Sunroof Help Please
03-06-2002, 08:37 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Sunroof Help Please
Hi guys,
I posted this question a long time ago, but need more help.
I have a 1984 944
I got the car painted, and now have a sunroof problem. Here's what happens.
When I put the key on the second indent to raise/lower the roof, it works perfectly. BUT...when I put the key on the first indent and try releasing whatever hold the roof down so I can remove my roof, I hear the gears turning for a split second (very slowly) and they get stuck....hence I can't remove the damn roof. So, I checked Haynes manual, and it says nothing (like usual). Then I checked pelicanparts...and the article seems a bit confusing. So, can someone please explain to me clearly and slowly (sorry first time I do this and don't wanna mess it up) how I can remove my roof so I can put it back on the right way. Or, is there some sort of thing I can adjust. Any feedback would be appreciated so much!
P.S I can take pictures of the procedure if people are interested....but I need some good explanation of how to do this first. Car is coming out of storage very soon (2 months)!
Thanks,
Mike
1984 944
I posted this question a long time ago, but need more help.
I have a 1984 944
I got the car painted, and now have a sunroof problem. Here's what happens.
When I put the key on the second indent to raise/lower the roof, it works perfectly. BUT...when I put the key on the first indent and try releasing whatever hold the roof down so I can remove my roof, I hear the gears turning for a split second (very slowly) and they get stuck....hence I can't remove the damn roof. So, I checked Haynes manual, and it says nothing (like usual). Then I checked pelicanparts...and the article seems a bit confusing. So, can someone please explain to me clearly and slowly (sorry first time I do this and don't wanna mess it up) how I can remove my roof so I can put it back on the right way. Or, is there some sort of thing I can adjust. Any feedback would be appreciated so much!
P.S I can take pictures of the procedure if people are interested....but I need some good explanation of how to do this first. Car is coming out of storage very soon (2 months)!
Thanks,
Mike
1984 944
03-06-2002, 11:56 PM
#2
Three Wheelin'
Mine does something similar...I think someone tried to break in and really hosed one side...It gets stuck all over the place. I was told it was $800 to fix. 
I dunno about that.
I dunno about that.
03-07-2002, 12:23 PM
#3
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Mike944: I've done my roof lifting system twice..... kept stripping the plastic gears....... until I got it right. It's tricky and frustrating.
I suggest you re-read the Pelican Parts guest article again really carefully. I know the article is a little confusing, but if you read the article standing with the car and with the motor cover plate off and looking around, it will make a bit more sense. It really helped me.
It sounds like:
1. The plastic raising/lowering gears may be stripped for retracting the arms (1 or 2 broken teeth is all it takes) when wanting to remove the roof.
2. The microswitches may be out of sinc on the operating cable and the arms aren't retracting all the way.
Have you tried retracting the arms manually to see if they weill go back far enough? You can use your lug nut wrench or a 19mm deep socket and rachet to manually move the arms... thus checking for stripped gears and the like. Move the wrench slowly if you try this. If the rachet doesn't turn easy, stop! Consider pulling the motor cover off and the roof liner and see/listen for problems when raising/lowering the tilt option.
Finally, give Skip at Paragon a shout. He's really up on this stuff. Skip are ya listening?
My 2 cents... good luck! <img src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" border="0" alt="[blabla]" />
I suggest you re-read the Pelican Parts guest article again really carefully. I know the article is a little confusing, but if you read the article standing with the car and with the motor cover plate off and looking around, it will make a bit more sense. It really helped me.
It sounds like:
1. The plastic raising/lowering gears may be stripped for retracting the arms (1 or 2 broken teeth is all it takes) when wanting to remove the roof.
2. The microswitches may be out of sinc on the operating cable and the arms aren't retracting all the way.
Have you tried retracting the arms manually to see if they weill go back far enough? You can use your lug nut wrench or a 19mm deep socket and rachet to manually move the arms... thus checking for stripped gears and the like. Move the wrench slowly if you try this. If the rachet doesn't turn easy, stop! Consider pulling the motor cover off and the roof liner and see/listen for problems when raising/lowering the tilt option.
Finally, give Skip at Paragon a shout. He's really up on this stuff. Skip are ya listening?
My 2 cents... good luck! <img src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" border="0" alt="[blabla]" />
03-07-2002, 02:11 PM
#4
Racer
Thread Starter
I'm not sure what how to remove the motor cover plate. Do all cars have that piece?
Sorry I feel really dumb...
I was never able to find the lug nut either
I suck..hehe
Sorry I feel really dumb...
I was never able to find the lug nut either
I suck..hehe
03-08-2002, 01:52 PM
#5
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Hey Mike: Drop me a note to DanoSurf@msn.com. I'll get you all the info you'll need. I don't want to waste too much time here.
Quickly: remove the carpeting in the forward left (dirver's side) portion of the hatch cargo area's wall. (That's left cargo wall). You should see a big square-ish looking box with a recessed nut center-front of the box. The "box" is the motor with the cover on. The recessed nut is the manual operating nut that takes the 19mm socket. Your owner's manual should have the details on this. No owner's manual? Check the Haynes's book or the diagrams in the Pelican Parts article.
Drop me a note, I'll give you more.......
<img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" /> <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
Quickly: remove the carpeting in the forward left (dirver's side) portion of the hatch cargo area's wall. (That's left cargo wall). You should see a big square-ish looking box with a recessed nut center-front of the box. The "box" is the motor with the cover on. The recessed nut is the manual operating nut that takes the 19mm socket. Your owner's manual should have the details on this. No owner's manual? Check the Haynes's book or the diagrams in the Pelican Parts article.
Drop me a note, I'll give you more.......
<img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" /> <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
03-09-2002, 12:16 PM
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Tremelune
[quote]I was told it was $800 to fix. I dunno about that.[/QB]<hr></blockquote>
Even if you take it to a shop it shouldn't be more than a few hundred if they really know what their doing. Figure for full replacement of gears, re-alignment of lift arms and setting of microswitch stops: the whole job should be about 6 hours + or -. At $45.00 an hour mechanic's fee + parts (cheap plastic gears) the job should run you about $300.00 tops. Any more and you need to find a new mechanic. When I did mine the first time: 8 hours with lots of learning curve. 2nd time: 6.5 hours..... and I don't work on cars for a living.
My 2 cents. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
[quote]I was told it was $800 to fix.
I dunno about that.[/QB]<hr></blockquote>Even if you take it to a shop it shouldn't be more than a few hundred if they really know what their doing. Figure for full replacement of gears, re-alignment of lift arms and setting of microswitch stops: the whole job should be about 6 hours + or -. At $45.00 an hour mechanic's fee + parts (cheap plastic gears) the job should run you about $300.00 tops. Any more and you need to find a new mechanic. When I did mine the first time: 8 hours with lots of learning curve. 2nd time: 6.5 hours..... and I don't work on cars for a living.
My 2 cents. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
