350Z Roadster roof won't open

[Damo_350Z_Roadster]

New member here so please be gentle...

 

Replaced my convertible top on my 2005 350Z Roadster last year and 5th bow motor a couple of months ago. Roof's been working fine until yesterday and now the roof won't open. The roof opening warning light is permanently on on the dash and when the button is pressed to open the roof, both windows go down, the passenger seat moves forward and then nothing happens.

 

There is a clicking/motor noise as if the roof is trying to open and it sounds like it's coming from the 5th bow actuator latch. The thing is, I'm not aware of any way to access this as the roof is fully closed so I cant even release the rear tonneau cover manually.

 

The odd thing is, when I press the button to close the roof, it goes through part of the opening roof cycle i.e. windows drop, seat moves forward then nothing happens.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I thought I'd solved my roof issues!

[ShortPaul]

Hi buddy sorry to here this, is there any warranty with roof? If not its probably worth send zedmanalex private message, he will be able to advise on what to do, he is a trader on here, and i sure he knows everything you need to know about a zed, good luck with it

Edited June 20, 2020 by ShortPaul
Grammar

[Damo_350Z_Roadster]

Hi mate and thanks for the reply. The replacement roof wasn't a new one so no warranty unfortunately. The roof and mechanism are all fine, It's just not releasing from the rear fifth bow where it latches into the rear cover. I'll try your suggestion and keep my fingers crossed!

[ShortPaul]

8 minutes ago, Damo_350Z_Roadster said:

Hi mate and thanks for the reply. The replacement roof wasn't a new one so no warranty unfortunately. The roof and mechanism are all fine, It's just not releasing from the rear fifth bow where it latches into the rear cover. I'll try your suggestion and keep my fingers crossed!

Hi no worries message zmanalex he should be able to help 

[Damo_350Z_Roadster]

Cheers, just messaged him.

[Ebized]

Have you Googled the issue?

 

Just loaded this link - maybe something there to help you

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?source=hp&ei=pQfuXtHDO6eRlwSUqbjYBQ&q=Nissand+350Z+roadster+roof+problems&oq=Nissand+350Z+roadster+roof+problems&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQDDIGCAAQFhAeOgUIABCxAzoFCAAQgwE6AggAOgQIABAKOgQIABANOgYIABANEB5QghBY2Y4BYJ2fAWgAcAB4AIABqwGIAZAqkgEEMC4zNZgBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXo&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwiRqtHhuJDqAhWnyIUKHZQUDlsQ4dUDCAg

 

 

 

 

[Damo_350Z_Roadster]

Thanks for the reply and the link, I have googled it and can find solutions to every problem other than mine!

[ShortPaul]

Is this the issue 

 

[Damo_350Z_Roadster]

It isn't but thanks for the vid. Mine is stuck closed, it drops the windows then moves the passenger seat forward and then there's just a clicking noise from underneath the 5th bow. It's looking like it could be the 5th bow actuator latch that isn't releasing.

[ZMANALEX]

On 20/06/2020 at 13:59, Damo_350Z_Roadster said:

Cheers, just messaged him.

PM never received I am afraid.

[ZMANALEX]

2 hours ago, Damo_350Z_Roadster said:

It isn't but thanks for the vid. Mine is stuck closed, it drops the windows then moves the passenger seat forward and then there's just a clicking noise from underneath the 5th bow. It's looking like it could be the 5th bow actuator latch that isn't releasing.

5th Bow actuator motors are in stock if required,

[Damo_350Z_Roadster]

I'll be looking at it tomorrow and if the problem is the 5th bow actuator motor, I'll be in touch, cheers.

[Ahmad]

Hello everyone I am having the exact same problem windows goes down, the seat moves forward but nothing opens and I hear the clicking noise coming from the back but that’s it. Can anyone help ? I took it to the dealership and they couldn’t figure it out and charged me $1000 dollars 

[cathaloriordan]

Hi I'm living in the US and own a 2004 350z Roadster. Been having the same issue as described above where the windows go down, seat moves and the light comes on in the dash and i hear a clicking coming from the rear motor. Did anyone ever figure out what the fix is here? Any updates appreciated before I get the knuckles cut trying to figure it out by trial and error 

[Ebized]

Check out the advice in posts further back on this thread - if you have not already done that.

[rick_350z]

Hi all, a new member here.

 

"Replaced my convertible top on my 2005 350Z Roadster last year and 5th bow motor a couple of months ago. Roof's been working fine until yesterday and now the roof won't open. The roof opening warning light is permanently on on the dash and when the button is pressed to open the roof, both windows go down, the passenger seat moves forward and then nothing happens.

There is a clicking/motor noise as if the roof is trying to open and it sounds like it's coming from the 5th bow actuator latch. The thing is, I'm not aware of any way to access this as the roof is fully closed so I cant even release the rear tonneau cover manually.

