Resetting Maserati Spyder Roof

shaunturner1764

New Member
Messages
7
Hi - I need some advice please. My Spyders roof was 90% of the way opening and then just stopped. It seems now there is no power going to it at all. I have tried battery reset and all the tricks I could find but to no avail.I have had to close the top manually now and tried the reset again but to no avail.Does anyone know if there is a safety cut off or similar for the roof that might have activated and If so how do I reset it - Thanks in advance
 

Stewart

Junior Member
Messages
472
Try pushing the second spar towards the rear of the car, this usually works and if it does usually points to the elastic bands being worn out.

I replaced mine, easy job and the hood is like a Swiss watch in operation now..
 

Ngknick

New Member
Messages
16
Not sure if this helps, but:

Hood (bonnet) and trunk (boot) must be closed
Try rolling windows up (and back down)
Release pressure in pump behind passenger seat (flat head screw counter clockwise) to lower top. Then tighten screw to seal pump again


Ask me how I know? Just did this earlier today when mine wouldn't go all the way down!
 

masertel

Member
Messages
102
In order to get my roof to close I have to reach up and give it a little push forward when the the front of the roof is directly over my head. If I don't do this the mechanism freezes and I have to put the roof back and start again. Not sure if this will help but it's worth a try.
 

miket

Member
Messages
647
Do a complete open and close cycle using the buttons in the central storage bin (between the roll hoops)
It’s worth a try!
 

Gooner

Member
Messages
443
I have tried battery reset and all the tricks I could find but to no avail.I have had to close the top manually now and tried the reset again but to no avail.Does anyone know if there is a safety cut off or similar for the roof that might have activated and If so how do I reset it

When I got to this point with my roof ie completely dead even after resets, it was because the roof fuse was blown.

I think it is one of the ones in the boot rather than in the footwell, but I don’t have the manual with me right now. Worth a check before you drive yourself crazy.
 

Paul-spyder

Junior Member
Messages
37
Hi Shaun
The straps are probably the underlying issue causing the good to be partially up. However the roof can stuck out of position. Especially when half open. I would also try lifting the roof cover at the back up (if it lifts easily) at the same time pushing the bar (rib) on the roof back gently whilst trying to close the roof. Prob 2 person job. Had similar issues myself all fixed now. Cheers Paul
 

Nibby

Member
Messages
2,027
When I got to this point with my roof ie completely dead even after resets, it was because the roof fuse was blown.

I think it is one of the ones in the boot rather than in the footwell, but I don’t have the manual with me right now. Worth a check before you drive yourself crazy.
On one of the receipts that came with my Spyder Mcgrath had replaced a fuse that was stopping the hood operation. The fuses are in the battery hole and are the ones furthest forward, they are the large continental type.
 

Gooner

Member
Messages
443
I have a follow up question about stuck roofs and the elastic webbing that is supposed to pull back the loose cross bar on opening the roof.

I wondered if anyone can recommend a particular elastic webbing to replace the perished bands? I can see clearly now which bands need replacing and that they are perished. I want to make sure I get something with a similar amount of stretch and strength. There are plenty of options on eBay but a recommendation from someone who has found a good alternative would be very welcome.

Many thanks in advance.
 

Paul-spyder

Junior Member
Messages
37
Hi my roof works perfectly now. Standard elastic 12 inch by 2.5 inch. With a couple of inches Velcro sewed into to the ends works. Cheers
 

hladun

Member
Messages
149
Watch this video starting at 10:15 and tell us when your top stops working? Sounds like 10:32 to me.

 

Gooner

Member
Messages
443
Watch this video starting at 10:15 and tell us when your top stops working? Sounds like 10:32 to me.

I’d say 10.22 in my case, just before it folds flat. The loose horizontal strut isn’t being pulled back and down by the elasticated bands, so fouls the upper/forward-most fixed strut.

I have my new elastic now, if I fix it over the bank holiday I’ll try to take some pictures. I know it is a very easy fix, but for a novice like me it’s taken months of googling to understand what is going on. Some pictures may help someone else, given how common this apparently is.
 

Nibby

Member
Messages
2,027
I’d say 10.22 in my case, just before it folds flat. The loose horizontal strut isn’t being pulled back and down by the elasticated bands, so fouls the upper/forward-most fixed strut.

I have my new elastic now, if I fix it over the bank holiday I’ll try to take some pictures. I know it is a very easy fix, but for a novice like me it’s taken months of googling to understand what is going on. Some pictures may help someone else, given how common this apparently is.
Be most helpful if you post some pictures.
Thanks
Mark
 

Gooner

Member
Messages
443
Be most helpful if you post some pictures.
Thanks
Mark

I fixed it this morning. Here are a few pictures.

