Strange problem with roof

Manute · 02-03-2006, 02:10 AM

Hi buddies!

IÂ´m here with a kind of wierd problem happened to me yesterday.

I opened the roof for a moment, and when I tried to close it, it did nothing; it remained at the fully open position, no sound of motor operation or anything else.

I tought a fuse was melted so I checked it, found it ok. No idea about the relay,I pressed it a bit, but then I tried one more time to close the roof and then the strange thing happened:

The damn roof finally went down,but....fully down, I mean, to the remove position. It now would go up and down, but now I have this strange problem:

-With key at position 1 (the remove roof position), pressing the button now does nothing. So inoperative function now.

-With key at position 2 (ignition), roof goes up and down.....fully, not stopping at the locked position like it should do.

So now the roof moves, but if I want it to be closed and locked, I need to stop pressing the switch.

I hope you have any idea about this, because I sure donÂ´t have any idea. I hope there is a cheap solution to this.

natey · 02-03-2006, 02:29 AM

(I wish I could remember the link to the sunroof faq, but I'm sure someone here will post it...)

This is a later model, right? I'm not sure how early models differ...

The sunroof mechanism is controlled by three microswitches and a slip clutch. One of the switches (number 1), is triggered when the roof goes up as far as it should, and makes it stop going up. It sounds like this works fine.

When going all the way down to the retracted position, the lift arms are stopped physically, by tabs on the arms hitting the gear boxes and not by any switch. This is where the slip clutch comes in, it keeps you from stripping the gears. It sounds like this works fine too.

The other two microswitches (numbers two and three), are mounted togeather, and tripped at almost the same time. One of them, 2 I think, is tripped when the sunroof is lowered just to the "closed/locked" position, causing it to stop there when the key is in position 2. It sounds like this is part of the problem.

I think microswitch 3 must be tripped to allow the arms to retract when the key is in position 1, for roof removal. This also sounds like a problem.

So, I'd guess microswitches 2 and 3 broke, came loose, lost a wire, etc. I don't think they would be terribly expensive to replace, if that's the problem. All this will probably make a lot more sense once you've actually seen the mechanism...

Razorback1980 · Razorback1980's Garage

Hello to our friends in Madrid.

Here is the article I'm starting to work from:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/944_Sunroof/944_sunroof.htm

You can also click on the tech info center and scroll down until you find it. If someone knows of a better article on this, please let me know as well.

Thanks

natey · 02-03-2006, 07:55 AM

Yes, that was the article I was thinking of, thanks Razorback1980. It looks like I remembered the switch numbering scheme wrong.

It really is a pretty good description, but it might not all make sense until you've actually looked at the mechanism yourself.

Manute · 02-04-2006, 01:44 PM

Thanks Natey and Razorback, very good article!! It could´nt be better.

Dmanit! I never tought it was so complicated that roof mechanism!. If i´m not wrong, I think microswitch II is causing the problem. According to the article, it is a problem of misalignement, it seems there is a simple solution here. (at least a cheap one)

I had no time today to take a look at the car, I expect to go tomorrow,I´ll take some pics ´cause i´m not sure of understanding the mechanism, I´d probably make things worse so I will show you first.

I´ll keep you informed, thanks again!

OnTheRun2 · OnTheRun2's Garage

Thank you for this, Ijust changed my "early mech." to one from an '88, and I have been having some problems. This will make adjustments much easier.
Again, Thank you.

Manute · 02-20-2006, 09:34 AM

Hi! I´ve been very busy, I could´nt check my roof till yesterday. I´ve discovered I have the old roof mechanism, take a look at the pic, according to the workshop manual this is the pre 86 mechanism.

It´s not a strange thing, my 86´ 951 it´s not really 86, it´s from october 85.

So now I feel lost (even more). After reading your article and checking the workshop, I don´t have clear:

-Where are physically located the microswitches (I think they are at the luggage compartment, to the left).

-How can I adjust the microswitches, and how can I see how is the normal position of them.
The workshop explains very well how the microswitches should be for the 86 system, but for the early one it´s not very clear.

And adding my difficulties with the technical vocabulary of this system, is making me crazy.

I´d appreciate a lot a hand!! Thanks!!

natey · 02-21-2006, 09:30 AM

You wrote:

-Where are physically located the microswitches (I think they are at the luggage compartment, to the left).

-How can I adjust the microswitches, and how can I see how is the normal position of them.

---------------------------------------------------------

I've only actually seen the mechanism in my '89 but for that year:

- Yes, the microswitches are located in the luggage / back hatch area, on the driver's side. The entire sunroof mechanism there is mounted to a steel plate, which is mounted vertically, to the body of the car. To get to it, you'll need to remove or shift the big carpet pad on the floor, then remove 1(?) screw and some carpet clips to move the vertical carpet piece aside. You should be able to see it from there.

- The screws which hold the microswitches in place go through slots, not holes, in the mounting plate. If you loosen the screws a a bit, they will slide in the slot, and the switch will move. Tighten the screws up again when the switch is where you want it...

"Normal position" for them is somewhere that the roller on the rocker arm will be hit by the plastic cam! Beyond that, you may have to experiment with switch position to get the roof lift arms to stop exactly where you want them.

Manute · 02-21-2006, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by natey

I've only actually seen the mechanism in my '89 but for that year:

- Yes, the microswitches are located in the luggage / back hatch area, on the driver's side. The entire sunroof mechanism there is mounted to a steel plate, which is mounted vertically, to the body of the car. To get to it, you'll need to remove or shift the big carpet pad on the floor, then remove 1(?) screw and some carpet clips to move the vertical carpet piece aside. You should be able to see it from there.[/B]

Everything clear at this point.

Quote:

Originally posted by natey
- The screws which hold the microswitches in place go through slots, not holes, in the mounting plate. If you loosen the screws a a bit, they will slide in the slot, and the switch will move. Tighten the screws up again when the switch is where you want it...

"Normal position" for them is somewhere that the roller on the rocker arm will be hit by the plastic cam! Beyond that, you may have to experiment with switch position to get the roof lift arms to stop exactly where you want them. [/B]

Now here comes the problem. After removing, carpets, plate, etc....you have this:

Microswitches are there, the cam, etc....all very clear like you explained.

But I have this:

I see the motor, two relays, the screw for adjusting the slip clutch (pointed by the arrow), but...where are the microswitches? Because according to the Pelicanï¿½s roof article, I have one bended or something like that, but I canï¿½t see it!