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

 

Have you checked there is fluid in there and the fluid level is on max it's Hydraulic fluid you need to put in it. You could get a pump from a scrappy for about Ł20-Ł30 ther not that hard to change if you are handy with the spanners.

 

There's definitely fluid in the resevoir at least and its just above the max line.

I'm kinda okay with the spanners, or at least I think logically enough to work on things I don't understand.

Short of pulling off the hoses (I had a look but not sure if this is possible) and pressing the button to see whether or not it squirts hydrolic fluid is there any other way of testing whether or not it is the pump or the pistons?

Also is this hydrolic fluid as nasty to paint work as brake fluid is?

Benji

 

Its probley the seal that has gone inside you can get it repaired try www.hydraulicpumps.co.uk but it might be cheaper to just get a pump from the scrappy. if you take the hose off it will still pump out fluid but it if the seal has gone it won't have enough pressure to push the roof up . I'd try not to get hydraulic fluid on your paintwork.

 

Ah okay so that won't be a good test then. So its more likely the seals in the pump than the pistons then? Is it something that happens quite a lot?

How difficult is it to bleed the system once its changed?

Sorry about the trillions of questions.

Benji

 

i would say it's the seals as they are a common problem with the pumps i would think it's just like bleeding the brakes once you put a new pump on it's just a case of geting all the air out of the system

 

Okay, cheers mate! Thank you for all the advice, I will get on to a breakers and find out how much a pump will be!

Final question though, does it describe in a Haynes how to get this pump out and bleed it all? Has anyone got one to have a look because if it does I'll go out and buy one but if its just a few lines worth then I won't bother and I'll just wing and prayer it.

Thanks again for all the advice mate.

Benji

 

Dont think the haynes manual tell's you think it's just 2-3 bolt's that hold it in place 2 pipes and a plug for the electric's if i remmeber right.