Bad hydraulic lines DIY repair.
 

I recently had a issue with my 2010 roadsters top making a funny sound and not opening all the way. As I got out of the car for a closer inspection I could see hydraulic fluid all over the lid of the trunk. With a little manipulation I could get the top all the way open...but it wouldn't close. I drove it to local dealership right away. They said it would be a day or so before the problem could be sorted out. The next day they called and told me the problem was a bad hydraulic pump.... and get this, it would be a 6000$ repair. It seems Nissan solution to any problem with the top is to replace it with a new one. I did a little research on the computer and found a company called TopHydraulics. For a small fraction of the price 210$... they would rebuild my pump. I asked the Nissan service dept. if they would be willing to pull the pump. They agreed to pull and replace it after the repair for 1000$. The problem is they misdiagnosed the problem and they scratched the crap out of my car while pulling and replacing they system. It was a little eye opening to realize that the dealerships own mechanics do not know how to work on or repair their own product. As it turns out my tops problem was two bad hydraulic lines and that the pump was just fineAttachment 94551. Having already talked to the owner of Top Hydraulics and paying for the pump rebuild upfront...I was a little worried as to weather the lines could be repaired or replaced. They told me yes and at the same price as a rebuilt pump. One other issue that I had with the service department is, they did not fully explain to me that when they pull the pump(hydraulic lines)...they pull they whole system out.Attachment 94550 Had that information been passed on to me, I would have picked the car up and removed the pump(hydraulic lines) myself. They took my 1000$ and all I got in the end was a bunch of scratches on my trunk. At least they are making good on that and have agreed to repair all the damage. Attachment 94552Attachment 94553Attachment 94554

I will add more to this post as I have more time.

So, if I read all this right, you paid $1000 for them to scratch up your car while incorrectly diagnosing your problem?

You got totally ripped off.

Best of luck with the repairs...

I have a similar problem with the top on my 2010 370Z Roadster. The dealer says the hydraulic pump requires replacing. Price labor and taxes in, $10,000.00.

Then the dealer tells me the work is NOT covered by the 7 year extended warranty I had purchased with the vehicle when new. I knew that HAD to be wrong!

Next day I get a phone call and apology that the work is totally covered. Only problem is about a 30 day wait for the part. Oh well......car is normally off the road November to March.

I've seen and heard of several roadsters with the same (expensive!) problem. Considering the roadster is relatively a rare breed, I suspect Nissan has chronic reliablility issues with the top's hydraulic pump.