Repair Smart Car Roof Cable Not Pulling One Side
View Full Version : Cabrio roof issue... Help please!
Hi have a smart fortwo, 450, 700cc cabrio.
For some reason today the roof started behaving weird. When I open the roof, the left and right side does not open in sync. The right seems to get stuck and there's friction noise coming from the mechanisms. The roof opens very stiffly and slow.
I looked at the motor and there's only one motor on the drivers side. It's been working fine until now.
The roof also doesn't close properly; meaning on the last bit of closure, it does not meet the top pillar above the windscreen.
Can someone please help??
XTEN10
11-08-2013, 11:16 PM
You really need to take it to someone who knows these things otherwise you can cause further damage. I wouldn't touch it other than to cover the gap, or the entire roof with plastic sheeting. You may be in luck weather wise, this coming week should be dry, giving you time to get it booked in and looked at.
MrPoo
11-08-2013, 11:21 PM
It's a bit of a drive, but Smart Sport are the experts with Cabrio roofs. Lots of people have tried to fix it themselves and made a big old mess.
Thanks guys, appreciate your advice.
Luckily I got smart specialists Smart4u not far from me.
I just wanted to make sure if there were any quick fixes before I have to fork out an arm and a leg.
Big Performance
12-08-2013, 07:53 AM
"smart specialists Smart4u"...........really???????
137699
12-08-2013, 08:22 AM
This will be the same Smarts4u who have been known to change just 3 plugs on the suprex engine & use completely the wrong oil?
Or_GazM
12-08-2013, 02:41 PM
Smart4u not to go there!
Read some older threads and see why!
Thanks guys, looks like I'll be avoiding them from now on, but it could be too late.
I went to them to get my keys synced, and I got a strange feeling I got the car back with one less motor for the roof. I only realised yesterday after I got the car back that there's supposed to be two motors on both sides of the rear interior light. There is only one there, and this problem only started occurring when I got the car back from them, and I never realised there was two motors until after. Eitherway I can't prove anything now.
Do you guys think if I buy a second motor which is missing it may solve the problem?
XTEN10
12-08-2013, 06:58 PM
Thanks guys, looks like I'll be avoiding them from now on, but it could be too late.
I went to them to get my keys synced, and I got a strange feeling I got the car back with one less motor for the roof. I only realised yesterday after I got the car back that there's supposed to be two motors on both sides of the rear interior light. There is only one there, and this problem only started occurring when I got the car back from them, and I never realised there was two motors until after. Eitherway I can't prove anything now.
Do you guys think if I buy a second motor which is missing it may solve the problem?
No evidence but you are aware it's lost one of two. Have you challenged the 'garage'?
BRABUS
13-08-2013, 08:23 PM
Well having just had the roof fixed on one of our cabrios I can highly recommend Paul and his magic fingers down at Smart Sport. This guy really is the expert with cabrio roofs, it will be worth the extra drive to get it done right.
I work Monday to Friday so I have to wait til the weekend to catch them again.
However what can I expect when I challenge them...
"I've realised there is only one since I got the car back, did you take it?"
reply: "no"
anyway I am not even sure myself if there was two motors before or not, to be honest I just want my roof working properly again.
Regarding the roof - when I open and close it, the two sides move without sync (i.e. the left side opens quicker then the right which gets kind of stuck and struggles), and there is lots knocking/banging noise. It just seems like the motor has gone weak. It closes but it stops just before joining flush onto the windscreen pillar, so the last bit is still slightly folded up.
I am thinking to buy another motor from ebay, only if that will fix it. Could this work?
Finally where is a good garage close to London (east)?
Thanks again.
I've just bought one!
14-08-2013, 04:59 AM
I'm guessing, but the knocking and banging noise will be the cog on the motor slipping on the cables - the fact it is moving out of sync seems to me to imply that the cog is slipping on one of the cables but not the other. I have my doubts as to whether a new motor would make any difference - it is the cog you want...
As stated above, I would not fiddle with it - even to the extent I would not keep opening and closing it as this will make the damage to the gear and cables worse.
I suppose - and again I am guessing - you could remove the existing motor (it is 3 bolts) and slide - carefully - the roof to it's fully closed position before reinstalling the motor and engaging it to lock the roof in place.
