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Originally Posted by Bummer
Just musing/wondering:
Couldn't the hydraulic fluid leak past the piston seal, thereby providing no external evidence of a leak?
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That is theoretically true, but it would be very rare for a 370Z of this age. (If it were a late model Mercedes SL or SLK and if we were talking about some latching cylinders, then I'd be singing a different tune right now.) Top Hydraulics does replace and upgrade all seals inside these cylinders, including the piston seals, btw.
On the tonneau cover (storage compartment) cylinder, there is very little pressure needed at the end of the stroke (when the cover is almost open). Some convertible systems have check valves to keep the tonneau cover open when the rest of the top is moving past it, some convertible systems have a dedicated valve for the tonneau cover cylinders (not the 370Z), and some convertibles keep pressure on the tonneau cylinders while the rest of the top is moving. If memory serves me correctly on a late Sunday afternoon, then the 370Z's system keeps the tonneau cover cylinders pressurized.
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How sensitive is the sensor? Would the difference in position really be noticeable?
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Good question. Under normal circumstances, the sensitivity should be in the range of a few millimeters. That would translate into a lot more on the end of the tonneau cover, and it should be noticeable.
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Couldn't one test this by putting a bit more opening pressure on the top/front corner of the lid on that side to see if the sensor makes and stays made?
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Good thought, and it would be worth a try if the problem occurs only during the part of the cycle where the tonneau cover has just opened, and if the 370Z system is one of those which do not keep the tonneau cover cylinder pressurized once extended.
At some point, qubickz remarked "Seems pretty silly that the car thinks the top is open because of this sensor". This would indicate that we needn't concentrate on an internal bypass.
I'm looking forward to qubickz's clarifications.
Klaus