Hello people, first time post here so hello all! I am old school mates with Krazy Kim and she has mentioned this forum in the past so thought you peeps might be able to help as you look like a sound bunch.

Its a 97 Escort Ghia. The roof seems to have stopped working, apparently it was *thought* that the pump was heard whining when my mum pulled up to park (didn't think it was possible to operate it whilst moving) and since then when you press the button to put the roof down it does nothing except make a grinding noise from the pump.

The pump still makes a noise but its quite different from when it actually worked. I didn't know if this was because the pump was knackered or the seals in the pistons (as it were) were blown and it was just circulating the fluid so this is why the pump sounds different as there is no load on it, if this were possible. I know nothing, I am just speculating. It never appeared as though one side was having a harder time at any point so could both pistons go at the same time?

If it is just the pump, how difficult is it to replace and how much do these cost new/second hand? What kind of fluid does it use? Is it just some kind of brake fluid or something?

I hope you can help as my mum is nearing 60 and can't lift up the roof manually by herself. Though it does make me laugh she drives this car and has 17x7 Momo Arrows on it

Benji