Electric roof problem

Thanks, vbk1975! I will manually open the roof and inspect the sensor wiring later today. I replaced all four sensors…..initially front two, one of which was very corroded but got same error so replaced the back ones and still same error. If all the wires are correct, I.e. brown to brown, red to red, should I try swapping the wiring round on one side, front and back?
I would look at the hardware menu (link above), then readings are always valid regardless if a fault code is logged or not.
 
Sorry……just seen your reply above also…..thank you…..I’ll take a look at the hardware menu when I’m back later
Worth reading to the end of the thread as well, it might help you
 
Worth reading to the end of the thread as well, it might help you
Hi tbk1975! I followed the instructions and did the following:
  • with roof down pulled the 30amp fuse; left it a couple of minutes; put fuse back; ignition off; AN8 and AN9 both 0
  • Ignition on; flashing roof icon; AN8 and AN9 both 255
  • manually raised roof directly connecting motor; AN8 = 105; AN9 = 255, no errors
  • Checked sensors, all wired red to red and brown to brown.
  • Lowered roof half way using control unit, no error, AN8 and AN9 both 105
  • Lowered roof further using control unit and didn’t quite fully shut, error 1000, both AN8 and AN9 255
Any further suggestions greatly appreciated…..thank you ☺️
 
Hi tbk1975! I followed the instructions and did the following:
  • with roof down pulled the 30amp fuse; left it a couple of minutes; put fuse back; ignition off; AN8 and AN9 both 0
  • Ignition on; flashing roof icon; AN8 and AN9 both 255
  • manually raised roof directly connecting motor; AN8 = 105; AN9 = 255, no errors
  • Checked sensors, all wired red to red and brown to brown.
  • Lowered roof half way using control unit, no error, AN8 and AN9 both 105
  • Lowered roof further using control unit and didn’t quite fully shut, error 1000, both AN8 and AN9 255
Any further suggestions greatly appreciated…..thank you ☺️
i think one of the closed sensors is either defective or there is a wiring issue. I think the system is recognising one closed sensor but not the other one and that is what triggers the error . From memory the closed sensor is the one to the rear of the ram / rear of the vehicle. Worth just checking they are both fully seated and hasn't popped out and/or no damage to the sensor where the cable goes in. Also just double check no stray strands of wiring in the joints touching the other wire. (although this would probably mean a constant fault)
 
i think one of the closed sensors is either defective or there is a wiring issue. I think the system is recognising one closed sensor but not the other one and that is what triggers the error . From memory the closed sensor is the one to the rear of the ram / rear of the vehicle. Worth just checking they are both fully seated and hasn't popped out and/or no damage to the sensor where the cable goes in. Also just double check no stray strands of wiring in the joints touching the other wire. (although this would probably mean a constant fault)
Thanks so much for swift response again!! I can confirm that all sensors are seated correctly and wiring isolated…..all sensors are brand new from BMW…….do you know if there is a way of testing the sensors? Just to mention, when the roof was open, I tried putting a metal object (socket bits) on each sensor and checked the hardware readings but values didn’t change?
 
Thanks so much for swift response again!! I can confirm that all sensors are seated correctly and wiring isolated…..all sensors are brand new from BMW…….do you know if there is a way of testing the sensors? Just to mention, when the roof was open, I tried putting a metal object (socket bits) on each sensor and checked the hardware readings but values didn’t change?
The sensors are two wire Hall effect. So they change the amount of current they flow when not active and active. I think 12-17mA when active. The sensors need a good chunk of steel to get them to trigger. I have 3mm steel bar on my test rig. A M10/12 steel nut works but very hit or miss on anything not pure ferrous metal and a big enough surface area. Because the ECU uses both sides to determine the state, you won’t get one sensor to trigger a warning.
 
Hi, the only thing that occurs to me is that there was one extra complication other than red-to-red and brown-to-brown. At one point there were two wires. Could this be the problem? See below pic

The only other thing I wonder about is there a particular bit of the roof that goes close to the sensors to activate the circuit? Is anything looking identical on both sides of the van.

VBK knows a lot more about this than I ever will. I still think I was lucky and fortunate to have people push me on when it didn’t work first time.

IMG_4867.jpeg
 
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