Hydraulic ram exploding

[scamp]

Today one of the hydraulic rams on the roof exploded. Oil want everywhere! Fortunately, we were able to lower the roof manually following the instructions in the handbook. Has anyone else had this problem? We don't know what has caused this. Our Cali is 2008 T5. We assume that at least one of the rams will need replacing.

 

[Hotel California]

Terrible!
Please give us more details on how it happend.
During lowering/ lifting or when standing up ?
Was the cali in the sun , heavy themps?
Where did it collaps, pics...?
Hope you get this sorted out , guess the oil must have gone everywhere?

 

[scamp]

Hi,
The Cali was stationary on a campsite. The roof had been up for two days. Yes the temperature was very hot at least 33 degrees C. We heard a very loud "pop" and the cylinder with the oil in had burst releasing all of the oil, so basically the hydraulic cylinder exploded. The roof then collapsed on the left hand side as there was no support.
No pictures I'm afraid because we were more concerned about being able to get the roof down.

 

[Hotel California]

Hmmm , if you have read this maybe it would helpt ....
To late for you this info , but not for those having a older t5 ....
Scoll half way down in the page....
Even better start from page one

http://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/cali-technical-tips-tricks.9457/page-2

We have indeed heard from our dealer that earlyer models can suffer this problem.
VW say the problem is solved but i'm more thinking of yet placing some insulation or reflective wrapping round the struds....even on my 2012....

Please keep us updated so others can learn from this

 

[scamp]

Thanks for your reply.
Yes, your link makes interesting reading.
Unfortunately,we cannot get a rendezvous at a garage until the beginning of September. We live in France and everybody is on holiday!
Infact I made mistake, our California is a 2007 model.
Also my husband took the control panel out again today. He used a very old, worn down wall paper scraper. That worked very well as it's very
thin.
Will keep you updated, but nothing will be happening before September!

 

[scamp]

Hi Hotel California,
I wonder if you can explain why the battery was "dead" when we came to start it after lowering the roof? We had to get it started with jump leads. Someone on the campsite checked the battery and alternator with a meter and he told us that they were both ok. Seems bizarre that the main battery had drained. The second battery was on 70%.
Thanks

 

[Hotel California]

Hi Hotel California,
I wonder if you can explain why the battery was "dead" when we came to start it after lowering the roof? We had to get it started with jump leads. Someone on the campsite checked the battery and alternator with a meter and he told us that they were both ok. Seems bizarre that the main battery had drained. The second battery was on 70%.
Thanks

The power used opening/ lowering the roof comes from the starter- / engine battery i think , thats why operating the roof must be done with engine running....
Maybe you did not do this and draining your batteries that way or maybe during the leak , the oilpump ( located next to the control panel ) ,the pump kept running draining the battery....
Just some guesses doh...

 

[scamp]

Our California is a SE. We always have the engine on when opening or closing the roof.
Thanks for your help.

 

[scamp]

Our California is a SE. We always have the engine on when opening or closing the roof.
Thanks for your help.

So finally we got our roof fixed. Living in France we couldn't get a rendezvous until Monday 31 August at the VW dealers in Mandelieu, as the mechanic responsible for Californias was on holiday.
We took the van to the garage and were told it would cost us 120 euros for a 'diagnostic'. This would be included in the final cost if we decided to have it repaired with them.
The following day (1st September) we received a phone call to tell us that the total bill would be 1500 euros. They needed to replace both of the hydraulic rams and the oil.
We then received a phone call off the garage on Friday 11th September to say that the van had been repaired and was ready to be collected.
When we collected the van, they told us that the parts had only arrived the day before. Apparently with older Californias it takes a little longer for VW to find the parts! They'd had to dismantle the control panel (menu) to get behind it to replace the oil. They said that the rams were well worn.
The problem with the battery was the fact that it was basically dead and needed replacing, so we also got them to replace it at the same time. Total bill was 1720 euros.......! However we were very pleased with the service that we received.

 

[Hotel California]

Glad to hear you got your "precoius" back in good health.
It would be better spending money on other things but those things can happen...
Hope they did a good job and all problems are solved

 

[jts46]

Lying in bed this morning on a sunny calm morning in Withernsea, near Hull. There i was reading the news on my ipad and a loud crack, passenger side and roof collapsed on the same side, can only think it was the hydraulic ram exploding.
Managed to lower the roof manually but only one side tie down kit, managed to fasten roof down with gaffer tape and travelled home via M62, M18, M1 and A42 at 50mph.
Now to find a dealer to repair roof.

