Convertible top hydraulic top-up

The hydraulic motor for my Clipper's top became too low on fluid to operate.  It was working fine last week.

Next to the filler plug (bolt) on the motor, is a warning notice to read the owner's manual, but I have no manual and can't find anywhere to download one (but I'd like to – suggestions welcome please).

So I removed the plug and topped up the fluid.  But although the electric motor runs, the hydraulic one seems not to do anything (sounds like it isn't priming, or something like), and the top doesn't move.

Do I have to bleed the hydraulic system or something?  How do I do that?  Advice, please!

Thanks.

Georg.

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Hmm.  Looks as if this web site has been updated since my last visit.  I hate it when they do that.

I could get the old version to do what I wanted – mostly.  But now, being apparently unusually stupid, I can't figure out how to place a new forum posting, except here.  This seems like the wrong place, but beggars can't be choosers.  My several forum searches, trying to live with the intimidatingly clever search specification process, produced no threads anything like what I'm after.

Also, the forum drop-down menu is taller than my computer screen, so I can't see all of it unless I zoom out the screen until  the text is almost too small to read.  And then I couldn't find a category my concern seems to fit into.  Argh!

 

If you were low on fluid, then it is leaking somewhere.
If you remove the rear seat bottom, and see a pool, one of your rams or hoses is leaking.

Second the impeller of the pump can fail, there are threads on the vwvortex, and I think www.cabby-info.com has a link to repairing it.

Thanks Briano.

Good news (I think).  I left it overnight, and the next morning it worked fine.  So maybe it is self-bleeding, or something.

Yeah, I guess there must be a leak, but it is three or more years since I last needed to top it up, and I could find no fluid below the motor (or anywhere else it shouldn't be) so (fingers crossed) maybe the leak is too slow to worry about.

Still would love to find a Clipper owner's manual, though.  The print-a-manual section of the VW site doesn't go back that far.

Geo.