1988 230TE Estate - Sunroof Wont Close

[Mad Professor]

Good Day All.

I have a problem with the Sunroof on my 1988 230TE Estate.

The sunroof will not fully close from the tilt, at this point in time it is not raining, but it is due to rain soon, so I am quite worried about this as it is still stuck open.

The sunroof only wants to close on the passager side, the drivers side does not want to close.

I have just had a look at the hinge on the drivers side and can see that apart of it has broken.

Is there anyway I can get the sunroof closed?

Thanks for your time.

 

[wireman]

Methinks that you will have to struggle and hope, or remove the entire panel assembly and fix it, you wont be able to get into the mechanism to repair it without removing it.

Removal is very time consuming, first the roof lining is removed (most of the pillar trim bits that meet the roof need removal for this) then the panel/tray with the sliding mechanism can be unbolted and lowered to allow access to the sides of the panel, this takes about 5 hours, allow 5 more to put it all back together.

There may be hope if you can get your fingers or a wire hook into the gap and pull at the sliding bar (the front half of the bit thats broken) which pulls and pushes the roof open and closed you may just manage to shift the mechanism into a position which will enable the panel to close. Remove the fuse to prevent future opening.

The sliding rails should be cleaned and lubricated at each service, it seems that your problem may be a result of failiure to do this.

 

[Mad Professor]

I got the sunroof closed in the end.

I lowered the sunroof as closed as I could wile still being able to see the broken part, I then used a thin flathead screw driver to push the broken part to the back of the sunroof, and then the sunroof would fully close.

I am glad I got it closed as no more then 15min's later it started to rain.

I now have to look into removing the sunroof at a later date to replace or repair this broken part.

Does anyone have a how to guide to remove the sunroof?

Best Regards.

 

[wireman]

Look in the forums there's one I cobbled together after my car did something similar to yours, the drive cable detached on mine.
It is horrendous, all the trim round the front screen off, door pillar trims off, unhook and lower roof lining and take great care not to damage any of it.
Then you can see the big flat tub which contains the roof panel, remove the bolts and lower the panel (the motor drive cable can be disconnected but it may be best to leave it connected and work inside the car) and once its down inside the tray there are even more bits to take off depending on just how far you need to go to get at the broken bits.

As is often said replacement is the reversal of the above.

You will need 2 whole days to get it out and back in, if the parts are available.