Emergency roof closure

Dylan · Aug 18, 2017

Hi,

I've posted this in General because it relates to anyone when the Cali roof fails to close. The manual describes a manual lowering procedure, which involves removing the control unit and accessing a screw to release the oil pressure. Unfortunately, this screw was not visible on my Cali because it was hidden behind the foam padding retaining the hydraulic pump. Using a blade, a small section had to be cut out of the foam to access it. I have seen other posts in the Elevating roof section also mentioning not seeing the screw.

It seems to me that this could cause stress when the roof fails to close, and users try to locate the screw in an emergency. I have posted a few images showing what has to be done.

T6 CFO · Aug 18, 2017

Thanks for the post and pictures. Been on my list to fully nail down in case I get an issue.

Crazy that it isn't a bit easier but there we go.

I presume it was the slotted screw?

Mike

Dylan · Aug 18, 2017

Hi Mike,

Yes, it is the slotted screw.

Martin

T6 CFO · Aug 18, 2017

Dylan said:
Hi Mike,

Yes, it is the slotted screw.

Martin

Thanks

Mike

IanE · Aug 18, 2017

Martin - a big thank you for taking the time to do this. The required procedure seems incredible to me and I still ofcourse hope never to have to do it, but your post helps a lot in the demystification of it!

Ian

ArunAlec · Apr 3, 2018

Many thanks for your groundwork.
I've just got around to doing a trial run and pre cutting the foam, glad I did! What a ridiculous procedure to have to go through in an emergency!
Why on earth VW couldn't at the very least make the foam removable.

SusiBus · Apr 3, 2018

------ and most importantly you've got the velcro tie down kit in the Cali, not on a shelf in the garage!

AdB-H · Aug 15, 2018

Hi All,

I wish I looked here before as had the same issue on Saturday and had to take the plunge and cut away the foam... Anyway I was successful in lowering the roof and secured it with the straps.

My unit is clearly dead and I’ve managed to locate another (I think)...

Does anyone know if there is anything special you need to do once the new unit is fitted, being that the oil pressure has been now been released?

Thanks
Adam

Dylan · Aug 15, 2018

Hi Adam,

Sorry to hear that your roof had problems. As long as you re-tightened the release screw on the pump, you can just replace the control unit by attaching the electrical connections.

Martin

AdB-H · Aug 16, 2018

Thanks Dylan.

The only I now have to decide is do I buy a secondhand unit for €200 or get mine repaired for between €75 & €125... but i’ll figure that one out.

Cheers,

Adam

Loz · Aug 16, 2018

AdB-H said:
Does anyone know if there is anything special you need to do once the new unit is fitted, being that the oil pressure has been now been released?

There was a post not so long ago showing a member using a large syringe and an "NG" tube to refill the reservoir. Here it is; https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/hydraulic-roof-oil.24500/#post-282588

campandfly · Aug 16, 2018

T6 CFO said:
Thanks

Mike

Glad you asked if it was the slotted screw as I thought the Asterix on the foam was showing which screw to adjust. Thank you

T6 CFO · Aug 16, 2018

campandfly said:
Glad you asked if it was the slotted screw as I thought the Asterix on the foam was showing which screw to adjust. Thank you

Good stuff. Well done with doing it.

Great pics & post by @Dylan.

Definitely the sort of thing that could perhaps be demonstrated at club meets.

Mike

Jason wallace · Aug 16, 2018

I manged this with my leatherman whilst in the lakes. It wasn't as scary as i first though it would be especially with these pics available on my phone to help.

It might be worth any new owners to actually try this procedure at home.

T6 CFO said:
Good stuff. Well done with doing it.

Great pics & post by @Dylan.

Definitely the sort of thing that could perhaps be demonstrated at club meets.

Mike

AdB-H · Sep 26, 2018

Hi All,
Just thought that I should mention that I ended up opting to get my old Central Control Unit repaired and sent off to Verotronics BV in the Netherlands (details below) - they provided a fantastic service and fixed the old unit for a total of €135 including postage and VAT. (This was less tha the cost that VW wanted to charge to do the diagnostics to tell me what I already knew, e.g. the unit has failed, before they charged a further £600 to replace it)

When I got it back it was simply a case of pluging in the 3 connectors, reinserting the unit in its housing and setting the time/date, then everything worked perfectly without the need to do anything wit the hydraulics.

Thanks for all the advice given and I’d definitely recommend these guys!

Verotronics BV
Kruburg 13
5632 PG Eindhoven
Telefoon: 040 - 248 34 88
E-mail: info@verotronics.nl
Internet: www.verotronics.nl

Happy camping!

Adam

Blue Yonder · Oct 7, 2018

Do just need to get access to the slotted screw? If so why cut out so much foam?

If anyone has gone to the trouble of exposing the drain plug then please post coordinates of its position from a convenient feature (e.g. Top and bottom of the hard grey plastic edge exposed once the panel is removed). Should then be possible to make a much neater hole using a16 mm diameter hole saw with its pilot drill removed.

4Corners · Jul 30, 2019

Afternoon everyone! This forum is absolutely top for shared experience and knowledge. I'm sitting in Croatia with a dead fridge and a dead Control Panel with the roof up. I've followed service book instructions for removal of Control Panel in order to bring the roof down and was stymied by this yellow foam thank you so much for posting!

Jason wallace · Jul 30, 2019

Assuming you have the emergency tie down kit in the van?

4Corners said:
Afternoon everyone! This forum is absolutely top for shared experience and knowledge. I'm sitting in Croatia with a dead fridge and a dead Control Panel with the roof up. I've followed service book instructions for removal of Control Panel in order to bring the roof down and was stymied by this yellow foam thank you so much for posting!

4Corners · Jul 30, 2019

Jason wallace said:
Assuming you have the emergency tie down kit in the van?

We have the tie down straps. 10 years I've been wondering what they were for.

Loz · Jul 30, 2019

As an aside, why are your batteries flat?

4Corners · Jul 31, 2019

Loz said:
As an aside, why are your batteries flat?

Not flat batteries but a dead fridge and dead control panel now removed for manual roof lowering. Batteries are charging from mains: we have lights and leccy from the passenger side sink socket

Loz · Jul 31, 2019

4Corners said:
Not flat batteries but a dead fridge and dead control panel now removed for manual roof lowering. Batteries are charging from mains: we have lights and leccy from the passenger side sink socket

I assume you have checked the 5a control panel fuse?

4Corners · Jul 31, 2019

Loz said:
I assume you have checked the 5a control panel fuse?

Y, all fuses test and look fine

4Corners · Aug 2, 2019

FWIW our CP failure and fridge warming was detected some days before we were due to move on, hence no post until now when it has become necessary to do the manual lowering. it's slow in our experience and for a moment, worryingly lopsided. This corrected itselfand we are secured to roll slowly on. Pictures attached of Velcro straps on the left side up against the awning bracket. We are in the house for the coming week so will try to procure a replacement CP so we can roam on.