Ag951

Shortly after buying my car, I replaced the sunroof gears. I've raised and lowered the thing just a few times, and already one of the plastic gears is stripped, so now it won't raise evenly.
Does anybody make a gear other than the typical crappy plastic?

89magic98

Either Tweeks or Performance Products makes metal gears.

But keep in mind though, that it's better to have the cheap plastic gears be the weak point in the system. If you use metal gears, maybe the motor becomes the weak point.

Is the seal for the sunroof sticking to the metal on the roof? Maybe it needs some silicone spray to moisten the seal, or the seal has come loose from the sunroof itself.

Sam Lin

Kevin? Please give me more info on the metal gears! That'd be a godsend! As for "weak" point, the motor has a slip clutch, I'm not worried about stripping the metal worm gear or breaking the motor's arm.

Sam

Ag951

Here's what looks like a metal gear (given the $9 price, I'd hope so).
I'll email them to ask for sure.
I didn't see one at tweeks.

Jon Moeller

ag,
I don't think that's a metal gear. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that looks like an OEM piece.
-J

Ag951

For $9! Damn! For that much money it should be made out of Platinum!
My gears are white though, and that one looks gray, so I guessed aluminum.

89magic98

I can't find them now on-line.

I'll check my printed catalogs tonight.

Peckster

I've got plastic ones and they work fine. You must have another problem if they go after several uses.

Ag951

I think the design is bad in general. There doesn't seem to be an internal cut off for when the parts are retracted all the way, so the motor keeps the torque up, which strips the plastic gear.

David Ray

What's the remedy for unevenness when the lid is closed. Actually one side is loose when it is closed??

Good opportunity for KLA if PP's aren't alum or metal.

Ag951

The remedy is to pop the ceiling piece off, and line the lifting arms back up. I just did it a week ago (and the gear skipped that night).

'88-924S

Convert to manual!! I went through too many gears- bought latches from an 83 944 and converted in about 20-30 minutes. No more key in position I, then II, then CRACK! another gear goes down. And I saved a little weight by removing the motor, sure not much, but the principal of it!

SidViscous

Ditto

Convert to manual it's fun and easy.

944Play

Adjust the slip clutch at the motor, duh. No more busted gears.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...44_sunroof.htm

James86-951

There might also be a problem with the microswitches at the motor or the switch at the front of the sunroof. I think phenolic plastic would do better than metal and keep the weight down.

I also put a good dose of anti-seize on my sliders to keep the stress down on the gears.