I have an early sunroof assembly (with the one drive box in the middle) car is 86 n/a (b4 they started the new sunroof assembly i assume)
The motor turns but the sunroof doesnt move. It is all the way down (i think). When i push the down button the motor does not turn.

When i push the button up, i hear the motor turn, but the linkage doesnt even try to move. I can even push the roof up by hand.

Does anyone know how i could go about fixing this?

Where should i start? How do i check the relays?

Thanks for any help!
-Brett

 

My guess is the gears are stripped. Easy fix and simple to replace. Please do not drive with the roof not secured, there is danger of it flying off at speed.

http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/body-04.htm

 

yeah i have a set of gears because i thought i had the late assembly sunroof. feb 86-91
but i have the early one (pre feb 86) w/o the replaceable gears because it only has one drivebox in between the arms.

Thank you for the quick reply though!

 

Would you be interested in converting to a manual sunroof?

I don't have spare parts, but I have one. It works well.

 

The early roof ( in my opinion) is a ****-poor design...one of the worst examples of german engineering! I'll bet the lifting arms have broken where the drive cable connects....if you do dive in and take it apart ( it's really pretty simple to take apart) be careful of the gear box...the plastic is very brittle and the slightest bit of over-tightening when you re-assemble will break it!

I will be installing a new (used from ebay) mechanism in my car this spring...I repaired it once before after having the problem you describe ( bought 1/2 of a mechanism from Hershey that time) and this time was my own fault for not being careful when installing new seals.

I see the link above to clark's garage...I think you can also find the procedure for installing a late mechanism in an early car on his site.....I will do this if the one I install this spring breaks again.

best

Joe

 

is it complicated to install the manual sunroof??
how bout the new system for the electic?

Both options have crossed my mind.
I have taken a look at every part of this system and i do agree that it is a TERRIBLE design.

 

https://rennlist.com/forums/924-931-944-951-968-forum/230869-in-need-of-a-part-number-for-manual-sunroof.html

All you need are two manual latches.

 

I find the early assembly far more efficient and easier to deal with. Gears are stripped almost without a doubt. Replace those, clean the little switches and lubricate it and it should last another 10 years.

 

Convert to manual, I hate the early SR design. Even with near perfect adjustments there is was always some issue with mine, open-no close, close-open uneven, open-close but wouldn't release. Jeff must be the only one I've heard of that prefers the early design but we all know he's different right?

 

thanks guys. I will probably be going with a manual sunroof. Just seems easy and reliable. and lighter lol
I just got this car two weeks ago with 120K on it and I have been checking and fixing soo much stuff it's just rediculous. When I'm done working hopefully I'll be able to get a new paint job and get rollin in my porsche... hopefully...

 

You CAN drive without it being latched, just make sure your windows are down at least an inch and a half. When I am driving on the freeway I keep them at least halfway down. If you don't, with the air pressure difference, it will lift.

 

Yea I'm weird like that - just have a soft spot in my heart for the early cars I guess. I'm different I guess - just not different like. . . "different". Don't go that way. Sorry.

 

does anyone know where i can buy the rear latches i cant seem to find them on ebay.
Sorry if this question has been totally beat to death.

 

You could try a salvage yard. That will save you a bit of money as opposed to ordering new ones.

 

There isnt a salvage yard around here that has 944 parts hangin around.
I dont really mind how much the new ones cost. I have heard that porsche no longer makes these latches. So i will pretty much take them anywhere i can find them.

Thank you for the advice, though!