It took "experts" at local garages 3 weeks of experimenting (and near �600 of labour, but it was under warranty) and failing to fix my roof when I first got the car - it took my local independent guy 20 minutes and �30
137699
14-08-2013, 08:09 AM
Your options for GOOD local specialists are S2smarts (Watford) or Big Performance(Heathrow).
I can personally vouch for Rob at S2 as knowing his way around the convertible roof.
137699
14-08-2013, 08:20 AM
By the way - don't be afraid to cause a scene at smart4u - fine its just your word v/s theirs but make a big issue in front of their other customers and you will be siurprised how attitudes change.
And if they don't then position yourself just off their premesis & politely stop every one of their customers as they arrive & leave.
Why should they be able to get away with what is basically theft?
I would not want them touching my car but I would be pushing for some financial compensation.
robertthegreat
14-08-2013, 12:38 PM
I would go to a mercedes Smart dealer gi ve them your reg number and ask them to check if the car has been in for any work on the cabio roof .Because it was their fix to remove one off the motors. Then you can do what needs doing.
Im just wondering where abouts is Smart Sport? I googled it and it came with a company called Smart Motorsport??
Also I rang S2Smart who are booked, and need a 2 week advance booking. Which is a testiment to the how well they carry out their work.
lil.smartie
17-08-2013, 10:07 AM
BRABUS
17-08-2013, 11:00 AM
A bit of a drive, but not as far as we drive to use them. It's a nice part of the word with nice people and Kate makes lovely coffee:). This is their web site will all their details http://smart-sport.co.uk/
It's a 3 hour drive from me so I'm considering if I will make that journey. It's a long way!
All the best workshops need advance booking of two weeks.
Spoke to Big Performance aswell who are busy up to their eyeballs. I'm just going to make a booking with one of them and go from there.
But what a pain in the ass the cabrio roofs are! Just when I put the car up for sale too!
BRABUS
17-08-2013, 01:31 PM
It's a 3 hour drive from me so I'm considering if I will make that journey. It's a long way!
Welcome to our world, we have got 6 of these little devils that need servicing and looking after yet we drive that far as the service is so much better and cheaper than driving the 10 minutes to our local main dealer.
They do have courtesy cars that can be booked so you could go for a look at the lovely Cheddar Gorge which is right on their doorstep, pop into Bristol or Bath or all sorts of other things so don't feel you would just be stuck at the garage.
Ok good news!! Reading "I've just got a budget one"'s post above helped me and I thought of an idea.
I swapped the motor over to the other side and hey presto it seems to open and close with no issues. I guess the cogs are working fine on one side and messed up on the other.
But now my problem is the roof won't lock in the closed position?!? It's still very slightly open and won't lock into closed.
Help?
BRABUS
17-08-2013, 02:17 PM
I am glad you read I've just bought one! post but I think you missed his other bit of advice
As stated above, I would not fiddle with it - even to the extent I would not keep opening and closing it as this will make the damage to the gear and cables worse.
If you are trying to shut the roof without the engine running then start he engine and then just open it slightly and then close it. The engine just gives a bit more grunt to the motors. My best advice to you then is to stop using the roof completely, it will only get worse as we have seen many times on here when people have had similar issues. You know it will completely break in an open position and its not like we live in a dry country.
Get your car booked in with someone. Speak to them on the phone and explain what's what before you go so they can plan what bits they may need ahead of your visit if you want to do it in a day.
Now PLEASE stop fiddling ( I know it's hard I am just the same) as it will only end up causing more damage and end up with your roof stuck in the open position. When that happens they catch water very easily and it can end up getting into all the SAM etc under the dash. We looked at a cabrio that was actually rusty under the dash, when asked they admitted that they had left the roof open during a heavy storm. We walked away and bought another one as later down the line we knew that it would cause all sorts of electrical gremlins which gets very expensive.
Please don't think I am being stroppy with you, I just don't want you to bugger your car up :)
Brabus,
Thanks so much for your advice, I just WISH to death that I read your post before I started fiddling with it. It is almost like you are psychic, as your 100% right, I have only gone now have ballsed it up to the point where the guides and cables came off their line and i was left with a flappy roof!!
