am not being a snob, but these are very expensive, prestigious cars and I personally think worthy of those who are there to solve our problems going the extra mile.
Good luck
Di
rick-derby- said:
there is also a reset procedure used usually during repair but can be used if position information is lost usually if the roof is paused for a time when in the mid way position, if you require step by step info please let me know,
Can you please post this roof-reset procedure? I know how to reset the electric windows, but not how to reset the roof. It is also not described in the manual. Thx!
AWV12 said:
rick-derby- said:
there is also a reset procedure used usually during repair but can be used if position information is lost usually if the roof is paused for a time when in the mid way position, if you require step by step info please let me know,
Can you please post this roof-reset procedure? I know how to reset the electric windows, but not how to reset the roof. It is also not described in the manual. Thx!
AWV12 said:
mikey k said:
It doesnt need a dealer to reset them though IIRC
You mean resetting the windows or the roof? The windows procedure is knownm the roof resetting procedure not, so please post if known, thx!
Has anyone had this severe a problem? There is no AM Diagnostics machine available where i am just now so i need advice...
Not working at all in the car - Aston V8 Roadster
1. Neither seat moves, push pull the seat buttons and nothing works - except them going forward which is a pain as its getting smaller and smaller to drive!!!!
2. the hood does not work and throws up two amber alerts on the dash "roof movement paused" and "roof failure detected"
3. a small red circle light comes up on the dash in the left hand side top round part above where the fuel gauge is...
4 the stereo is not tuning on
I think thats about it... i have done the window reset but to no avail and ive replaced the battery, taken the ecu out and put it back in ...
what else could it be and has anyone had the same issues and replaced any parts ????
Thanks
Not working at all in the car - Aston V8 Roadster
1. Neither seat moves, push pull the seat buttons and nothing works - except them going forward which is a pain as its getting smaller and smaller to drive!!!!
2. the hood does not work and throws up two amber alerts on the dash "roof movement paused" and "roof failure detected"
3. a small red circle light comes up on the dash in the left hand side top round part above where the fuel gauge is...
4 the stereo is not tuning on
I think thats about it... i have done the window reset but to no avail and ive replaced the battery, taken the ecu out and put it back in ...
what else could it be and has anyone had the same issues and replaced any parts ????
Thanks
GuyM said:
Has anyone had this severe a problem? There is no AM Diagnostics machine available where i am just now so i need advice...
Not working at all in the car - Aston V8 Roadster
1. Neither seat moves, push pull the seat buttons and nothing works - except them going forward which is a pain as its getting smaller and smaller to drive!!!!
2. the hood does not work and throws up two amber alerts on the dash "roof movement paused" and "roof failure detected"
3. a small red circle light comes up on the dash in the left hand side top round part above where the fuel gauge is...
4 the stereo is not tuning on
I think thats about it... i have done the window reset but to no avail and ive replaced the battery, taken the ecu out and put it back in ...
what else could it be and has anyone had the same issues and replaced any parts ????
Thanks
My guess is faulty battery or low chargeNot working at all in the car - Aston V8 Roadster
1. Neither seat moves, push pull the seat buttons and nothing works - except them going forward which is a pain as its getting smaller and smaller to drive!!!!
2. the hood does not work and throws up two amber alerts on the dash "roof movement paused" and "roof failure detected"
3. a small red circle light comes up on the dash in the left hand side top round part above where the fuel gauge is...
4 the stereo is not tuning on
I think thats about it... i have done the window reset but to no avail and ive replaced the battery, taken the ecu out and put it back in ...
what else could it be and has anyone had the same issues and replaced any parts ????
Thanks
The seat reset procedure is in the FAQ (but everything forward and up) but if that's not it you're stuck
The light sounds like the one linked to the tracker. It goes off when it's paired with a fob
It might be worth starting with a battery reset (details also in the FAQ)
I have recently had this problem with 2008 Vantage, in my case I tried to put the hood up and it only partially completed before stopping.
On close inspection, I noticed that the roof section was touching and slightly jammed against the rear body section that closes over the roof when it is down. I managed to pull them apart and the hood then slipped back easily into the folded down position and I then lowered the cover over it. I then got into the car and tried the roof closure switch again and thankfully it closed fully and locked in place.
So it seems to me that during the opening operation the hood must have touched against the cover and there must have been sufficient resistance for the sensors to halt the procedure as part of an in built safety mechanism? In any case, I thought it worth posting this because it is a nice easy fix that anyone can do with no expense.
I never have these problems with my Caterham
On close inspection, I noticed that the roof section was touching and slightly jammed against the rear body section that closes over the roof when it is down. I managed to pull them apart and the hood then slipped back easily into the folded down position and I then lowered the cover over it. I then got into the car and tried the roof closure switch again and thankfully it closed fully and locked in place.
So it seems to me that during the opening operation the hood must have touched against the cover and there must have been sufficient resistance for the sensors to halt the procedure as part of an in built safety mechanism? In any case, I thought it worth posting this because it is a nice easy fix that anyone can do with no expense.
I never have these problems with my Caterham
Edited by Blue7 on Friday 21st October 16:16
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