Sunroof "Gently Push Clip forward" RIGHT!

Dave Ploss · 03-03-2003, 08:26 AM

I had a broken sunroof hinge and a broken clip that I repaired this weekend...sort of.

The Bentley and Porshce manuals say "gently push the clip forward and slide it off the body". Maybe if you are an olympic weight lifter it is gently but I pushed with all my might and I couldn't get the new clip on.

The way it is designed, I can't see how anyone could slide it on. I had to modify the clip (ie take off one of the plastic thingies) to get it to slide on. I love it when they say "gently......) and it takes an act of god or a nuclear device to move the piece.

OK, I'm through with my ranting and raving. Anyone know how to get a complete clip on?

Thanks.

Dave

PS the hinge was a 10 second job.

88911coupe · 03-03-2003, 11:32 AM

Hey, I am stuck on exactly the same issue on my 88. There does not seem to be any way to get those clips forced into where they need to go without breaking them. Hopefully someone can explain how this is done, without breaking the clip.
Sincerely,

Dave Ploss · 03-03-2003, 11:40 AM

What I did was to try to get it on....no joy. Then I broke the small tang that is closest to center of the clip. That way I could get the part that goes over the body work in position. Then I pushed or pulled the clip back to snap the part over the body and the remaining tang went into the hole. It seems to work but I don't have warm and fuzzy feelings about it holding.

If you don't know what I mean, let me know and I'll take some pictures. I have an extra clip that I can show you what parts I'm talking about.

The best solution would be to find out if it is physically possible to do this.

Dave

88911coupe · 03-04-2003, 09:55 AM

Are you saying you broke off one of the small clips that are sort of mirror images of each other, as opposed to the one on the end that hooks up to the front part of the opening.
This probably only makes sense if you've had to fight with this thing. It really does not look like it can be installed without breaking it.
Thanks

Dave Ploss · 03-04-2003, 10:41 AM

Exactly, I broke off the clip closest to the part that hooks onto the body. When you hook it on the body it snaps in and holds very well.

Not the most sophisticated solution but it worked. I'd still like to find out how to get them on the right way. One thing I was thinking was heating the center of the clip a little so it will bend up without breaking. Then, "Gently" bend it up until you can get the clip part on the body and the tabs should go right into the hole. Haven't tried it but it might work.

Dave

kilodawg · kilodawg's Garage

Resurrecting this old thread in the hope that someone has finally figured a way how to do this properly. I too don't see how it's possible to get the clip on without breaking it. It doesn't give me a lot of confidence in tackling some of the larger DIY projects when you can't install a little piece of plastic that doesn't serve a significant purpose anyway..

kilodawg · kilodawg's Garage

Okay so I'm assuming by the lack of replies this is indeed impossible to do......None of you have the skills or ability to do it.....It's impossible.....Taunt, taunt

88911coupe · 12-20-2007, 06:29 AM

Kilodawg,
Trying to fire up my feeble memory but I did find a way to do this that was really easy, or at least easier. I'll have to go look at it later but IIRC you need to remove the black metal bar/frame that is bolted to the roof and THEN install the other parts. This is the part that is at the very front of the sunroof opening and has some screws holding it to the roof. It just lifts up and putting the clips on becomes obvious. There was not really any way to install the clips without partially disassembling the sunroof. I'm not sure what the Bentley manual was referring to since their method, as far as I could tell, would not work.

Hendog · Hendog's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by kilodawg

... a little piece of plastic that doesn't serve a significant purpose anyway..

If we're talking about the same piece, it does serve quite a significant purpose. At least it does for me. When on of these broke on my sunroof, it caused the suroof to NOT open. It would retract 1/2 inch at best and get caught and stuck. Once replaced it solved my "broken sunroof" problem.

As for getting the plastic piece in, IIRC I installed it latterally, coming at it from the side. I believe I took some pics but they're on my PC at home; I'm at work right now. Hope that helps.

Monza_dh · Monza_dh's Garage

I did this last year and heated the clips up with a hair dryer and sprayed lube for them to slide on it was dicey but it worked. I recall placing the clip on the rear first then pushing down on the clip.

kilodawg · kilodawg's Garage

Okay did it...Let this be the definitive thread on the subject. It was absolutely easy...The key is not to be fooled into thinking that you can simply snap a clip in with the deflector and base plate installed.

You need to remove the deflector and the base plate which is simple. You first remove the rubber stoppers that hold the deflector arms on either side of the sunroof mechanism. Then slide the arms (with springs attached) off of the pegs on the deflector. Now remove the four mounting screws and lift off the deflector and the base plate which will be attached or not depending on if you have one or two broken clips. Remove any broken clip pieces and insert new clips. Slide the clip on the deflector peg first and then slip the front of the clip on the base plate and then snap in the rear. Something about having the assembly in your hand and being able to get an unobstructed angle to the front of the base plate turns this from an impossible job into a piece of cake. I think it took longer to write the explanation than to actually do it....When finished put everything back in the reverse order.....

dshepp806 · dshepp806's Garage

So, Kilodawg: the sunroof was removed to do this, amen?

I do believe my sunroof failure is related to this clip breaking issue on my 89 (just as Henri relayed)...I was told that maybe this clip could be installed without removing the sunroof...guess it's time to study the PETS..

If you guys have it handy, a good pic would do wonders.

Best,

kilodawg · kilodawg's Garage

No the sunroof stays in....Hey I said this was simple.

Not that removing the roof is hard I did that last year when I replaced the felts. The clip change out was really easy though. Both my 993 and the 930S each had one broken. I changed them both out in under 30 minutes.

All you are removing is the deflector and the metal plate that the clips snap into. Remove this as an assembly again by detaching the side arms from the deflector and then removing the four screws that hold the metal plate (the one the clips snap into) from the front part of the roof opening.

As far as the criticality of the piece for sunroof operation. I'm not saying that it isn't the cause of any of your problems but both of my cars sunroofs operated normally. I think as long as the clip breaks but keeps it's proper position in the assembly there isn't a problem maybe if somehow it gets flipped around it could become an issue but this would not necessarily happen just because it breaks...

dshepp806 · dshepp806's Garage

Thanks Kilodawg. I had noticed (previously) that this piece had fractured and I simply repositioned it while the Sunroof was open....I'll bet she's turned around and preventing the sunroof from opening.....

I'll have to give her a look...some pics would help this neophyte. At minimum, circling the relevant parts on a PET pic post?

Thanks, again KD!

Best,

kilodawg · kilodawg's Garage

Sorry, the wife took the digital camera this evening and if you go to the PET interface on the Pelican parts section and look up sunroof it just doesn't show it well.

Just try and follow my directions while looking at the actual parts. I think it will become obvious in a hurry. If not, I can try to post some pics tomorrow....

DWeg1998 · DWeg1998's Garage

Bump to this helpful thread as Kilodawg's writeup was just what the doctor ordered.