 

[ThomasHJ]

Which makeyear is your cali if I may ask?

 

[WelshGas]

Which makeyear is your cali if I may ask?

As above ,2006.

 

[scamp]

As above ,2006.

Hi. This apparently is a problem with Californias pre 2008, I'm afraid. They've rectified the problem on post 2008 models.

 

[ThomasHJ]

I'm sorry, I kept trying to find the mentioning of the 2006 MY in the above posts text, but didn't see it. But now I see it's in jts46's signature message. Anyways, quite a depressing event. Hope it gets sorted.

 

[jts46]

Which makeyear is your cali if I may ask?

130se 2006, 2.5litre, 5 pot engine

 

[jts46]

Hi. This apparently is a problem with Californias pre 2008, I'm afraid. They've rectified the problem on post 2008 models.

Thanks @WelshGas , I’ll phone listers tomorrow for a quote to replace both & let you know outcome
John

 

[jts46]

Questions
Can I raise the roof with the control panel, after I have lowered it with the release screw on hydraulic pump?
can I change the hydraulic rams without losing any oil?

 

[WelshGas]

Questions
Can I raise the roof with the control panel, after I have lowered it with the release screw on hydraulic pump?
can I change the hydraulic rams without losing any oil?

@TripleBee is your man. Has posted about changing rams and pump recently.

 

[TripleBee]

I think it will be a hell of a job to pull the roof open with your bare hands, if it will ever be possible to do so.

If you were able to open the roof, and you put some wooden blocks under it, to support it, you will be able to change the rams without spilling oil.

Good luck?
I hope I never come across your situation.

 

[westfalia]

Questions
Can I raise the roof with the control panel, after I have lowered it with the release screw on hydraulic pump?
can I change the hydraulic rams without losing any oil?

Yes you can raise the roof after doing the emergency
closure
just make sure that the screw is back in place.

i imagine you have gone to vw or a specialist by now?

 

[jts46]

Well had a quote from Listers to repair roof, fit new exhaust, and other minor repairs after the health check is £5,122, original estimate was over £7,400.
I am going to open a funding page.

Can't be repaired for at least 3 weeks as no parts in factory

 

[Vagophile]

Well had a quote from Listers to repair roof, fit new exhaust, and other minor repairs after the health check is £5,122, original estimate was over £7,400.
I am going to open a funding page.

Can't be repaired for at least 3 weeks as no parts in factory

S**t! Surely an incentive to D.I.Y. I know that I would.

 

[westfalia]

Well had a quote from Listers to repair roof, fit new exhaust, and other minor repairs after the health check is £5,122, original estimate was over £7,400.
I am going to open a funding page.

Can't be repaired for at least 3 weeks as no parts in factory

Thats quite a hefty bill that you have coming.
Obviously the roof repair is a large chunk of that quote.

The easiest way is to cough up the dough and get it fixed, but is that price
fixed ? i would say not.
They might replace the 1 ram and then decide that the pump is knackered and then it
could cost and cost.

If i was faced with such a bill i would seriously consider changing the roof to
a manual one like @dume did, material cost was about 1000€ and it took him a day
to do it, maybe you could find a van converter who is fluent with pop tops.

Faced with that kind of bill i would have a look around.

 

[jts46]

Thats quite a hefty bill that you have coming.
Obviously the roof repair is a large chunk of that quote.

The easiest way is to cough up the dough and get it fixed, but is that price
fixed ? i would say not.
They might replace the 1 ram and then decide that the pump is knackered and then it
could cost and cost.

If i was faced with such a bill i would seriously consider changing the roof to
a manual one like @dume did, material cost was about 1000€ and it took him a day
to do it, maybe you could find a van converter who is fluent with pop tops.

Faced with that kind of bill i would have a look around.

The exhaust system is £634.86 + VAT
The hydraulic pump, rams and associated parts come to a total of £3257.60 + VAT The pump had seized and they had to lift roof manually by force.
The above prices do include labour.