Will faulty boot struts affect roof lowering?

[Enright]

RIGHT, now we're getting somewhere! If no bong sounds after undoing the roof catches (with the boot blind pulled), then I think it's either a sticky or broken microswitch in one or the other of the latch mechanisms.
Until the roof ECU senses that the roof has been COMPLETELY unlatched, it won't do anything.
That probably narrows it down to one or the other, but you need to get your ear really close to them and operate each one in turn to try to hear the little click of the microswitch. It's very faint but unmistakeable if you know what you're listening for.
When you find the one that isn't clicking, then the striker mechanism needs to be removed to see if it's just sticky and so can be unstuck with a bit of exercise, or if it's broken and needs to be replaced.

PS Thanks Col.

[InkyAl]

Thanks for moving the post Col. I will get the hang of this. I won't give up my day job........

When I sit in the drivers seat with the latch on my side I am not sure where the microswitch is. Is it up behind the piece of metal that moves back and forward in the latch mechanism? I can just about get my finger in this bit. It is located in the part that is at the top of the windscreen and not the part where the catch is attached too (the section that goes down with the roof.) Does any of that make sense????

[Enright]

The microswitch itself is buried behind the striker plate, which is bolted to the top of the windscreen frame, and the bolts are hidden by the A-pillar trim pieces. To get to them you have to unbolt the sun-visors and pull the trim pieces off, then remove 2 or 3 bolts on each, jiggle them about and unplug them to get them out. But that's only if you can't get 'em clicking in the first place, so don't worry about that just yet.

First off, just spray some WD40 into the moving part of the latch mech with the spring in it, and work it back and forth a bit to get it nice and smooth. Have a tissue handy to catch any drips of WD. The latch handle SHOULDN'T be hard to move and then snap into place with a loud bang. If it does, then the impact may well have broken the little plastic leg inside the striker that operates the micro-switch. That's enough to bugger your roof until the complete striker mech is replaced (and I think they cost about £45 each).
Lubricate them both with WD, and gently operate each until you can hear a little click coming from one (I'm sure at least one will still be working OK). You may find that the click only happens when the latch is almost closed, so you've got to provide some resistance to stop it snapping shut. Once you've found one that clicks, you need to try to replicate the click on the other one. If you can get them to the point where they're both consistently clicking, try starting your engine, and hey presto, you should hear the "bong" which is your roof saying "I'm ready for some fun!"

I've just remembered something from one of your other threads - didn't you say that you have a beeping noise when driving? That may mean that the roof is stuck in a non-open/non-closed postion and needs re-setting. If that's the case, while the above may help, it may not solve the issue. But you've got my number so if it doesn't, we can still sort it.

[InkyAl]

I have tried both catches as you advised and only one of them is making a micro switch noise. The silent one has a very stiff latch handle and bangs into place......WD 40 tomorrow on the latch. My partner says he will take the striker plate off at the weekend and have a look if that doesn't do it.

Thank you so much for all the info Neil.

No I don't have a beeping noise when I drive so that's one less problem. the only noise in the car is me singing.......

[Enright]

Good. I'm pretty sure you've found your problem (apart from the crap singing, and I can't do much about that. If particularly squeaky, try more WD. Or duct tape). The price I mentioned was Peugeot's new price for the striker assembly, but you can get them for half that on eBay - see here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peugeot-206-c ... 2a32ec64b6

Paul (Pug206cc-spares) is a very good seller and well worth keeping a note of (I bet he'll have a brake light too). The parts ARE left and right handed, so be careful.
Also note that your partner will need a decent set of torx bits to get the screws for both the sun-visor and the striker out. And on the mounting face that you can't see in that pic there is a very awkward L shaped lug that requires a lot of jiggling before the bracket becomes free.

[InkyAl]

Duct tape is best for my singing....

Taken the car apart and the passenger side striker assembly was not broken - plastic part still in place. However the micro switch appears not to be making any sound although it's moving.... Does this mean that the micro switch is the part I should replace or the whole striker assembly bit?

The latch is still a bit tough but put wd40 on it again and it's freeing up a bit now.

[Enright]

Brilliant. You've definitely found your problem: sticky switch (and not a bad bit of remote fault diagnosis, even if I do say so myself)! It shouldn't even need replacing, so it's a free fix as long as you don't break it - if you gently lever it off the striker assembly (it's just stuck on with glue or a sticky pad and located by a couple of plastic dowels), you should be able to get it clicking again with a bit of vigorous exercise. Then once it's consistently clicking, just stick it back on again, reassemble and jobs a good un.
Edit: PS to answer your question directly, yes you could just replace the microswitch part itself if you can't get yours unstuck (with one of WeeSmurf's), but unless you're ham-fisted and you break yours it shouldn't come to that.

[Capncol]

Well done Neil!

[InkyAl]

Bought a microswitch very quickly delivered from Wee Smurf. Lovely boyfriend fitted it. Tense moment, latches undone......bong.....press switch...ROOF WENT DOWN. I was so happy I nearly cried. Particular thanks to ENright (Neil) but cheers to everyone else who offered help.

[Enright]

God I'm good! Hahaha!
Seriously though, good skills in helping with the fault finding Al - this now makes you an expert!
Glad you got it sorted (just in time for Winter)!
Keep it well exercised and you should be OK.

[InkyAl]

You are good!
I am going to take my top off every other week just for a little while even in the winter!

At least I understand my roof a little better now. Thanks Neil.

[Capncol]

He's not a bad old stick is he!

[KelD]

Thank you thank you thank you Enright! Have used this thread today to find an obstruction behind the switch on the drivers side latch and my roof is now working perfectly! Don't know what I would do without this site!

[Karrot]

I am going to take my top off every other week just for a little while even in the winter!

Pics or it never happened

Seriously though, so happy you got this sorted out, and cheaply too. Car woes are the worst.

As for the brake light, i just bought and fitted one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220940078997? ... 1497.l2649

Direct replacement, no fettling needed.

To fit, I opened the boot lid using the roof switch and locked it in place with the allen key (Left the keys in the ignition) this give easy access to the 3rd lamp.
Undo 2 8mm nuts and the connector, push out, replace, replace nuts and connector.
Then I completed the roof cycle (remember to remove the allen key), apologised to my baby for making her do this, then put the roof back up.

K

[Kelly contina]

I will be trying this technique this weekend, as I have a problem very similar and I'm hoping this can be sorted once and for all, iget no bong so I'm praying it's this!!