Jaguar Hydraulic Roof Manual Operation XK8

If you opened this page you most likely have high hopes in the possibility to operate your roof manually. It is possible but not practical.
 

If all is working properly and you insist in operating the roof manually you will need to understand how it works. This roof is both electrical and hydraulic and all must be working properly and in sequence. The switches are 3 located in the header and 2 located in the right rear ram. You have 2 relays and the icing on the cake is upon your selecting open/close command the body processor and your security processor making all this work together. Operating this roof manually could cause it to become confused and inoperative.

To open the roof manually:
If you insist in operating the roof manually you can do this by opening the windows electrically by pressing the open button and they will retract, open the petcock at the pump to release the hydraulic pressure, unlatch the latch at the header with the allen wrench, release both rams left and right by applying pressure to the top of the rams located behind the rear windows. Note: do not bend or force them you will reduce the integrity of the roof interlocking. Once you have done that you can now open the roof and retract the header latch with the allen wrench.

To close the roof:
To close the roof you just pull the roof to the closed position, open the roof header latch and latch the roof manually with the allen wrench. Then you will need to manually latch both the left and right rams . That means that you will need to apply upward force to the roof mechanism at both rams until they lock into position. Note: if the rams are not closed properly the windows will not go up. The right ram has switches that if they are not satisfied you will get no power to the windows to close them. Once you close the roof rams properly then you should be able to close the windows electrically by pressing the close roof button.

To close the roof if your roof latch hose fails:
This is assuming that the roof is in the closed position resting at the header and latch or close to it.
 

Go to the trunk and get your allen wrench that latches the roof and latch your roof closed. At that time you should be able to close your windows with the roof button. If this is not possible you will need to close the two roof rams manually. That means that you will need to apply upward force to the roof mechanism at both rams until they lock into position. Note: if the rams are not closed properly the windows will not go up. The right ram has switches that if they are not satisfied you will get no power to the windows to close them. Once you close the roof rams properly then you should be able to close the windows electrically by pressing the close roof button.
 

To close your windows when they will not closed:
Your roof system could at times become out of sequence. The results are that your windows do not go up. This could be caused by a fuse blown or a failed relay but in most cases it is caused by low hydraulic fluid level, an open petcock.  Check for a blown fuse, refill the reservoir and be sure the petcock is closed. Now if this does not work you will need to re-sequence the roof operation.  In most cases when the roof is not closed properly it will stop cold in its tracks. I often find that the roof latch and switches did not close properly or give the proper indication to the rest of the system. To correct this you should try to open and reclose the latch at the header manually. You do this with the allen wrench that is locater at the pump. After doing this push your closed button. If this does not work you may need to check the rams are extended to satisfy the electrical contact in the ram. The right ram has switches that if they are not satisfied you will get no power to the windows to close them. Once you close the roof rams properly then you should be able to close the windows electrically by pressing the close roof button. Now I have heard of the open / close button not working properly, in that case use your key in the door to close the roof. Remember that your roof is a series of switches, hydraulic pumps and latches that must work in conjunction with the security and body processor and little things will throw it into a tizzy.
Let me know if I missed anything.....

This is information from Jaguar TSB 501-11 [PDF]

CONVERTIBLE TOP OPENING SEQUENCE
 
Note: When operating the convertible top, the engine should be running to
maintain maximum battery voltage.
 
The following is a step-by-step description of the convertible top opening sequence. It can be
used for fault finding to determine at what stage the convertible top opening sequence was
interrupted, therefore giving an indication of which component is malfunctioning.
The table at the end of the description shows the varying conditions (on = closed, off = open) of
the switches, solenoids and relays as the convertible top goes through the opening cycle. The
numbers in the top row of the table refer to the following description steps.
 
1. When the convertible top opening sequence begins the relays and solenoids will be in the
off position, ‘Convertible top down switch’ will be the only switch in the ‘open circuit’
condition.
 
2. Pressing the convertible top switch will signal the Body Processor Module (BPM) to send a
‘Open Convertible top’ signal to the Security and Locking Module (SLCM). The SLCM
will open both rear quarter windows, and sound the chime alarm to warn that the
convertible top is about to open. (Note: the rear quarter windows will be powered for a
maximum of 3 seconds).
 
3. If the front windows are closed they will be opened slightly. The SLCM will switch on relay
‘Top up relay’ and the ‘latch control valve’, the latch claw will start to raise.
 
4. As the latch raises ‘Convertible latch closed switch’ followed by the ‘convertible top closed
switch’ will switch to ‘open circuit’.
 
5. When ‘Convertible top closed switch’ switches to ‘open circuit’ the SLCM will switch off
relay ‘Top up relay’ and switch on relay ‘Top down relay’. This will change the hydraulic
pump from push to pull mode to start the opening of the convertible top. When the
convertible top leaves the latch claw ‘Convertible top ready-to-latch switch’ and
‘Convertible top raised switch’ will be switched to ‘open circuit’.
 
6. When the convertible top has fully opened ‘Convertible top down switch’ will switch to
‘closed circuit’. The SLCM will sound the chime alarm, raise any windows which it had
lowered except the rear quarter windows, and switch off the ‘latch control valve’ causing
the latch mechanism to close.
 
7. When ‘Convertible top latch closed switch’ is switched to ‘closed circuit’ in response to the
latch closing, the SLCM will switch off the hydraulic pump.
 
CONVERTIBLE TOP CLOSING SEQUENCE
 
Note: When operating the convertible top, the engine should be running to
maintain maximum battery voltage.
 
The following is a step-by-step description of the convertible top closing sequence. It can be used
for fault finding to determine at what stage the convertible top closing sequence was interrupted,
therefore giving an indication of which component is malfunctioning.
The table at the end of the description shows the varying conditions (on = closed, off = open) of
the switches, solenoids and relays as the convertible top goes through the closing cycle. The
numbers in the top row of the table refer to the following description steps.
 
1. When the convertible top closing sequence begins the solenoids and relays will all be
switched ‘off’. The ‘Convertible top latch closed switch’ and ‘Convertible top down switch’
will be the only switches that are ‘closed circuit’.
 
2. Pressing the convertible top switch will signal the Body Processor Module (BPM) to send a
‘Close Convertible top’ signal to the Security and Locking Control Module (SLCM). The
SLCM will sound the chime alarm to warn that the convertible top is about to close.
 
3. If the front windows are closed they will be opened slightly. The SLCM will turn on the ‘top
up relay’ and the ‘latch control valve’, the latch claw will start to raise.
 
4. As the latch claw raises ‘Convertible top latch closed switch’ will go ‘open circuit’.
 
5. When ‘Convertible top latch closed switch’ goes ‘open circuit’ the SLCM switches on
solenoid ‘main control valve’; the convertible top will start to raise.
 
6. When the convertible top has fully raised it will touch the latch claw which will switch
‘Convertible top ready-to-latch switch’ to ‘closed circuit’, and the end of the convertible top
cylinder travel will switch ‘Convertible top raised switch’ to closed circuit enabling a signal
to be sent. The SLCM switches off the ‘Latch Control Valve’; and the claw pulls the
convertible top in to the latch position allowing the locking pins to engage, securing the
convertible top in place.
 
7. When the latch has closed ‘Convertible top closed switch’ and ‘Convertible top latch closed
switch’ will be switched to ‘closed circuit’, the SLCM will turn off the hydraulic pump,
sound the alarm chime, and raise the front windows.
 
8. Further pressure on the convertible top switch will raise the rear quarter windows.

This link will give you the TSB 501-11 [PDF]