The odd thing is, when I press the button to close the roof, it goes through part of the opening roof cycle i.e. windows drop, seat moves forward then nothing happens"

 

Hey man what was the problem? I am having this problem now i hope you can help me with it.

 

Gr.

 

 

[MrJSuds]

Any updates here? Having the same issue... Windows down, seat forward, click from the top motor area.  Going to try to pull the 5th bow motor and rebuild it but hoping for any other diagnosis that may help!

[Mavrik]

I had a similar issue but on my HR... turns out the main wiring harness connector under the passenger seat was the culprit due to dodgy pin connections... I had to clean out every pin connector with a needle file then it solved my roof issue...

Edited August 4, 2023 by Mavrik

[S A M]

I have the exact problem, roof worked fine but needed the top replacing. Replaced and then wouldn’t close properly. Was told the 5th bow motor was probably shot so I replaced that but still won’t work. Now the roof hatch won’t open but you can hear the actuator moving. Roof is permanently stuck in the middle (not open and not closed) any help would be so appreciated 🤦‍♀️

[cm6051]

Yes, exactly the same problem here! The button makes the windows go down, moves the passenger seat forward, then a clunk from the back somewhere and nothing else. Frustratingly the roof seemed to work just fine before the recent hot weather here in the UK.

 

Did you get anywhere with yours, SAM?

 

Does anyone know a decent specialist not too far from Cambridge with actual experience with these roadster hoods? I don't mind paying someone to fix it but don't want to be rinsed by a dealer

 

- Matt.

[Stewal]

I have had this a few times recently particularly if it's been hot with the roof closed. 

 

In my case the bottom edge of the roof where it sits on the bodywork at the rear lid had stuck to it (there is a clear plastic strip that it sits on). The crud that had accumulated on the strip was sticking the roof to the lid stopping the opening sequence. 

 

I eased it gently up whilst operating the button and cleaned and polished the lid and it's been fine since.

[backyardbuildproductions]

Chiming in here to stop people from spinning their wheels and to actually answer a question which seems impossible in the Z community after the Z32.
 

Fifth bow motor will not activate in the situations listed above. you can manually move the fifth bow motor after the clicking is heard. The latch is disconnected. Use a 5mm Allen head on the motor under the plastic trim. 
 

Once the fifth bow motor is lifted, you can open the trunk and release the storage compartment latches and manually open the tonneau cover. 
 

inside the tonneau cover is your problem. There is the fifth bow release actuator, the fifth bow latch, and the fifth bow auto closing actuator. 
 

your latch release IS working. That is the click after the button releases. The next step of operation is for the system to check if the auto close actuator is open or closed. Your auto close actuator motor cable may be loose or mispositioned, flicking one of the micro switches on the latch and causing the operation to stop due to unexpected positioning. 
 

pull the assembly, clean the micro switches, disassemble the auto closure actuator, rewind the motor to fully retracted, grease cable. You should be able to spin the cable into and out the motor by hand now by using the tab. Reinstall the assembly. Make sure the latch is in RELEASED position. Make sure the piece that pulls the latch down is in the UP position. Connect the greased cable to the shortest possible length while still depressing the upper micro switch. 
 

You need to enter the vehicle and close the roof at this point. It should work.  

 

[backyardbuildproductions]

15 hours ago, backyardbuildproductions said:

Chiming in here to stop people from spinning their wheels and to actually answer a question which seems impossible in the Z community after the Z32.
 

Fifth bow motor will not activate in the situations listed above. you can manually move the fifth bow motor after the clicking is heard. The latch is disconnected. Use a 5mm Allen head on the motor under the plastic trim. 
 

Once the fifth bow motor is lifted, you can open the trunk and release the storage compartment latches and manually open the tonneau cover. 
 

inside the tonneau cover is your problem. There is the fifth bow release actuator, the fifth bow latch, and the fifth bow auto closing actuator. 
 

your latch release IS working. That is the click after the button releases. The next step of operation is for the system to check if the auto close actuator is open or closed. Your auto close actuator motor cable may be loose or mispositioned, flicking one of the micro switches on the latch and causing the operation to stop due to unexpected positioning. 
 

pull the assembly, clean the micro switches, disassemble the auto closure actuator, rewind the motor to fully retracted, grease cable. You should be able to spin the cable into and out the motor by hand now by using the tab. Reinstall the assembly. Make sure the latch is in RELEASED position. Make sure the piece that pulls the latch down is in the UP position. Connect the greased cable to the shortest possible length while still depressing the upper micro switch. 
 

You need to enter the vehicle and close the roof at this point. It should work.  

 

While you are in there, make sure your push pull cable is not broken where it mounts to the latch. Check tension by manually triggering the latch release actuator and verify the micro switch under the latch is being depressed. If the cable piece where the tabs are is broken it will not have the proper tension to push the micro switch down.