Sunroof question... pics for experts inside

[x98boardwell]

I am in the middle of fixing my sunroof. I was thinking a cable was broken but from the looks of it that may not be the issue.

You can see that in one of the rails the white plastic piece is still stuck inside and doesn't allow the cable to come out of the track if it goes too far...

The other one slipped out and was stuck in what looks to be the drain (way in back between the roof and headliner) which I have since pulled out.

Should this just be re-installed (if so, any pointers?) into the rail again and then re-assembled with appropriate lube in the right spots?

Thanks for any help on this. I will be re-installing seals when I reinstall but wanted to see what I need to purchase first.. Appreciate it!!!

Bryan
87-911

[john walker's workshop]

The cables come out the front, not on the white plastic end. The plastic piece aligns the tracks at the rear and you need to apply some sort of sealer to them, like dum-dum, so water doesn't leak past them onto the headliner.

[x98boardwell]

Gotcha...

Do you think this was why the sunroof was "jamming" and only would go back but not forward since the white plastic piece came out? Neither cable is broken which is what i thought the issue was. Gear looks good and motor seems to be working like normal.

Thanks for the quick response.

[r lane]

Looks like everything could stand a good cleaning. After that, rotorooter out the metal conduits as well and then see if the cables slide freely manually.

[Kool-aid-82]

Nope, as john W said the plastic pieces just align the tracks. it came out when you puled them.
From the look of things I would say it was dirt in the tracks.
Clean everything well and use graphite, not oil to lube them

Could also be a worn gear on the motor or worn cables. It happens when these stick and we keep trying to open and close the sun roof...

[x98boardwell]

Thanks again for the help.

Kool-aid-82, gear on motor looks great. It just started (probably due to dirt) so nothing seems to be broke, just a clean and graphite as you mentioned will do the trick I think.

I would know if cables looked bad correct as the spiral weaving would looks different in certain areas or of course the cable would be broken which it isn't.

Cheers,
Bryan