Author Topic: One side of sunroof wont stay all the way up (Read 4395 times)

Threehz · « **on:** November 19, 2011, 11:53:24 PM »

Just like it says, it slides back fine, pops up fine, except the driver side rear of the sunroof won't go all the way up. I figured out that if I push the slider forward it goes to the full up position but will not stay there at all, just slides back down to halfway position.

Here it is completely up.

I'm guessing that some semi-locking mechanism broke or is worn out but I do not know how these sunroofs work..

Anyone know how to fix this or what parts could be causing this problem?

Crank by the way.

Gerta318is · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2011, 09:22:15 PM »

cables. I'd bet it was that side cable is broken.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #2 on:** November 26, 2011, 11:11:15 AM »

He's right. There's a bracket fastened to the retraction cable that cracks. Likely you'll have to cut the fabric headliner to fix it. I can post details if you're interested.

Threehz · « **Reply #3 on:** November 28, 2011, 08:22:49 AM »

Yeah the more details the better! You say I'll have to cut the fabric headliner to fix it?

The fabric isn't the prettiest so I wouldn't mind loosing it and recovering it myself, but it'd be much easier to remove the whole thing, is this quite a task? I think I saw a writeup for it somewhere

DesktopDave · « **Reply #4 on:** November 28, 2011, 05:51:00 PM »

I'll see what I can remember...it was a while ago. I do recall that you need a pretty long flex-shaft screwdriver (or whatever they're called) to get at those torx (T-15?) sunroof screws. A ratcheting screwdriver is also very helpful.

The trim panel (#5) is clipped to the sunroof panel with six metal spring clips (#8) in this diagram. Normally, you slide the roof halfway back & use a trim tool or screwdriver to pry the front of the trim panel off. Then you slide it back and remove the six torx screws that hold the sunroof on its plastic rails.

With the roof jammed it's virtually impossible to get at those clips. My trim fabric was pretty nasty too, so I just cut through the center and ripped it apart enough to unscrew the sunroof panel. Then I unclipped the trim, lifted off the roof, and proceeded with the rest of my power sunroof upgrade. LMK if you want details for that...it was easier than I though it'd be.

You'll need to remove the metal rail covers (#7 in this diagram) to get at the cables (#11). It's about 20 small sheet metal screws, don't lose too many (or if you do, PM me, I have a lot left over). Pull the rails out & maybe what's left of the liner too.

To replace the cable, just keep cranking the handle until the cables snake all the way out of the crank tubes. The plastic rails can be removed & put onto a newer set. Make sure the plastic brackets aren't cracked around the rivets...they'll fail in a week or two if they have any cracks at all. Then lube the new cables, snake them back into the crank tubes (take care that they're even), put the liner back in, feed the plastic rails back into their tracks, and put the rail covers back on.

Finally, crank the sunroof cables to closed position, put the roof panel back on, and align it in the closed position. Finally, open it back up and re-clip the liner panel in place.

Done!

Threehz · « **Reply #5 on:** December 01, 2011, 10:16:59 PM »

Fantastic info! That parts site is incredibly useful too! Diagrams for pretty much everything. Thank you very much I'll definitely let you know how things work out when I get time to do this.