New Hydraulic pump!!!

[Stevebeve]

Hi all, I have a 2006 California Se and recently the roof started to sag, have just been into my local vw van centre and they have suggested it requires a new hydraulic pump, just £1982.74 + vat!!!

My question is whether anyone knows of anyone in the midlands area that could do the job or that I could at least get a quote from?

Any input gratefully recieved

Regards

Steve

 

[Drpps]

If roof raises and lowers correctly with the pump it could be a leaking valve in the pump or ram, or it could be a sensor not registering it sagging and kicking in the pump. If it sags in a matter of an hour or 2 probably a leak somewhere assuming no visible fluid loss the likely in the pump return valves/seats. If over 24 hours might be sensor related with roof not retensioning. There are some threads on fixing or replacing sensors as well as some diagnostic tests. Also a convertible roof or plant hydraulics specialist maybe more help than the dealer with this kind of thing.

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[westfalia]

How much is it sagging and at which side ?
Mine sags a little after 2 1/4 days so I have a prop
that I deploy.
For that price, would they guarantee that a replacement pump
will fix the problem?

 

[kurienp]

Hi all, I have a 2006 California Se and recently the roof started to sag, have just been into my local vw van centre and they have suggested it requires a new hydraulic pump, just £1982.74 + vat!!!

My question is whether anyone knows of anyone in the midlands area that could do the job or that I could at least get a quote from?

Any input gratefully recieved

Regards

Steve

Steve, a simple solution. get a piece of wood, cut to length and use as a prop (or if you want to be stylish, use an aluminium prop). Most of the 'expert' VW dealers don't have a clue on the roof hydraulics and repairing that hydraulic pump may lead to other issues that they will create ... and can end up in a downward spiral with other issues. If not a major problem, best to leave it alone.

 

[flying banana]

You might just need an oil top up? I think the hydraulics run on bull spunk though because it's expensive stuff. You will need to access the pump behind the control panel to check the oil reservoir

 

[Elmo3]

Personally, I wouldn’t let a VW main dealer anywhere near a 16 year old Cali. Try to find a local hydraulics or convertible roof specialist.

 

[soulstyledevon]

You could convert it to a manual Beach roof, if you don’t find a specialist.
The only name that seems to crop up,

https://instagram.com/kernow_transporters_ltd?utm_medium=copy_link

Please update the thread if you find someone or a solution

 

[steve_b]

If you fancy a holiday trip, https://www.kernowtransporters.co.uk/ apparently are pretty good. Worth a call first to see if they have any ideas.

 

[Stevebeve]

Personally, I wouldn’t let a VW main dealer anywhere near a 16 year old Cali. Try to find a local hydraulics or convertible roof specialist.

Thanks for taking the time to respond, have you had a bad experience or just don’t think they’ll do a good job?

 

[Stevebeve]

You could convert it to a manual Beach roof, if you don’t find a specialist.
The only name that seems to crop up,

https://instagram.com/kernow_transporters_ltd?utm_medium=copy_link

Please update the thread if you find someone or a solution

Cheers for the reply, I’m hoping to take it to a hydraulics specialist locally for a second opinion and quote so I’ll let you know the outcome

 

[Stevebeve]

How much is it sagging and at which side ?
Mine sags a little after 2 1/4 days so I have a prop
that I deploy.
For that price, would they guarantee that a replacement pump
will fix the problem?

Sags after one night and won’t guarantee the result but say that’s what it’s been on the others they’ve seen! Who knows! I’ll try and post an update

 

[Elmo3]

Thanks for taking the time to respond, have you had a bad experience or just don’t think they’ll do a good job?

The problem with main dealers (not just VW) is that they are parts fitters, not mechanics. A 16 year old vehicle needs a bit of practical maintenance. VW will just keep replacing parts until the problem goes away, at huge cost. This is fine whilst under warranty but outside, find a good local mechanic IMHO.

 

[WelshGas]

Sags after one night and won’t guarantee the result but say that’s what it’s been on the others they’ve seen! Who knows! I’ll try and post an update

There are 3 reasons why the roof will sag on one side only.
1. Failed Hydraulic Ram
2. Failed Hydraulic Pump.
3. Hydraulic leak on the affected side. But as you have not mentioned any leaks concentrate on 1 & 2.

Before replacing the pump you need to exclude the Hydraulic ram. If you swap the rams side for side , OR swap the hydraulic feed at the pump around ( the easier option ) then you can check which component is affected.

If the pump has failed then the same side will sag.

If the Ram has failed then the sag will move to the other side of the roof.

 

[andyinluton]

There are non-return valves on the pump. If that’s failed / got a bit of dirt in it, it allows fluid to seep back & the roof sags. You may be lucky & the valve just needs cleaning.

 

[Taff2023]

I had my roof sag on my 2013 Cali in 2020 on one side N/S. went to VW new pump needed apparently £1800 lighter. Have used van raising the roof about 12 times since due to the pandemic.
As I sit now in a campsite first night of the year out I raised the roof and it began to drop on the off side within thirty minutes.
Numerous attempts to raise and lower did not level it out eventually it closed and locked. To say I’m disappointed is an understatement at least the new pump I hope is still under warranty.
An expensive luxury the automatic pop up roof


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[flying banana]

I had my roof sag on my 2013 Cali in 2020 on one side N/S. went to VW new pump needed apparently £1800 lighter. Have used van raising the roof about 12 times since due to the pandemic.
As I sit now in a campsite first night of the year out I raised the roof and it began to drop on the off side within thirty minutes.
Numerous attempts to raise and lower did not level it out eventually it closed and locked. To say I’m disappointed is an understatement at least the new pump I hope is still under warranty.
An expensive luxury the automatic pop up roof


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So you have a new pump and the same fault?

 

[Taff2023]

Yes new pump fitted in October 2020 ! They swapped rams first and said it was the pump. I can only think it’s a faulty ram or the pump has gone again? Hoping if this is the case it’s under warranty


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[Ozzy Pete]

Yes new pump fitted in October 2020 ! They swapped rams first and said it was the pump. I can only think it’s a faulty ram or the pump has gone again? Hoping if this is the case it’s under warranty


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If it done by VW doesn’t their warranty go for 2 years on any work they do?

 

[Lambeth Cali]

It’s a shame we don’t have a reliable place to fix these problems. There seems a reasonable consensus that VW dealers are a gamble at best. Kernow are inaccessible for most. Breeze VW similar. With all the dozens of VW converters and restorers it’s seems if somebody decided to be a VW California specialist and learnt how to fix roofs, heaters and fridges etc they would have dozens of grateful clients. A large number of posts now seem to be people asking for advice with faults.
Personally I would pay £1000 to fix a broken roof but not £2000 to VW when it seems more than possible it won’t fix the fault.