I've recently bought my daughter a good open air polo, 2001. The only problem we have is the roof which does not open. The motor is fine, I have this out and tested. Does anyone have any advice on how to open the roof to lubricate the rails etc?

I've recently bought my daughter a good open air polo, 2001. The only problem we have is the roof which does not open. The motor is fine, I have this out and tested. Does anyone have any advice on how to open the roof to lubricate the rails etc?

Hi there,

I'd suggest trying to take some tension off the back of the roof by loosening the bolts on the bracket that holds the back of the roof in. There are two 10mm nuts, which you can access from the inside of the car:

1. Sit on the back seat and pull off the beading around the roof lining (it splits in the middle, and is quite stiff).

2. With the beading off, push the interior roof lining up until you can see the black metal bracket. It sits in between roof and lining and has a bolt at either side.

3. Loosen these bolts a little bit at a time, trying the roof each time. I had success opening the roof this way.

WHATEVER YOU DO: don't remove the bolts completely; this may cause the roof to spring forward and you'll never be able to get it back into the bracket without opening the front first (which at present isn't possible).

Otherwise:

Are the teeth on the motor worn down or clogged with grease and dirt?

The cog runs in between two spring-like cables, which often get really clogged up with dirt and grease. Even if the motor is spinning, it may not be catching. You should be able to buy replacement cogs on eBay.

Have you tried using the manual winch?

It should be clipped on to the motor. Screw the threaded end into the motor shaft and try to open the roof GENTLY. It's easy to snap off inside the motor, which renders the motor completely useless until you drill out the broken bit.

These roofs are old and rare, so a lot of the work will have to be trial and error. There are some invaluable service manuals here:

http://workshop-manuals.com/volkswagen/polo-mk3/body/general_body_repairs_exterior/sliding_roof/fabric_folding_roof/removing_and_installing_folding_roof_with_cover_and_trim_panel/

Once you understand the workings of the roof, it's easier to troubleshoot. Be very delicate whenever moving the roof about, though, as it's full of plastic clips that are very easy to break.

Hope this helps!