Roof lowered whilst in bed

jts46 · Sep 17, 2017

Arrived at campsite in S. W. France at 19.10, after an 8 hour journey due to a french union blocking the peage near Nimes causing a 3 hour delay. Had something to eat, then a gin & tonic with friends and retired to campervan.

Elevated the roof, as it was going up the hydraulic pump made a strange noise, thought nothing of it as it has always has been a bit noisy. Got into bed (top bunk) two hours later stretched my arms out and hit the roof. The roof had collapsed trapping me in the bed, my wife managed to wriggle free first then it was my turn. It took me about 5 minutes to wriggle free.

We could not push up the roof manually, but it did raise using the central control panel.
I then wedged the roof up using my extendable hiking stick.
We lowered, raised and lowered the roof after 4 nights using the panel and everything seemed OK roof locked down. Quite a frightening experience.

We had no warning audible or otherwise that the roof had come down.
Anyone had a similar experience?
How much is a new pump?
How do you remove the head lining to get at pump?
Or does it need bleeding and new fluid?

This is a 2006 Cali with no audible warning when roof drops.

Richard Teale · Sep 17, 2017

johntowers46 said:
Arrived at campsite in S. W. France at 19.10, after an 8 hour journey due to a french union blocking the peage near Nimes causing a 3 hour delay. Had something to eat, then a gin & tonic with friends and retired to campervan.

Elevated the roof, as it was going up the hydraulic pump made a strange noise, thought nothing of it as it has always has been a bit noisy. Got into bed (top bunk) two hours later stretched my arms out and hit the roof. The roof had collapsed trapping me in the bed, my wife managed to wriggle free first then it was my turn. It took me about 5 minutes to wriggle free.

We could not push up the roof manually, but it did raise using the central control panel.
I then wedged the roof up using my extendable hiking stick.
We lowered, raised and lowered the roof after 4 nights using the panel and everything seemed OK roof locked down. Quite a frightening experience.

We had no warning audible or otherwise that the roof had come down.
Anyone had a similar experience?
How much is a new pump?
How do you remove the head lining to get at pump?
Or does it need bleeding and new fluid?

This is a 2006 Cali with no audible warning when roof drops.

All all I can think of is that you didn't hold the button in long enough when raising the roof - i.e. hold down until motor stops that god awful whining and shuts off after the roof mechanism has locked out?

jts46 · Sep 17, 2017

Richard Teale said:
All all I can think of is that you didn't hold the button in long enough when raising the roof - i.e. hold down until motor stops that god awful whining and shuts off after the roof mechanism has locked out?

Thanks, that could be the answer but i thought i did.
PS it was only a small g & t !!!!

Richard Teale · Sep 17, 2017

johntowers46 said:
Thanks, that could be the answer but i thought i did.
PS it was only a small g & t !!!!

A long drive though ;-) Fingers crossed.

Hotel California · Sep 17, 2017

Hey John strange thing to happen, some roofs lower a bit afther a while but that much in one night?
Here is a recent topic on how to acces the pump and oil reservior
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/leaking-oil-behind-control-panel-of-2008-t5.19984/
Sure there's more to find .

jts46 · Sep 17, 2017

hotel california said:
Hey John strange thing to happen, some roofs lower a bit afther a while but that much in one night?
Here is a recent topic on how to acces the pump and oil reservior
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/leaking-oil-behind-control-panel-of-2008-t5.19984/
Sure there's more to find .

I would like to know how to remove the headlining, not much info on that.

Meoncoast · Sep 17, 2017

Sounds like a Stephen King book.
bit worrying take a mobile to bed

GrannyJen · Sep 17, 2017

johntowers46 said:
Thanks, that could be the answer but i thought i did.
PS it was only a small g & t !!!!

Fingers crossed John that it was more G than T and it had not locked up :shocked

Les · Sep 17, 2017

You could try and reproduce it during the day by releasing the button before the tick appears in the display confirming the roof is up.

Richard Teale · Sep 17, 2017

Les said:
You could try and reproduce it during the day by releasing the button before the tick appears in the display confirming the roof is up.

May be different on earlier models but on my T5.1 (2011) you keep the button depressed until the motor stops (automatically) rather than rely on the display. Good suggestion to test the theory though Les.