'85 sunroof beginning to fail..need some advice

[jgurnari]

With the sunroof open, the passenger side is loose when I physically pull on it..is moves back and forth a few inches, obviously something loose or broken.
Pictures / video show the distance it moves when I pull it.

... the driver side is solid, doesn't move at all when I pull on it. When I to close it, the pass side lags a bit. Sometimes I get a thumping noise just short of it closing, on the passenger side only.

Before it does break completely, Id like to fix it. What might be the issue? Loose or broken cable?

Is there a good step by step video available to repair?

Also in the short term, what is a good grease to use..is there grease that is geared for this type of mechanism?


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Rz2PIH2Zahc

[john walker's workshop]

The cable may have pulled out of the slider block. Usually can be reattached with no parts needed, just labor.

[jgurnari]

OK, thanks... will it need to be disassembled or can I access and reattach from the zipper access point? Would I be able to see if it is actually the issue from the open zipper side? If thats the issue of course.

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

The cable may have pulled out of the slider block. Usually can be reattached with no parts needed, just labor.

[EC900]

If you haven’t yet, search the YouTube for “joe engineer DYI sunroof repair” he provides a good video and explanation of the details to get familiar with the process.

[83_Silberpfeil]

Originally Posted by jgurnari

OK, thanks... will it need to be disassembled or can I access and reattach from the zipper access point? Would I be able to see if it is actually the issue from the open zipper side? If thats the issue of course.

Zipper access point will expose the power sunroof motor/transmission and the cables, IIRC.

Also...

From the fotos you posted, it looks like your cable tracks can use some cleaning --- grease, dirt/debris/leaves --- as a "preventative" measure. To do that you'll need to remove the panel to expose the tracks. And while you're at it, can remove and clean cables as well.

NOTE: clean both the cable track that run FRONT/BACK and LEFT/RIGHT.

It's a lot of work, but good preventative measure.

On my 83 SC, the sunroof got stuck back in 2017. I was able to observe that one side (driver side) was pulling farther/faster than passenger side. The panel twisted out of square then got stuck. This led me through the journey I describe above.

Eight plus years later, I finally got it sorted out. Hired local air-cooled shop to finish the job. They cleaned the cable/duct tracks that run LEFT/RIGHT, and replaced the power sunroof transmission.

My post on this journey here:

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/951856-83-sc-sunroof-stuck-guide-rails-passenger-side.html

[jgurnari]

wil l clean the tracks...Ive read there should be no grease used in the tracks. Im, sure when I expose the tracks, Ill no doubt see what exactly is going on, why the one side is loose.
Thanks

Originally Posted by 83_Silberpfeil

Zipper access point will expose the power sunroof motor/transmission and the cables, IIRC.

Also...

From the fotos you posted, it looks like your cable tracks can use some cleaning --- grease, dirt/debris/leaves --- as a "preventative" measure. To do that you'll need to remove the panel to expose the tracks. And while you're at it, can remove and clean cables as well.

NOTE: clean both the cable track that run FRONT/BACK and LEFT/RIGHT.

It's a lot of work, but good preventative measure.

On my 83 SC, the sunroof got stuck back in 2017. I was able to observe that one side (driver side) was pulling farther/faster than passenger side. The panel twisted out of square then got stuck. This led me through the journey I describe above.

Eight plus years later, I finally got it sorted out. Hired local air-cooled shop to finish the job. They cleaned the cable/duct tracks that run LEFT/RIGHT, and replaced the power sunroof transmission.

My post on this journey here:

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/951856-83-sc-sunroof-stuck-guide-rails-passenger-side.html

[jgurnari]

Very helpful. I watch his videos as well.
what can I use to safely clean the cables of grease? Thought I heard him say "carb-cleaner"....

Originally Posted by 83_Silberpfeil

Zipper access point will expose the power sunroof motor/transmission and the cables, IIRC.

Also...

From the fotos you posted, it looks like your cable tracks can use some cleaning --- grease, dirt/debris/leaves --- as a "preventative" measure. To do that you'll need to remove the panel to expose the tracks. And while you're at it, can remove and clean cables as well.

NOTE: clean both the cable track that run FRONT/BACK and LEFT/RIGHT.

It's a lot of work, but good preventative measure.

On my 83 SC, the sunroof got stuck back in 2017. I was able to observe that one side (driver side) was pulling farther/faster than passenger side. The panel twisted out of square then got stuck. This led me through the journey I describe above.

Eight plus years later, I finally got it sorted out. Hired local air-cooled shop to finish the job. They cleaned the cable/duct tracks that run LEFT/RIGHT, and replaced the power sunroof transmission.

My post on this journey here:

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/951856-83-sc-sunroof-stuck-guide-rails-passenger-side.html