85fortheDrive

The previous owner to our 84 928S never opened the sunroof and had it in Tucson heat for years. When we got it, he indicated that he thought the sunroof was a lost cause and that I might simply damage the water seal if I tried to open it.

I tested the motor, free of the gears, and it works fine. Rixter sent me a crank and adapter by which I had hoped to mechanically open up the sucka. But man is she stuck. I'm guessing the track is fouled up somewhere forward of the motor assembly. I don't want to put too much torque on the crank for fear that I might really mess something up.

Any leads on how I might proceed? Is it likely that I will have to remove the interior ceiling? As warmer weather approaches*, I'd like to be able to use the sunroof. Before I get in "over my head" I wanted to check with the experts.

Peace,
Tim

* Truth is, living in Chicago, we have no idea when it will get warmer.

Airflite40

Aint that a fact. Was pretty nice on wednesday though...

G Man

Tim. Did you completely remove the motor and try to move the sunroof by hand? In order to get the inner panel out the sunroof has to open a couple of inches so you can loosten the three screws that hold the panel in place. Perhaps the seal has fused it's self to the roof opening. Maybe you can "carefully" run a straight edge of some sort between the seal and the roof opening to break any bond that may have formed. I would try these ideas before you resort to more forceful methods. Check out the writeup on the Nichols site for more info.

http://www.nichols.nu/tip805.htm

SharkSkin

I would try to work some soap into the seal with something that is softer than the paint, like a toothpick or the edge of one of those sharp plastic scrapers used on teflon pans.

Daniel Dudley

When mine was stuck, it was the headliner stuck to the headliner material of the sunroof all around the inner rim; vinyl stuck to vinyl.

Mrmerlin

Hi get a can of silicone spray and spray the outside of the seal then get a body putty knife the kind you sling mud with, gently work around the seal on the inside depnding on what your roof liner is made from, leather use leather conditioner if its vinyl then armorall or some other sort of protectant spray this around the inside edges of the sunroof, also wiith the motor cover removed, spay some liquid wrench into the metal tubes that the roof openers run in after you do this the rails may drip so have a towel spread out to catch the drips, install the motor and very gently start turning the motor gearbox coupler hopefully the roof will start to move to the open position, as a side note I dont believe that removing the headliner will give you any extra access only opening the roof.After it slides back about 10 inches look at the front edge and you will see 3 screws loosen these about 4 turns then gently pull the front of the inner roof panel down to gain access to the sunroof innards, after pulling down to disengage the inner panel try sliding it forward and then push it up through the roof you then shoud be able to see all of the roof parts and guide rails spray these down with WD 40 then wipe down the rails to remove the crud lubricate the rails with white grease, Stan

WallyP

Sounds as if the PO might have known more than he told - such as that he had leaks, and applied sealant around the sunroof...

I don't ever want to apply silicone of any kind to my vehicles. Trying to get paint or sealant to adhere later can be a real problem.

Try going around the seal with something thin, then apply some pressure with the crank while a helper pushes down on the back of the sunroof.

SharkSkin

Wally, I did think to suggest silicone, but didn't -- for the same reason. Soap can always be washed off.

85fortheDrive

Okay, I am going to try adding some soap and Liquid Wrench to loosen things up. Since I've never seen this thing open, I have to ask two remedial questions...

When it opens...

1. The sun roof panel sinks into the hood of the car - no?
2. There is a rubber seal surrounding the sunroof, flush with the outer surface of the hood. Does this seal recede with the sunroof or remain stationary?
Right now, the outer edge of this seal is loose, but the edge that touches the sunroof is ultra-stuck. I'm not sure which edge needs to be loosened.

Sorry for the DUH factor here.

Thanks and Peace,
Tim

G Man

Tim. The seal is sttached to the sunroof. The whole thing will move down and to the rear.

SharkSkin

liquid wrench will stink for a long, long time if you get it into the seal. Really, try soap first.

85fortheDrive

Gents:

I have completely loosened the perimeter seal of the sunroof and am quite confident that it is not stuck to the roof. I have also liquid wrenched the metal tube ducts for the sunroof track in the center of the car ceiling.

But even with a significant torque on the manual crank, that sunroof will not budge. I've read Section 60 of the User's Manual, but all of the removal directions start with, "Retract sunroof."

Wish I could. Any other suggestions?

Thanks and Peace,
Tim

perrys4

How about a sawzall?

Mrmerlin

Buy Bill Ball a plane ticket so he can come on out and get some Chicago pizza and beer he will have roof open in a few minutes. Stan

WallyP

Have two helpers push down on the back of the sunroof panel as you apply pressure on the crank.