Vinny Bulloch

Hi guys wondering if anyone can help me, looking at a low mileage 86 944 but apparently the last owner before the current one had the sunroof sealed shut because of leakage. Does anyone know/is able to tell me how hard this would be to reverse? Its kind of a make or break thing as its going to be a summer driving car and want to use the roof open. Thanks for your time guys, Vinny.

deathdealerdelta

Honestly, the moonroof really doesn't help all that much during the summer. It only opens up about 4 maybe 5 inches in the rear but if that's all you need I wouldn't see what would be stopping you from breaking the seal. You just need to know what it was sealed with and go ahead and spend the $132 at 944online and get a new seal for it since you are probably going to jack the old one up when you try to free it. Make sure the motor that raises the roof still works too otherwise there won't be a need to try and free it.

deathdealerdelta

If the motor doesn't work then you can probably find the replacement guide at Clarks-Garage.com.

deathdealerdelta

And yes the moonroof comes completely out but if it's anything like my late 944, you're more than likely going to damage something trying to get it out. It's kinda hit or miss as to if you are going to be able to remove it.

Vinny Bulloch

thanks Deathdealer, I was looking at an 84 before and the roof came right out so was under the impression that this one did as well, didnt realize that it was motorized

deathdealerdelta

Yeppers. The '83s do have a manual roof but you have to do a bunch of shenanigans to get the electric roofs off. Some guys don't have any problems while others do.

The button will look like this...

https://www.google.com/search?q=86+9...MC%3B225%3B168

deathdealerdelta

Good luck finding a 944. Depending on your area I can help you in that search.

deathdealerdelta

Well, not me personally, but I know people lol.

Vinny Bulloch

lol thanks for the help. Looking in BC, Canada, they are ranging from 4000 the one im looking at, 85 with 140k in mint condition only problem is its an auto, upto around 10k for an early 90's one.

deathdealerdelta

No problem at all with the auto, If you were a little closer I'd ship you my manual that I'm getting ready to swap out in a few weeks. I've been dropping this guys name all day, lol, but if you get one and you need something for it, like a manual tranny, look up Travis, the owner of Rennbay. I'm sure he can get you what you need.

deathdealerdelta

Can you buy one in the states and take it back? I'm sure it would be cheaper.

Vinny Bulloch

well after duty, inspection and all that jazz i doubt it, plus flying anywhere from here to the states is not cheap, even the drive to bellingham then flying out would push the cost up to the point where it just wouldnt be worth it I dont think

Gawernator

If this helps at all, the sunroof removal on my 86 944 (electric sunroof) only takes a minute and is straightforward, not very fun to do though as it's a somewhat awkward procedure with the constant fear of dropping it/ hitting the car/ ruining paint etc ... In summertime I usually have it closed because the A/C is on saving my life

dave1192

I don't have trouble getting the sun roof completely off the car -- it's just a little cumbersome (as Gawernator says) since you have to manually push it up from inside the car, then push/pull it off the front guide without losing control of it.

The sunroof release is controlled by a combination of ignition key, the sunroof raise switch on the console, and some limits switches. In a funky engineering marvel (?), the sunroof raise switch actually reverses function to LOWER the control arms and release the sunroof (when the ignition is in the correct position). Hard to figure out, but works well on mine (so far).

F40LM

I purchased my current car with ALOT of issues super cheap to include a sunroof that the POS PO had sealed shut with silicone.

It was a royal PITA to get it unsealed and repair the damage the silicone did to the car. It was a electric roof that I then swapped to manual latches etc.

Would I go through it all again? Maybe, in the grand scheme of things it wasn't a big deal to me because it was one of many things I got to fix while learning my car.

michael