CABRIO ROOF KEEPS JAMMING

My roof on my cabrio Golf GTi is jammed on one side and I can't manage to get it back up. I have tried piling all the joints but seems to be a jam somwhere. Also the clips in the back seat never stay down therefore I always need 2 people to get the roof back up.

Is your roof a electric roof or manual?

My roof is manual

mark1gls said

Is your roof a electric roof or manual?

     My roof is manual

Remove the Struts, I have had a strut bind or break, and that will cause the same symptom.

Under the parcel shelf there is a Pivot, on that pivot there is a finger "c-clip" remove the clip, remove the strut arm off the shaft.

This will make it heavier on that side to raise the top.

If the top doesn't pop up when you trip the levers, then you need new struts.

http://www.cabby-info.com/Files/TopStruts.pdf

Just checking……

You need to leave the boot open, pull the locking knob out by the rear light then release the roof locking levers either side of the seat, then start to lift the roof up, then close the boot….

mark1gls said

Just checking you need to leave the boot open, pull the locking knob out by the rear light then release the roof locking levers either side of the seat, then start to lift the roof up, then close the boot….

   I thought the locking knob was only to take down the back seats? To unlock the roof I thought it was the two clips you pull down

By the way the roof does come up about half way and then it Jams on one side of the mechansm

Oh yes you are right…. Muppet I am..        

When you release the roof once down it should lift up a little on its own from the catch (I push mine down a little when releasing the catch then it moves up past the catch), then move over to the other side and release the catch and lift the roof up.

It should be a 1 person job to lift the roof…  As Briano1234 said have a look at the gas struts because they help with the lifting of the roof once it's down and perhaps yours are shot so not helping lift the roof?

mark1gls said

Oh yes you are right…. Muppet I am..        

When you release the roof once down it should lift up a little on its own from the catch (I push mine down a little when releasing the catch then it moves up past the catch), then move over to the other side and release the catch and lift the roof up.

It should be a 1 person job to lift the roof…  As Briano1234 said have a look at the gas struts because they help with the lifting of the roof once it's down and perhaps yours are shot so not helping lift the roof?

Yeye I'll try with the struts, however it's not the ease of lifting the roof, it is jammed on one side around half way of it being lifted up

Briano1234 said

Remove the Struts, I have had a strut bind or break, and that will cause the same symptom.

Under the parcel shelf there is a Pivot, on that pivot there is a finger "c-clip" remove the clip, remove the strut arm off the shaft.

This will make it heavier on that side to raise the top.

If the top doesn't pop up when you trip the levers, then you need new struts.

http://www.cabby-info.com/Files/TopStruts.pdf

Also my roof is struck open therefore can't get to any of the struts or I don't know how to 

Have a look at how the roof looks and see if anything is broken off or missing.

Sorry can't be mush help as I've not had a problem with mine, do you oil the joints, 3in1 oil in a can is what I use every other year..

https://volkswagen.7zap.com/en/rdw/golf+cabriolet/goc/1988-44/8/

UPDATE, I've just had a look in the mechanism and it seems my strut has disattached from one side

Here is the lower pivot assembly.  
It is hard to see on a folded top, but it is secured by a 10mm bolt.  If you look in the trunk or the folded rear seat, you can see it and with a ratcheting box wrench, you can remove it. and then the top should be free to move.  It is between the parcel shelf side, and the frame, to remove the top part I usually can get to it with the top opened and not folded. By going between the headliner and the frame.  Folded present more of a challenge.

Your strut arm looks to be bent, and that bend if it is loose at the top can bind things.  DO not try to over force it.



You can see the C-Clip that you need to remove to get the strut arm.

But you may be able to take the whole pivot loose.
which will free the thing up.



Relation to the Frame assembly

So basically now I need know how to remove the plastic case surrounding the mechanism. Does anyone know how to?

As seen in photo

Briano1234 said

Here is the lower pivot assembly.  
It is hard to see on a folded top, but it is secured by a 10mm bolt.  If you look in the trunk or the folded rear seat, you can see it and with a ratcheting box wrench, you can remove it. and then the top should be free to move.  It is between the parcel shelf side, and the frame, to remove the top part I usually can get to it with the top opened and not folded. By going between the headliner and the frame.  Folded present more of a challenge.

Your strut arm looks to be bent, and that bend if it is loose at the top can bind things.  DO not try to over force it.



You can see the C-Clip that you need to remove to get the strut arm.

But you may be able to take the whole pivot loose.
which will free the thing up.



Relation to the Frame assembly

 
Thank you very much, for all the detail. However I can't get to the mechanism because of the plastic cover

To get the plastic cover off you have to remove the rear seat back and bottom The back is held on by a bolt( allen or HEX) at the lower corners of the thing in the front, they are easier to get to with the Bottom removed first.

You have to take the window Crank off, then remove the 1/4 panel card, which entails removing the "B" pillar seal off the door frame lower to take take the "wrap" of the door car off the body.  (You don't have to remove the entire "B" Pillar seal Just loosen it from the Door frame to free the vinyl.  You remove the seat belt coverlet, then Pop it off the "poppers".  

Once the door card and the seal is removed you can see the  Phillips screws that hold the plastic over on.