The roof would stick at around this point on opening. It would carry on a little more but would clearly be stuck against something.
J4Z5tOQ.jpg


The problem is the cross bar connected to the bracket which is vertical in this picture.
EVwdVoV.jpg


It pivots freely but is actually supposed to be pulled backwards during the opening procedure. In fact if you stop the roof opening at this point and push it back to this position by hand, the roof will probably open OK (just this once).
4bf4220.jpg


The bar is supposed to be pulled back by this piece of elastic, one on each side of the car. It’s the piece I’m touching with the scissors. This elastic perishes over time and doesn’t pull the bar back.


hWpH1wL.jpg


I actually have three pieces, from previous repairs carried out before I owned the car. The piece that looks like a seatbelt, which I’m not touching, is a critical part of the roof and definitely must not be cut :).

Unfortunately, the last repairer didn’t sew on the new elastic, but riveted it on. This made it very awkward to remove the old pieces, which I did very carefully with a Stanley knife. I also had to cut away the original stitching.

Ideally you would sew new elastic in place of the old. With the rivets in the way, I ended up cutting small slots in my new elastic strips and hooking them onto the rivets. Naturally in my excitement to take it for a test drive I forgot to take a picture but I’m sure you get the idea.

Hope this is useful to anyone struggling to work out where the elastic bands in a Spyder roof are and what needs replacing.

Edit:

I originally used dressmaking elastic etc. for waistbands. I doubled it over to get a bit more strength. 5cm was slightly too wide. Anything from about 3 cm would probably be fine.

Another edit:

I found that elastic wasn’t strong enough, so I switched to 3mm bungee cord. It’s surprising how taut it needs to be. I took advantage of the rivets. Not a neat job I know, but I guess it won’t be seen.

0CbIqHF.jpg
 
Last edited:

Nibby

Member
Messages
2,027
I fixed it this morning. Here are a few pictures.

The roof would stick at around this point on opening. It would carry on a little more but would clearly be stuck against something.
J4Z5tOQ.jpg


The problem is the cross bar connected to the bracket which is vertical in this picture.
EVwdVoV.jpg


It pivots freely but is actually supposed to be pulled backwards during the opening procedure. In fact if you stop the roof opening at this point and push it back to this position by hand, the roof will probably open OK (just this once).
4bf4220.jpg


The bar is supposed to be pulled back by this piece of elastic, one on each side of the car. It’s the piece I’m touching with the scissors. This elastic perishes over time and doesn’t pull the bar back.


hWpH1wL.jpg


I actually have three pieces, from previous repairs carried out before I owned the car. The piece that looks like a seatbelt, which I’m not touching, is a critical part of the roof and definitely must not be cut :).

Unfortunately, the last repairer didn’t sew on the new elastic, but riveted it on. This made it very awkward to remove the old pieces, which I did very carefully with a Stanley knife. I also had to cut away the original stitching.

Ideally you would sew new elastic in place of the old. With the rivets in the way, I ended up cutting small slots in my new elastic strips and hooking them onto the rivets. Naturally in my excitement to take it for a test drive I forgot to take a picture but I’m sure you get the idea.

Hope this is useful to anyone struggling to work out where the elastic bands in a Spyder roof are and what needs replacing.
Thanks for that Gooner, most helpful.
 

Malcolm H

Junior Member
Messages
120
I fixed it this morning. Here are a few pictures.

The roof would stick at around this point on opening. It would carry on a little more but would clearly be stuck against something.
J4Z5tOQ.jpg


The problem is the cross bar connected to the bracket which is vertical in this picture.
EVwdVoV.jpg


It pivots freely but is actually supposed to be pulled backwards during the opening procedure. In fact if you stop the roof opening at this point and push it back to this position by hand, the roof will probably open OK (just this once).
4bf4220.jpg


The bar is supposed to be pulled back by this piece of elastic, one on each side of the car. It’s the piece I’m touching with the scissors. This elastic perishes over time and doesn’t pull the bar back.


hWpH1wL.jpg


I actually have three pieces, from previous repairs carried out before I owned the car. The piece that looks like a seatbelt, which I’m not touching, is a critical part of the roof and definitely must not be cut :).

Unfortunately, the last repairer didn’t sew on the new elastic, but riveted it on. This made it very awkward to remove the old pieces, which I did very carefully with a Stanley knife. I also had to cut away the original stitching.

Ideally you would sew new elastic in place of the old. With the rivets in the way, I ended up cutting small slots in my new elastic strips and hooking them onto the rivets. Naturally in my excitement to take it for a test drive I forgot to take a picture but I’m sure you get the idea.

Hope this is useful to anyone struggling to work out where the elastic bands in a Spyder roof are and what needs replacing.

Edit:

I originally used dressmaking elastic etc. for waistbands. I doubled it over to get a bit more strength. 5cm was slightly too wide. Anything from about 3 cm would probably be fine.

Another edit:

I found that elastic wasn’t strong enough, so I switched to 3mm bungee cord. It’s surprising how taut it needs to be. I took advantage of the rivets. Not a neat job I know, but I guess it won’t be seen.

0CbIqHF.jpg





Pleased to have found this thanks very helpful and an inexpensive fix. I see a lot of Spyders show sign of wear just above the roof gutters and this caused by the ends of the loose bar wearing and puncturing the hood presumably as the elastic weakens it doesn't pull the bar clear of the hood. I suggest any Spyder owners check the elastic before they have a problem!

Many thanks to all