I've managed to put the guides and cables back in by following Evilution's guide but I'm having trouble joining cable and guide together, which makes the roof go back or forth. At the moment the cable and guide are in but they are not attached to to each other so as I press open or close, the cable comes out/goes in but doesn't not pull the roof with it, because it's not clipped with the first guide.
I have LEARNED MY LESSON and I have booked my car in for Rob from S2 Smart to sort out in a few weeks. I will not be touching the roof until then. For now the roof is on, and attached, but it's worse than before. I have put a car cover on it for the time being until I put it under shelter.
So Brabus, Your words can't be more true! A wise man you are. My curiously of trying to fix things I have no idea about is a curse! But you live and you learn :)
BRABUS
17-08-2013, 10:13 PM
We have all been the and ballsed something up (I have many times). It just makes you think twice another time about touching something, I always make a cup of tea and sit and think about it now. What ever you do, do not try putting gaffer tape or anything on your roof so that it is sealed while you use it. The glue from tapes etc will never come out of the fabric and a new complete roof from Smart is over �3.5k.
Knowing the price of the roofs is what stopped me fiddling with ours.
XTEN10
17-08-2013, 10:20 PM
You've really cheered me up, �7k for a new roof!!! That's marginal for a two year old car, let alone a vintage 450. It's probably cheaper to take the canopener to it and make it into another Crossblade.
BRABUS
17-08-2013, 11:40 PM
Sorry I got mixed up earlier, it's �3.5k just for the roof without fitting or anything, it will still pretty much make your car a write of in the insurance company's eyes. No wonder so many companies are springing up that either offer a rear window replacement or indeed a whole roof for less than going to Smart.
XTEN10
17-08-2013, 11:48 PM
Even 3.5k sounds OTT, but it's supply and demand and a limited audience I suppose. It is worrying for all softop owners, damage beyond economical repair sounds the death knell.
- sorry to read about your problems Yamz;hope you get the roof sorted soon.
There is mention above (from Brabus) about the various companies offering to fit new rear windows,etc.I have seen a couple of these on flebay but would be concerned that they don't 'cream cracker' the roof in the process...
Has anyone used any of these companies for a replacement rear window or can anyone recommend a good supplier/fitter and approx. price please?
lil.smartie
18-08-2013, 10:26 AM
Even 3.5k sounds OTT, but it's supply and demand and a limited audience I suppose. It is worrying for all softop owners, damage beyond economical repair sounds the death knell.
We have yet to see one mechanically broken that can not be repaired. Rear sections can be replaced and we can now also offer rear windows on an exchange basis as long as your fabric is in good condition, these have new windows fitted by experts using the best material we have seen as a screen.
Kate
BRABUS
18-08-2013, 10:54 AM
I am not on about the mechanical parts, I was giving the price Smart quote for both fabric pieces. If some barstool slashes your roof then that's when it gets tricky.
I know of a couple of cars that have been effectively written off by insurance companies once they got the quote for a new roof (fabric) from Smart.
lil.smartie
18-08-2013, 10:58 AM
I've got them working on a top section... if they manage that then Roadie ones are next, no one else can make them yet..
Kate
XTEN10
18-08-2013, 11:14 AM
In my previous comment, the picture i had in mind was a 451 and as far as I can see it's one piece fabric, and as everyone knows it has a glass rear panel.
BRABUS
18-08-2013, 01:24 PM
I've got them working on a top section... if they manage that then Roadie ones are next, no one else can make them yet..
Kate
If you can sort the top section then it will save us owners a fortune. Can they do coloured options for us Bluewave owners?
I've just bought one!
18-08-2013, 04:29 PM
I suppose - and again I am guessing - you could remove the existing motor (it is 3 bolts) and slide - carefully - the roof to it's fully closed position before reinstalling the motor and engaging it to lock the roof in place.
It took "experts" at local garages 3 weeks of experimenting (and near �600 of labour, but it was under warranty) and failing to fix my roof when I first got the car - it took my local independent guy 20 minutes and �30
If you read my guess above then I did suggest a way of getting the roof to close parallel...!
Sorry you are still having hassles - but the advise from all on here always was to stop playing and get it to someone who knows about them.
Lil - if you can get a new top for the roof I would be interested in the future - mine is beginning to split where it folds when it opens
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Repair Smart Car Roof Cable Not Pulling One Side
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