W208 Cabriolet Bow lock Actuator Failed

[Jose Bush]

Hi I was putting my Roof down the other day when it stooped just before locking the rear portion down to the roof cover . I found a nice pool of hydraulic fluid on the boot lid, further investigation took me to the Bowlock actuator part A129800672 which seems to have burst its Seals.
Has anybody changed one of these and if so do I have to just fit the new part and top up the pump fluid tank or does it need to be bled through.
Or would I be best taking it to a repairer.

 

[Tju]

I have just had the same problem and replaced the actuator, and whilst its not too difficult a job, it takes quite a while, as there are so many plastic trim clips and bolts to undo. The link may help you decipher whether the jobs for a Mechanic or yourself. I have a spare set of seals to repair the actuator if they are needed,

Good Luck

https://www.tophydraulicsinc.com/W208 Case Cover Lock and Rear Bow Lock Replacement.pdf

 

[Jose Bush]

Thank you so much, the PDF is brilliant very informative.
I have already got the boot lining out and the bulkhead removed, been there before looking for the yaw sensor, so that was quite straight forward. so I am kind of ready to do the job, my local dealer has the part in stock. Also waiting for a quote from Cayman to do it.
Couple more questions
1.Is the replacement of the bowlock assembly straight forward i.e. just bolting it back on or is there tricky adjustments to ensure it releases?
2.Did you get a new unit or change the seals on the original?

 

[Tju]

The Bowlock assembly is a straightforward remove and refit as far as I remember, I did no adjustments to mine and it now works as it should, just take your time when refitting and dont be surprised if you end up with the odd leftover plastic clip or bolt!

I ordered the seals online and being the impatient person I am, then found a used part complete, where someone was breaking their A208 fairly close to me, so went and got that, fitted it, which done the job. Just remember to have plenty of tissue at the ready and rubber gloves as I found all the stuff I was handling becomes quite Oily.

Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[Jose Bush]

The Bowlock assembly is a straightforward remove and refit as far as I remember, I did no adjustments to mine and it now works as it should, just take your time when refitting and dont be surprised if you end up with the odd leftover plastic clip or bolt!

I ordered the seals online and being the impatient person I am, then found a used part complete, where someone was breaking their A208 fairly close to me, so went and got that, fitted it, which done the job. Just remember to have plenty of tissue at the ready and rubber gloves as I found all the stuff I was handling becomes quite Oily.

Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[Jose Bush]

Thanks great help

 

[Jose Bush]

The Bowlock assembly is a straightforward remove and refit as far as I remember, I did no adjustments to mine and it now works as it should, just take your time when refitting and dont be surprised if you end up with the odd leftover plastic clip or bolt!

I ordered the seals online and being the impatient person I am, then found a used part complete, where someone was breaking their A208 fairly close to me, so went and got that, fitted it, which done the job. Just remember to have plenty of tissue at the ready and rubber gloves as I found all the stuff I was handling becomes quite Oily.

Hope this helps and good luck.

The Bowlock assembly is a straightforward remove and refit as far as I remember, I did no adjustments to mine and it now works as it should, just take your time when refitting and dont be surprised if you end up with the odd leftover plastic clip or bolt!

I ordered the seals online and being the impatient person I am, then found a used part complete, where someone was breaking their A208 fairly close to me, so went and got that, fitted it, which done the job. Just remember to have plenty of tissue at the ready and rubber gloves as I found all the stuff I was handling becomes quite Oily.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Hello again TJU sorry to pester you

Well I have got a new part from the local dealer and a bottle of fluid.So...tomorrow weather permitting is the day of reckoning.
Once you had fitted the part did you put the roof back in place manually and then start the opening procedure from scratch so to speak.

Thanks for your help thus far

 

[Jose Bush]

Hello again TJU sorry to pester you

Well I have got a new part from the local dealer and a bottle of fluid.So...tomorrow weather permitting is the day of reckoning.
Once you had fitted the part did you put the roof back in place manually and then start the opening procedure from scratch so to speak.

Thanks for your help thus far

opps just a thought is the bulk head with all those screws in strutural as I was thinking of altering it to make future access easier.

 

[Tju]

Hi Jose, once I had put the actuator on, I then manually dropped the roof down, only to find that it then wouldnt go up. After about 2 hours or so, I gave up on a very warm Saturday night, left the roof down feeling defeated, woke up v early Sunday, went out to try the roof just in case it worked, and Hey Presto, it worked.

I dont know if there is a correct procedure for resetting the roof, but I tried everything I could think of, disconnecting the battery, raising and lowering the headrests, trying to help the roof, all to no avail, but it seemed that leaving it overnight cured the problem?

 

[LostKiwi]

opps just a thought is the bulk head with all those screws in structural as I was thinking of altering it to make future access easier.

Bulkheads generally are structural and are part of increasing torsional rigidity.

 

[Jose Bush]

Hi Jose, once I had put the actuator on, I then manually dropped the roof down, only to find that it then wouldnt go up. After about 2 hours or so, I gave up on a very warm Saturday night, left the roof down feeling defeated, woke up v early Sunday, went out to try the roof just in case it worked, and Hey Presto, it worked.

I dont know if there is a correct procedure for resetting the roof, but I tried everything I could think of, disconnecting the battery, raising and lowering the headrests, trying to help the roof, all to no avail, but it seemed that leaving it overnight cured the problem?

Hi TJU Yay!!! its done and it worked too!
I had an idea from your last post regarding it not working for you first time. What I did was
1.Topped up the resovoir
2 With the fluid release screw still open put the hood back in the open position manually locked it off then manually closed it, and shut the fluid release screw.
3.I then started the car then ran the roll bars up and down a couple of times, then checked the fluid level position.( this had droped a bit )
4 Took a deep breath and tried the RED roof switch and it ran through its operation albeit a little slow.oh and true to the manual you sent the front end did crash down against the windshield ( forgot that )

Anyway going to do it a few more times and push the air through the air through and then top it up again . Then put all those screws back think I may put some strategic cuts in the liners though future proof it a bit.

Thanks so much for your advice and encouragement, roof place Caymens in Redhill Quoted £485 to do the job inc parts. I got away with £145 inc VAT for the part and some fluid . Result !

Kindest Regards Jose

 

[LostKiwi]

Sometimes a leap of faith in the fact you can do it is all that's required.

 

[Tju]

Well done Jose, I am pleased to hear it all went to plan, and glad I could be of some help,

Regards,

Terry.